A Little Potato and Hard to Peel by David Harrell

What worked:

David was born without a right hand, which affected his dream of excelling in baseball. He hopes to earn a letter jacket in high school and get a girlfriend. He thinks that will make him cool and prove he’s normal. Most readers can relate to David’s worries when he starts middle school and a bully makes things worse. He’s even uncomfortable when his new teachers read their class rosters and reveal David’s embarrassing first name. In David’s eyes, it only gives the bully ammunition for teasing.

David gets helpful advice from different sources including the nub at the end of his right arm. He calls the nub Mr. Mo and they have brief conversations when David thinks he’s not like normal kids. His grandfather is a big baseball fan and David appreciates their talks together. The school guidance counselor shares some observations and suggestions when David’s having an especially bad day. The book also mentions a couple of former major league baseball players that David looks up to. David loves Pete Rose’s hustle and Jim Abbot pitched even though he was missing his right hand, just like David. David even receives help from his grandfather after his passing.

What didn’t work as well:

The book’s fast pace doesn’t allow time for plot details and character development. The story focuses mostly on David’s challenge to fully accept his disability and his desire to play baseball. Readers don’t know much about the other characters

The final verdict:

The simple narrative will appeal to young readers and they’ll be able to relate to his desire to be “normal”. They can also respect the challenges he faces to overcome physical and mental hurdles to become the best he can be. Overall, it’s an endearing quick read and I recommend you give it a shot.