Fair Ball -- by Derek Jeter and Paul Mantell

 

A good fast read in two sittings with plenty of food for thought.

I enjoyed the book, which was a quick dip of nostalgia, reminding me of my Little League days many years ago, and very far away. Time travel is nice.

It was also a seriously interesting look into former Yankee star Derek Jeter's life growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His team won the city LL title one year, and he was a dominant player, much like in his 20 years with the Yankees.

Jeter and writer Paul Mantell teamed up to streamline that early championship year, and his life at school, with friends, and cultural understanding. His parents were racially mixed, which also added some perspective to his largely first-person page-turning story. Much of the story's tension wrapped around Jeter's friendship with the starting pitcher, and their misconceptions.

I wasn't bored, but I found only a couple of words that raised an eyebrow. Only a slight eyebrow raise. I saw plenty of unusual words in my sports writing days, and even though this was Little League baseball it found a little bit of wordplay.

Fair Ball is physically a middle-grade product of Jeter Publishing. 

"Jeter Publishing encompasses adult nonfiction, children's picture books, middle-grade fiction, ready-to-read children's books, and children's books."

Sometimes, it's a good idea to keep reading after the last content page. There is always something to learn.