The Game Can't Love You Back

Gr 9 Up—Due to a freak fire over winter break, Farmington South High School must share space with its rival, Farmington East. The two baseball teams, with two headed-for-fame pitchers, must become one, but how can they? Eva Marshall, from burnt-up Farmington South, is the youngest sister of three athletic brothers. She has been recently featured in a girl power article in Sports Illustrated and is cheered on at her games by adoring middle school girls. Her nemesis, Jamie Abrams, is tough, forced to work after school to make ends meet for his single mom and is barely passing his core classes. Both pitchers are determined to win the prestigious Cy Young Trophy. The secondary characters in the fast-paced story are credible and avoid stereotypes. The adults—from parents to older siblings to the coach—are multidimensional and helpful. Written in the present tense and alternating between Eva and Jamie's viewpoints, the story flows as readers suffer over each obstacle and thrill at each victory. Cozzo's twist ending is to be applauded.