Review of "Long Stretch at First Base," by Matt Christopher

Review of

Long Stretch at First Base, by Matt Christopher

Four out of five stars

 This is a story about familial loyalty within the context of a local baseball team. Bobby Jamison is a shortstop for the Redbirds youth team and while he has a great deal of range, so does his throwing arm. His throws to first are often just wild enough that the first baseman must dance around a bit to catch them.

 Fortunately, his brother Kirby, a first baseman, is an excellent fielder, capable to catching and controlling Bobby’s errant throws. However, Kirby is a very weak hitter, which contrasts with Tony, a great hitter and mediocre fielder at first. The season has progressed to the point that the members of the All-star team are to be selected and Bobby wants Kirby to be selected over Tony.

 Bobby hatches a duplicitous scheme to try to insure that Kirby is selected over Tony, but events transpire to show him how wrong his actions would be. At the end, it is Kirby that shows Bobby the way things should be, that loyalty to a brother should not get in the way of talent and ability.

 The story is a simple one, easy to read and understand. Like most books of juvenile sports fiction there is a moral and a clear and understandable path to doing what is right. Modern readers may find the story a bit quaint, but the message is timeless.