The Big Field
by Mike Lupica
by Mike Lupica
THE BIG FIELD by Mike Lupica
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 3/4/08
Publisher: Philomel
Reviewed by: Katie Hayes
Rating: 4 Stars
Keith “Hutch” Hutchison, the hero of sportswriter Mike Lupica’s latest young adult sports novel, loved playing shortstop
for his baseball team in Florida. Then Darryl Williams came along and took over at short, forcing Hutch to move to
second base.
Worse than the sting of losing his old position, though, is the hurt Hutch feels at the absence of his father from his games. A
former baseball player who saw his dreams crushed, Hutch’s dad can barely bring himself to watch his son play. So when
Hutch sees his father giving Darryl some playing tips, he has a whole new reason to dislike his teammate.
During a summer when their team is fighting to win the state championship and the chance to play on TV, Hutch’s rivalry
with Darryl threatens the team’s chances, and he must come to grips with his father and his teammate to be the team
player he needs to be.
While THE BIG FIELD doesn’t bring anything new to the sports genre, this is an engaging read. Mr. Lupica throws in
plenty of references to current baseball players, which brings even more realism to the story. The characters seem very
true-to-life, and anyone who’s ever played a sport or just loves baseball can relate to it.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 3/4/08
Publisher: Philomel
Reviewed by: Katie Hayes
Rating: 4 Stars
Keith “Hutch” Hutchison, the hero of sportswriter Mike Lupica’s latest young adult sports novel, loved playing shortstop
for his baseball team in Florida. Then Darryl Williams came along and took over at short, forcing Hutch to move to
second base.
Worse than the sting of losing his old position, though, is the hurt Hutch feels at the absence of his father from his games. A
former baseball player who saw his dreams crushed, Hutch’s dad can barely bring himself to watch his son play. So when
Hutch sees his father giving Darryl some playing tips, he has a whole new reason to dislike his teammate.
During a summer when their team is fighting to win the state championship and the chance to play on TV, Hutch’s rivalry
with Darryl threatens the team’s chances, and he must come to grips with his father and his teammate to be the team
player he needs to be.
While THE BIG FIELD doesn’t bring anything new to the sports genre, this is an engaging read. Mr. Lupica throws in
plenty of references to current baseball players, which brings even more realism to the story. The characters seem very
true-to-life, and anyone who’s ever played a sport or just loves baseball can relate to it.