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Inside the Park

Audiobook
0 of 1 copy available
0 of 1 copy available

From Andrea Williams, the bestselling author of We Are Family with LeBron James, comes Inside the Park, the story of a young baseball fan's misadventures after getting locked inside a pro baseball stadium on the eve of the biggest game of the season.

In this all-new, hilarious, action-packed middle grade tale, Timothy "Pumpsie" Strickland, a baseball-loving twelve-year-old, is about to step up to the plate for the biggest swing of his life.

Pumpsie needs a win. Or to be more precise, he needs the Nashville Wildcats to win. Pumpsie's been waiting his entire life—twelve whole years!—for his favorite team to make it to the playoffs. And this year—finally!—they're just one win away.

But when Pumpsie accidentally gets trapped in Lookout Field the night before the last game of the season, with only a lost dog named Campy for company, he may have accidentally stumbled into the best night of his life. For a baseball fan like Pumpsie, using the pro batting cages, running the bases, playing with the public address system, eating all the concession-stand junk food he can find is a dream come true . . . until he realizes he's not alone in the stadium. Foul plots are brewing beneath Lookout Field, and now it's on Pumpsie to swallow his fears, gum up his courage, and swing for the fences if he wants to save the Wildcats' postseason chances.

Inside the Park is a fun-filled, action-packed slice of wish fulfillment that's perfect for fans of Mike Lupica and Tim Green or any kid who's ever closed their eyes and imagined stepping up to the plate with the game tied and the season on the line.

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    • Kirkus

      December 15, 2024
      A baseball-obsessed tween has an unexpected adventure in his home team's stadium. As much as Timothy "Pumpsie" Strickland loves baseball, his batting difficulties will probably cost him the role of starting pitcher for the big upcoming game. But he tries to put his worries aside and focus on his home team, the Nashville Wildcats, who are setting out to win a playoff spot. With a grandfather who's a historian of the Negro Leagues, his love of the sport and his nickname (in honor of Pumpsie Green, the last Black player to integrate a Major League Baseball team) come naturally. Unfortunately, Pumpsie feels overshadowed by his siblings--"superstar" athlete Isaac, "family genius" Miles, natural performer Tiana (his twin), and irresistibly adorable toddler Jasmine. When Tiana lands a part in a commercial that's filming at the ballpark, the entire family goes along. A thunderstorm sets off a series of events that ends with Pumpsie trapped in the stadium with Campy, Tiana's canine co-star. At first, it seems like a lark, but soon, the reality of his situation sinks in. His cell phone is dead, so he can't call for help, and he falls asleep, only to awaken and discover that he and Campy aren't alone--and things actually could get worse. This warm, lively story has an irresistible protagonist and skillfully blends sports and family life. Williams' depiction of a close-knit African American family is marked by humor and rich cultural details. A delightful, action-packed, and satisfying read.(Fiction. 8-12)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  • English

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