Review of "Rebel Rookie," by Robert Sidney Bowen

Review of

Rebel Rookie, by Robert Sidney Bowen

Four out of five stars

 The basic plot premise of this book is one that happens on a regular basis in professional sports. A boy (Pete Hatch) that was left on the steps of an orphanage when he was a baby grew up with a short temper. It seemed that only his participation in sports is able to mitigate his behavior, he is skilled but his emotional volatility creates constant problems. Yet, he is a very talented catcher and a good hitter, so there is some promise that Pete will eventually have a solid career.

 When he is falsely accused of theft, Pete runs away from the orphanage and ends up at a baseball tryout camp. He impresses the coaches with his skills, but Pete as yet cannot control the demons of his emotional instability. However, his options are limited and eventually he finds enough inner peace to keep his feelings in check and there is a happy ending.

 Adolescents generally are emotionally unstable as they are transitioning to adulthood. It is a time of great physical and emotional change that is hard to deal with. There are many true stories of how boys that had a difficult childhood found salvation within professional sports. So while this is fiction, it is also based on many facts. The lessons of perseverance and learning to control your emotions are suitable for the athlete and non-athlete in equal measure.