The Hurricanes of Weakerville by Chris Rylander

What worked:

The plot explores how people deal with grief when Alex’s grandfather dies after battling cancer. Alex doesn’t display much sadness, but the assumption is he’s been dealing with the expectation of death since the diagnosis. Alex and Grandpa Ira share a passion for baseball, and they both love the Weakerville Hurricanes. Their family has owned the team for over a hundred years. Ira’s death leaves Alex confused and missing his grandfather, but Alex inherits all of Ira’s old scorecards. In addition to game information, the cards include notes and comments that keep the memory of Grandpa Ira alive. Alex learns more about Ira’s heart and generosity and gets some unexpected insight into how he ran the team. The notes also reveal a mystery regarding the whereabouts of a Dream Team player from the past. Grandpa Ira’s controversial decisions from the past are often rooted in empathy for others.

The book feels like a blend of two baseball movies, “Little Big League” and “Major League”. In the first, a young boy becomes the owner and manager for a major league baseball team. In the second, the new owner of a struggling baseball team will leave Cleveland if the misfit players can’t win the pennant. Alex discovers the Hurricanes are actually owned by a rich relative named Tex who intends to disband the team and tear down the stadium for development. The only thing that can save the team is Alex figuring out a way to lead the team into the playoffs. That becomes more challenging when Alex realizes most of the players quit when they learn he becomes the new manager. The tension builds as the number of games left in the season ticks away.

Alex gets anxious when speaking to most people, and he even creates a name for it, Flumpo. The book shares what his mind is thinking of saying, so it’s fun to contrast that with what actually comes out of his mouth. It’s usually a mixture of sounds and out-of-order words that are sure to confuse the person he’s speaking to. His best friend Slips is aware of the problem and knows when to speak up and interpret what Alex means to say. However, Flumpo still makes it much more difficult to coach a team of grown men who have no confidence in their new 7th-grade manager. Alex’s worries are exasperated since he isn’t telling the players the team will no longer exist if they miss the playoffs.

What didn’t work as well:

The main conflict surrounds saving an independent-league baseball team, and Alex shares his knowledge of baseball strategy. There is a great deal of thinking and planning behind the scenes of baseball operations, and readers should have a tolerance for sports. Alex’s determination to not let his grandfather down provides the context and determination for the plot’s focus. I happen to appreciate the knowledge and logic underlying baseball, so I love the story.

The Final Verdict:

Saving Weakerville with Baseball Zazzle. The author skillfully weaves a story of Alex’s battle to overcome his anxiety and lack of confidence while internally struggling with the death of his grandfather. The story using a baseball team to save a depressed town evokes a wide range of emotions. I recommend you give it a shot!