{"product_id":"strike-zone-paperback-1","title":"Strike Zone - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMike Lupica\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA timely and heartfelt follow-up to #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller \u003ci\u003eHeat, \u003c\/i\u003eabout a young baseball prodigy and his immigrant family living in today's America.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTwelve-year-old star Little League pitcher Nick Garcia has a dream. Several in fact. He dreams he'll win this season's MVP and the chance to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. He dreams he'll meet his hero, Yankee's pitcher Michael Arroyo. He dreams they'll find a cure for Lupus so he sister won't have to suffer. But mostly, he dreams one day his family can stop living in fear of the government. For one kid, it's almost too much to bear. Luckily, Nick has his two best friends Ben and Diego to keep him balanced. But when Nick notices a mysterious man lurking on his street corner, he senses a threat. Suddenly, his worst fears are realized, and just when it seems there's no one they can trust, an unexpected hero emerges and changes everything. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eStrike Zone\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e*\"Lupica skillfully addresses the timely and complicated topic of living as the child of undocumented immigrants and the uncertainty facing many American families....This exceptional baseball novel delivers both lively sports action and critical subject matter.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews \u003c\/i\u003e(starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e--\"Lupica's action sequences are thrilling and fast-paced....[a] solid purchase where Mike Lupica and the Yankees are popular.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e--\"As he did in \u003ci\u003eHeat, \u003c\/i\u003e Lupica skillfully juggles the baseball drama with the larger social issues that swirl around it, vividly putting a human face on the immigration crisis.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e--\"\u003ci\u003eStrike Zone\u003c\/i\u003e brings the game of baseball to life, but moreover, it addresses immigration, a current issue in U.S. culture and politics. Teens will choose to read \u003ci\u003eStrike Zone\u003c\/i\u003e as a \"sports book\" but will root for Nick both on and off the field. The Garcia family's desire to become legal U.S. citizens is well woven into this fast-paced story.\" --\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVOYA\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMike Lupica\u003c\/b\u003e is a prominent sports journalist and the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e-bestselling author of more than forty works of fiction and non-fiction. A longtime friend to Robert B. Parker, he was selected by the Parker estate to continue the Sunny Randall and Jesse Stone series.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.8 x 8.1 x 5.4 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 04, 2020\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccelerated Reader:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuiz Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Strike Zone\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterest Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Middle Grades, 4-8\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReading Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.4\u003c\/div\u003e\n                \n                \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePoint Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9\u003c\/div\u003e\n                ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42700159090751,"sku":"9780525514909","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/95f741582bbba65ecef6b66b3de16ebe.webp?v=1765015708","url":"https:\/\/dhlswag.com\/products\/strike-zone-paperback-1","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}