Young Reader Reaction: Baseball Great presents baseball in a way that captures the excitement in the game and depicts it without any obscure baseball terms, but as the same time, without oversimplifying the subject either. Everyone can enjoy the book, not just baseball enthusiasts. The characters are realistic, with actions and dialogue readers would expect. They also represent diverse personalities.

Although Baseball Great has its strong points it suffers from redundancy. Even so, it keeps readers interested. I highly recommend this book to anyone keen on sports.

Adult Reader Reaction: Baseball Great is a very compelling story. Tim Green has captured the challenges that competitive athletes face every day as they try to improve their abilities without use of drug enhancements. It is a story the reader won’t soon forget. The characters and plot are believable, and pace keeps the reader glued to the book.
Second parent reviewer: This book was OK. It was a typical sports book — predictable, yet has a positive message at the end. I liked Josh’s character, and how he was developed throughout the book. He was a typical 12-year old who just happens to be good at baseball.

Pros: This is a timely story that every parent, coach, and athlete should read and re-read.

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This story touches on ethical issues in sports and life of a 12 year old boy. Growing up in the shadow of his father's major league baseball shattered dreams, Josh examines his ability as an emerging baseball great and his motivations as well as the adults around him. The look into his new school and social life paint a realistic picture of the growing pains some boys face. Providing just enough detail for younger readers to grasp, the story takes a look at some of the underpinnings of professional baseball and the people behind the scenes. Josh and his new friend Jadin explore ethical options of doing the right thing when presented with evidence that things are not what they seem on his U14 Team. Short chapters with enough tension to keep this age group reading is peppered with just enough familiarity to ground the 4-6 grade reader. The end of the story has Josh and Jadin’s family filling in the missing pieces for the police and the reader, delivering a positive message to young readers about doing the right thing even when you’re scared.

another fun baseball book, this time with a dash of mystery thrown in. a good read. ( )

an exilent choice ( )

All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but as he gets in deeper with youth championship team the Titans, there are questions he just got to ask! Together with school reporter Jaden, Josh investigates his suspicions of steroid use - until the two friends find themselves in a desperate struggle with a dangerous man who doesn't want them to expose the nasty secrets they uncover.

This story involves an adult issue that has unfortunately become prominent in the sport's world. And even more unfortunate is the fact that this behavior has been passed on to younger athletes. This story's tackles that issue for a middle school baseball team. Tim Green writes with great detail and knowledge of sports without being too technical to be good. Each chapter ends with a bit of a cliff hanger that makes you want to read more although some of the chapters end rather abruptly mid-scene. The topics are timely as this twelve-year-old boy and his family deal with financial difficulties, bullying, peer pressure and illegal steroid use. Although Josh and his friends have very mature conversations for their age they are dealing with serious subjects.

Josh's father is a minor league baseball player who has recently lost his job. While it creates hardship for the family it also allows Josh to settle down in one town, Syracuse, NY (near me!) and play ball with the school team. But his father is eager for him to have advantages that he didn't have as a child so he pressures him into joining the travel team with older kids where he has recently found a new job. The school teammates feel let down and the new teammates aren't very welcoming. To make matter worse, the coach is very intense and wants to win at any cost. When Josh becomes suspicious of a new sports drink and pills that are being passed around the team to help make them bigger and stronger he isn't sure where to turn. He doesn't want to jeopardize his father's job or their fragile relationship. He looks to his two friends to help him do the right thing. This was a good read that will keep you interested until the end.

Tim Green has previously written adult novels, middle-grade books about football and now has branched out into baseball. He knows his subject matter. As a previous coach of baseball and football and a professional athlete, he's lived through the sports experience. And as a father of five children he has certainly lived through the kid experience! ( )