Recreation Books

If you have ever run a marathon or even thought about running one, this is the book for you. Marlin Keesler shares with his readers the amazing saga of his life as The Marathon Man. Since I am an expert Whine-ologist, I'm here to tell you that this is not a book for whiners but rather for winners! Thou Shalt Not Whine: The Eleventh Commandment: What We Whine About, Why We Do It and How to Stop This is not just one man's story but rather an entire family's wonderful adventure. You will not be able to put it down except maybe to go out for a quick run in between chapters.

Our Life On the Run is the triumph of the American Family. Marlin Keesler ran marathons in all 50 states. He ran through extreme fatigue and excruciating pain. Keesler admits that he doesn't even like running. What kept him going? Teaching his special needs children to never give up, no matter what your challenges are. This book is not about marathons. It's about connecting deeply with your family and leaving a legacy.

You have to read this book. I have to admit, when "a little bird" recommended that I read it, I was not at all interested in the subject matter. Marathons? People actually write books about running? But I gave this book a try, and I have to say this....I was hooked from the first sentence. This book was about so much more then running, and I would find myself laughing out loud at times, and with tears streaming down my cheeks a few minutes later. This book, in one word, is about commitment. Commitment to meeting the goals you set, but even more importantly, commitment to your family. That is the aspect of the book that truly tugged at my heartstrings.

This book deals with so many issues we are faced with: being raised in a dysfunctional family, employment issues, the loss of loved ones, and the struggles of raising children. What touched me the most though, about this book, is how much the author truly loves his wife. Several times throughout the book he refers to her as "his best friend", and
that is what really spoke to me in volumes. Here is a man not afraid to say how he feels about his wife and family. Now, although there were times he would not admit he was wrong about something (thank goodness for AAA), you never doubted his commitment to his wife and children. This book is a quick read about the importance of family, and it will leave you with that "warm fuzzy feel good" kinda feeling. Definitely worth reading!

Marlin Keesler has written a compelling story of endurance and family togetherness. See, Keesler is The Running Man, running 50 marathons, one in each of the fifty states. Sustaining him is not only a great cardiovascular system and stamina but a devoted family. The accomplishment was a family affair.

Keesler's story reminds us that the journey is the reward. He will win no gold medals perhaps in the marathon, break no world records, but show that determination, will, grit and a family's support can raise us above our limitations.

An excellent read!!

Here's a great story of a guy that had his share of adversity while growing up and as a family man. But he does not give in into fatalism, like most of us would do in similar circumstances.
Read this book and you will find out why.
Meet marlin and his family you won't regret it.

Terry Pluto has written an excellent book and as an Indians fan for 70 years I can easily relate to his personal story and to the history given of the Cleveland Indians. It is an excellent history for the most part, written as only a sports writer can, though he contradicts a couple other writers a few times. I espeically like the emphasis on the heroes of my childhood, Lou Boudreau, Bob Feller, Larry Doby and others on the famous 1948 team. I disagree with his contention that the l948 championship team was not one of the greatest championship teams ever and this is disproved in the detailed book An Epic Season by David Kaiser. Also for a really complete history of the Indians before and leading to 1948, Franklin Lewis wrote a book titled Clevland Indians published in 1949. Sadly, I don't know if that one can still be found or not, even through Amazon. It is more a history. Nonetheless, Our Tribe: A Baseball Memoir is a very good read and brings back the agony of the countless opportunities that former owners of the Indians let get by them. And the new owners may be doing that again today. :( As a personal story it is superb.

Absolutely wonderful weaving of an at times diffcult father-son relationship (congrats for telling it like it was!) and the history of the Cleveland Indians. Never gets bogged down in year-to-year stats and his way of comparing Shoeless Joe and Manny Ramirez's careers was brilliant. The stories about Manny are priceless.

Like all his other sports books, Terry Pluto is easily the best sportswriter on the planet.

This is a superb book because it goes beyond being a great sports book. Terry Pluto's weaving of his relationship with his father into his lifetime love of the Cleveland Indians makes it a book that readers will think about long after they've finished reading it. It's not necessary to be a Tribe fan to enjoy this book. I'd even go as far to say that a reader need not be a baseball fan to feel empathy and self-reflection on his or her parent-child relationship, regardless of whether the person is the parent or the child. I've also read the author's "Loose Balls", a wonderful look back at the American Basketball Association, and recommend that to those who remember the ABA (go Oakland Oaks!) and to those who weren't around to enjoy those years.

This is a fantastic book for any Indians fan who grew up watching games at the old Stadium. It's for all of us who grew up rooting for a sad team who had never won anything before and was never likely to do so in the future. It helps us to remember those days when the important thing wasn't how good the team was or if they had a chance at the Series, but rather spending time with our fathers watching the game. Maybe, just maybe, this book will help us to remember what is really important once again.

This book is as much a story about a son and his relationship with his father as it is about baseball, and tells each of those stories wonderfully. For basball fans it is an entertaining history of the Cleveland Indians and is full of colorful players, managers, and even owners. From the perspective of this one baseball team, the reader has a ring side seat on how much our country, society, and professional sports have changed and grown over the last 75 plus years. Just from the standpoint of the baseball Terry Puto is as good as Ken Burns or George Will.

But the story within the story is really about the author and his father. That relationship is one that is full of joy and sadness, wonderful memories and yet regrets. The author comes to better understand and appreciate his father after a stroke makes it impossible to talk to his father. In a cruel irony, when the time came that the author was ready and wanted to share stories and talk to his father, he was not able to.
All fathers and sons should read this book.

A final comment on Terry Pluto's writing style. I have read three of Mr Pluto's books and appreciate the way he writes in a clean, no non-sense style and yet fills his books with so much detail and color.

TO ANYONE WHO HAS EVER LISTENED TO THE DAN PATRICK SHOW ON ESPN RADIO, THIS IS A TERRIFIC COMPANION BOOK. DAN'S WIT AND AMAZING INTERVIEW STYLE JUMPS RIGHT OFF THE PAGE AT YOU. IT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ANY OF YOUR AVERAGE SPORTS INTERVIEWS. HE COMBINES WIT AND WISDOM TO MAKE THIS AN AMAZING READ

i don't really care much for ESPN the Magazine but i dig Dan Patrick's outtakes.that is always cool.this is so cool finding out what folks really dig off the field or court or track.very interesting.that was the most Creative thing that ESPN The Magazine did at the back.i enjoy reading this.

Fun, Enjoyable and Fast..... You could read whenever you feel like with no pressure of forgetting what happened... Different People with different Things... Big Names....... FUN FOR LOVERS OF THE GAME Patrick is great as usual...fun and Loving]

This is one of the best sports related books I have ever read. I am a subscriber to ESPN the magazine and enjoy reading the outtakes column in every issue. This is a must for sports lovers!

Dan Patrick exemplifies outstanding sports reporting. In Outtakes, he engages his dry sense of humor and mixes it together with his extraordinary knowledge of the sports world. Outtakes is a candid collection of interviews with sports' celebrities of past and present. He is not afraid to ask the questions that everyone truly wants to ask, and the word associations are outright hysterical. Patrick is one of the wittiest people on the face of the earth. Outtakes just shines with this. The book is an easy read, and has a good, steady flow to it. It is one entertaining ride into the insightful mind of Dan Patrick, sports' guru. Just hold on, because the laughs come hard and fast.

Must admit that I am probably biased since my daughter,Dina Dembicki, was involved in the "making" of this beautiful tribute to the drivers and their "kids". Having seen what it takes to put it together makes me appreciate it all the more. Dina spent 12 to 18 hours a day doing the layout and putting the book together. As the Design and Print Production, Graphic Arts person, she spent every moment loving this book. Ryan and Krissie Newman are not only wonderful human beings and loving "pet parents" they are generous with their time and aid for all living animals. The Ryan Newman Foundation is responsible for the Catawba County Humane Society's new housing facility for which this book donated all net proceeds to the new building construction. These are the kind of folks who can be assured to make it to Heaven!! This book is now in it's 2nd printing thanks to all animal and NASCAR lovers who bought one. My thanks to them and everyone else responsible for making this book such an astounding success. By the way, Krissie is even prettier than her photo!

I love this book!! I love the Nascar drivers and how they show their love for their pets!!

This is a BEAUTIFUL book that provides funds for a GREAT CAUSE. NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, have made humane treatment of animals their personal mission. It is encouraging to see a young couple consciously chooses to "GIVE BACK." Buy this book for the cause as much as for the enjoyment!

This is a WONDERFUL book for anyone who loves pets and NASCAR. The photos are wonderful. The stories show these NASCAR people just like families everywhere who love their pets. Great read. Easy book to read "a little at a time".

This book was alot of fun to read and had great pictures. I am a dog lover and a Nascar fan so this book was perfect. It helps you get to know your favorite driver by the type of pet he has and the stories about them. You will not be disappointed by this one.

EXCELLENT book. A Coach or parent must read . Easy to understand with a vast amount of effective baseball knowledge with great illustrations . I especially like section that covers understanding kids emotions and psychological effects of ups and downs on players . Most parents and coaches do not realize how they can have a long term negative effect on a player. This book brings a whole new light on to the subject.

Very well written, very informative down to earth explanations and philosophy.

Gives insight that can be used for any age player. Breaks down to a fundamental level. Recommend for any youth coach.

This book isn't bad. I have not finished reading it, but it does give quite a bit of useful information. However, Cal seems to repeat himself several times in the book. There are many books out there that offer adequate, if not better, knowledge of how to play the game. Louisville Slugger's book is good as well as Coaching Pitchers. I would suggest only buying this book if you are a die hard baseball fan and plan on collecting many books. One good thing about the book is that Cal does give that sense of how to be a good teammate and maybe even a great family member.

I picked up this book at the local sporting goods store while I was buying gloves, bats, socks, pants, and etc. for my two sons who were starting little league baseball.

Just a few weeks earlier, I had declined a spot as an assistant coach due to not being "athletic", and I saw Ripken's book as an opportunity to learn some of the things that other dads had learned as kids.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have not read it cover-to-cover, but have browsed and spot-read it throughout the season.

As a result, I now understand more of the things other dads are yelling out. For example, for those in the field, "keep your eye on the ball" means watch the ball from the beginning of the pitch, all the way to the bat, as it connects with and leaves the bat, then all the way to the glove.

Chapters are given for each of the aspects of the game, pitching, fielding, hitting, catching, running, and so forth. Text narratives are easily understood, avoiding or explaining the sports "jargon" that confuses many beginning players (e.g. "choke up on the bat", "take two"). Pictures explicitly illustrate concepts such as batting and fielding stances.

Ripken's narrative also provides fun training excercises used by coaches (both major and little leagues) to develop baseball skills.

I have kept this book within an arm's reach in my office all summer long. Ripken's baseball insights have enabled me to help my sons develop their own throwing and batting skills.

Maybe next year, I might take that assistant coach position!

This book highlights the technicalities of racing sportscars at the highest level. Whilst the book focuses on the development of the various cars the author worked with (GT40/Mirage/Porsche 917), it also touches on the various drivers employed by his teams during his career (Rodriguez, Vern Shupan, Derek Bell).

This book provides some fascinating insights into the author's perspective of the Porsche 917 era, particulalry in regards to the rivalry between the Gulf team and Porsche Salzburg/Martini.

A great read, particularly if read in conjunction with Vic Elford's book, which details the Porsche Salzburg side of things.

Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the epic sportscar era.

This is a great book for anyone who grew up on the movie Le Mans (still the best racing movie ever made) and dreamed of racing at night down the Mulsanne straight! The author not only was a part of history, but is a surprisingly engaging writer as well.

I have been following automobile racing since 1961 and followed sports car and formula 1 closely in the 60's and 70's with great interest. This is the finest book on sports car racing I have ever read. It's both filled with incredible data as well as anecdotes. If you have any interested in racing buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

This is truly an excellent book. I have an extensive collection of books devoted to motor racing (300+) and I would easily rank this in the top 10. I couldn't put it down. John Horsman was lucky enough to be intimately involved in the development and racing of the two most significant endurance race cars of the 60s and 70s: the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 917. He obviously kept copious and detailed notes during that period and he makes excellent use of them in writing this book. The story is packed with hundreds of tiny details and anecdotes that only a person who was there and lived it can provide. He creates an atmosphere where you feel you are actually there, looking over his shoulder and watching all that is going on. This is exactly what I'm looking for in each racing book I buy; unlike the majority of them, this one actually delivers.
There is another plus associated with this book: it almost free of any errors. It clearly had both an editor and a proof-reader. So many other recent books about motorsports appear to have had neither, and thus end up laced with errors: factual, grammar and typos. This book is refreshingly free of them.
If you only buy one motor racing book this year, this should be the one.

Far too many "Three Star" or "Four Star" books are given a "Five Star" rating, but John Horsman's, Racing in the Rain, truly deserves five stars because it is one of less than a handful of automotive racing books that is absolutely first class in informing the reader, and doing it elegantly, of both how and why some racing cars win and others just compete. I put it along side Laurence Pomeroy's, The Grand Prix Car, and Karl Ludvigson's, Mercedes-Benz Racing Cars, as the best of the genre.
Horsman has the direct personal experience and engineering expertise to know and understand what went on in the sportscar racing world from the late 1950s through the early 1980s, a period that coincides with the golden age of prototype sportscar racing. In this era, Aston-Martin, Ford, Porsche, and Mirage battled with Ferrari, Matra, Alfa Romeo, Renault-Alpine, and other marques in endurance competitions that tested designers, teams, drivers and cars. Rule fixing or "performance balancing" was not part of the racing scene then: it was a tough, honest, win-or-lose world, and John Horsman had an insider's view of it all, and, happily for us, provides a clear, well-written, and, most importantly, an informative account of what went on and why.
One learns, for example, exactly how much bhp and at what rpm a Ford engine produced and what its design weaknesses were and what measures were taken to turn an essentially production-car engine into a race-winning proposition, or what the drag and frontal areas of Mirage racing cars were and, thus, what speeds down the Mulsanne straight might expected, etc., and consequently why some cars won, others came close, or still others failed entirely. In particular, he writes with an unusually clear-sighted eye when discussing Porsche, recognizing the firm's real engineering and production strengths, but not in an awe-struck way (as so many do) for he is able to see how, occasionally, blindness and arrogance on the part of Porsche people led to potential victories slipping away. I also appreciated the hard information Horsman provides on myth-shrouded or obscure topics such as the reason why the Weslake-Ford V-12 failed to be used in Mirage cars.
From an engineer, like Horsman, one expects accurate and detailed information on the cars he worked on or of those against which he competed, but he is also good in capturing the essence of the personalities he encountered during a quarter century's involvement in racing at the highest level. Compassion and feeling are shown where deserved, good drivers are respected and the risks that all assumed are not overlooked, while the occasional fools and knaves of the racing car world are given what they deserve.
If you have even the slightest interest in sportscar racing, you should get this book immediately, but even if your motoring interests lie outside this area of the automotive performance world, you will still enjoy reading it -though be warned, it will make other car books seem thin, pale and dull.

This guide was a birthday gift along with "Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Road Guide." We used the two of these books nonstop during our nine days in the park. This book offers acurate information regarding the trails and rankings. Understand that not ALL trails are listed. I picked up "Best Easy Day Hikes Yellowstone" but it's trail rankings were not as acurate. If you are purchasing one book on trail hiking in Yellowstone, use this one.

We bought this book before a trip to Yellowstone with our family. The book was very helpful in helping us find trails that our whole family could do. The pictures and discriptions were very helpful in the planning and telling our kids what to look for.

This is an excellent guide to relatively short day hikes in Yellowstone. Provides good descriptions on what you will see on the trails and it's small enough to take along on your hike.

There is so much more to Yellowstone than can be seen from the roads and boardwalks. "A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes" guides you to trail heads you may not find on your own and out into the park revealing the incredible diversity that is unique to YNP. Each hike is rated for difficulty and the ratings are generally accurate. The book fits easily into a day pack and the topo maps let you know what you're getting into elevation wise before you set off. I strongly recommend that you include this book in your planning of a Yellowstone adventure.

We have been hiking the National Parks in the West for almost 20 years and this is the most valuable trail book I own. The information on each trail is completely accurate with respect to distances, maps, directions, etc., and the naturalist notes are very informational. We have completed 75% of the hikes in this book and have enjoyed every single one - some have even been done two or more times. The book is small enough to carry in a fanny pack. I have thrown away all of my other Yellowstone hiking books as this has become affectionately known as "The Bible".

Hey, this book is the closest thing to actually seeing Riverdance live or on video...but I definitely prefer to see it live!

This terrific book begins with a history of Irish music and dance, which are "celebrated as a metaphor for life." Included in this background was information about the 17th century cake dance (the dancers ate the prize) and the 18th century emergence of the solo or step dance. This was the most important development in Irish dance history. In the late 1700s dance masters traveled around Ireland teaching complex steps. The Gaelic League was formed in 1893 to promote Irish culture. The first ceili (dance event) was held in London in 1897.

The second part of the book was about Riverdance (the show)-- the original story is based on the life of a river: small and quiet at its source, then feeding and nourishing the lands it passes, and finally rushing out to sea at the estuary. The show was planned to have a soft choral opening and a big finale. It was designed as a seven-minute interval during a Eurovision song contest and got a standing ovation from a roaring audience. Thus, Riverdance "the phenomenon" was born in a Dublin theater in 1994.

From there on, it was expanded and developed into the stage show as we know it today, complete with a premier Spanish flamenco dancer, a six-person troupe from the Moscow Folk Ballet, African American tap dancers, and a choir from Atlanta, Georgia. It also made stars of its first two principal dancers, Michael Flatly and the beautiful Jean Butler, both Americans. Flatly, in fact, was the first American to win the World Irish Dancing Championships.

A "great swell" of national pride resulted from Riverdance's exploration of the internal and outward journeys of the Irish people. Riverdance rescued Irish dancing, reinforcing its sensitivity with simple costumes while utilizing generations of skills and traditions.

A lovely and beautiful book.

I first saw an advertisement when "Riverdance" was showing on PBS, and I wanted a better inside look at this amazing show. I then looked it up in the library. I discovered a real look at how it really began, and how it spread to Canada, the United States, much of Europe, and most recently Japan, among many other places. If you want to discover exactly how much work is involved in putting together a dance show, I recommend this book to you.

It gives wonderful insight of the influences and origins of traditional Irish music and dance. It also tells the story of how Riverdance developed and became a theatrical phenomenon. It is filled with pictures from the the stage and behind the scenes. I enjoyed this immensely it helped provide me with inspiration and insight of the works. I would recommend this to any fan.

"Riverdance," the exuberant Irish dance phenomenon that's sweeping both sides of the Atlantic, has swung its way in a scant few years from a seven-minute interval sequence in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest to a record-breaking stage spectacular. It's an audio, a much-in-demand video, and now a glossy richly illustrated book. Riverdance: The Story opens with a comprehensive history, an account "of an ancient Irish tradition in which dance and music are celebrated as a metaphor for life," then segues into the creation of Riverdance: The Show. Virtuoso Bill Whelan, who has written original music for 15 W.B. Yeats plays, ideated the piece - selecting a river's life as his overall theme, with the male lead dancer representing the land, and the female star embodying the river flowing through the land. He then composed the score for the original sequence and came up with the name "Riverdance." Neither John McColgan, director, or Moya Doherty, producer of the segment, dreamed of the reception it would receive: "It was seven minutes that shattered the hermetically sealed world of television, seizing the attention and igniting the imaginations of 300 million viewers." As the last note rang out the 3,000 member audience (made up of delegates from 25 countries) leapt to its feet, led by the usually staid Irish President, Mary Robinson. Tumultuous cries of "Riverdance! Riverdance!" filled the theater. The rest, to use a fatigued phrase, is entertainment history. The abruptly dissonant departure of audience-pleasing star Michael Flatley is not euphemistically described by the author . When Flatley did not renew his one-year contract, mediation was unsuccessful. A final volley from the multi-talented first generation Irish American is described as demanding control of the show. "I would like complete control over all that I do and all that I am involved with in this show," he wrote. "This includes what I wear, when I dance, and which dancers I choose to dance with." Finding his conditions unacceptable, the decision was made to replace him. Twenty-seven year old Colin Dunne learned only 1 day before curtain time that he would be taking over the starring role. That night the show received a standing ovation. Flatley went on to form "Lord of the Dance," an extravaganza enjoying enormous success. Nothing is overlooked in this meticulously conceived volume - themes, music, cast, production, and predictions for the future all receive studied attention. Author Sam Smyth, a columnist with the Irish Independent newspaper in Dublin, has filled his book with stunning full-page photographs of the phenomenon that has won millions of hearts and imaginations. "Riverdance" fans will love it. - Gail Cooke

A very interesting book with very clear explanations and a full comprehensible vocabulary. I am not an english speaking man, but I can understand almost the whole of the text withouth effort. And this although it is a technical mate. I recommend it to everybody with interest in rugby.

This review refers to the 2nd edition (2007).

If you have seen a few games and are lost, this is the book you want to get. It explains everything from the smallest detail to the history of the world cup. If you don't know the difference between a ruck and a maul or you have no idea what a pitch or a try is then buy this book. Everything is explained in a simple and easy to understand manner.

But then isn't that how all "for dummies" books are written? Well this one is written by people who play and know the game and have an idea how hard it can be for an American on the outside looking in to grasp the game.

I highly recommend this book for both those new to the game and those that have been just using Rugby as an excuse to pop down to the pub for a few pints.

The very first time I saw a game rugby I thought "what a cool looking game". I was absolutly though clueless as to what on earth was goin on and why certain things happened, all I knew it was a lot of fun to watch. This was how it was for years until I got a copy of "Rugby for Dummies", I was very lucky to get my copy as I won it on the Fox Sports World short segment on the "Rugby Report" hosted by one of the authors; Brownie himself. Every Thursday he would read and answer a question concerning rugby that one of the viewers had sent in; if he read that persons question you'd get a free copy of the book; which is how I got mine.

This book is very well writen and easy to understand. After years in the fog knowing about this mystery sport, my eyes and understanding of this game have finally been opened and I now understand the hows and whys of this game I have come to love, thanks to this fantastic book! So a big thank you to Brownie, Guthrie and Growden for helping this dummy understand the great sport of Rugby!!!!

I am new to the world of Rugby. This book was great. It really breaks down a sport that, to me, looked like a bunch of men running in to each other. I have a much better idea of the game and it's history because of this book.

The book was very informative. The book is great for all people, from those who don't know anything about rugby to those just looking for spare bits of information. The authors did a great job with their style as well, making the reader feel as if they were having a discussion with the authors, and giving the reader confidence in his/her rugby ability. It covers all areas of the game, from the rules, to techniques, to training, to the public world of rugby. I recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn anything about the sport

My son read this book at his high school and just had to have it! He loves the author's way of writing and reading about another culture.

Let me start off by saying this is the best book I have read. It is a very exciting book that keeps your attention throughout. It starts off by the Emperer allowing Toyo's Uncle to commit seppuku (suicide) instead of being killed by the government. Samurai Shortstop has a great mix of baseball and culture. You get to read a baseball story but at the sametime learn about their culture and beliefs. Toyo attends Ichiko which is a very big school that consists of only boys.

Ichiko's baseball team is run by the players themselves and when Toyo and a couple other first years want to join the team the have to prove that they are worthy. Toyo's friend Futoshi makes the team as the right fielder but Toyo has a little trouble making the team because Ichiko already has a shortstop. But when their shortstop gets thrown off the team Toyo found himself starting at shortstop. Toyo's father teaches trys to teach him bushido which is code by which Samurai lived but Toyo has trouble understanding it. Not until the end of the book when he has to help with his father's seppuku does he fully understand bushido. This is a wonderful book because it keeps you off balance and never knowing what is going to happen!

Kyle Walmer
Mrs. Bains 3rd block

It's 1890 and you're in Tokyo, Japan. Between classes in the most prestigious high school in town and baseball practice, you learn the old ways--the ways of the samurai. That's Toyo Shimada's life and we get the pleasure of going along for the ride thanks to Alan Gratz's brilliant story telling.


Toyo suffers from familiar teen angst: a parent who doesn't understand him and friends who try to understand him, but often fail. It's the core of most teen stories, but Toyo's world is changing. Old Japan is dying and a new Japan is rising.


His father represents the old Japan. When the emperor reforms their ancient military system and requires all samurai to hang up their swords, Toyo's family is caught in the middle. The opening scene, where Toyo and his father assist Toyo's uncle in seppuku, ritual suicide, is so intense that you'll wonder if Toyo's just having a bad dream.


Even though Toyo's father isn't samurai in the traditional sense, he too decides he can't live in the new Japan. He expects Toyo to assist him in seppuku, when the time comes. First, he must teach Toyo the ways of bushido, the warrior's code.


Between lessons and baseball practice, Toyo learns to meditate and use a sword--and worries about his father. When the time comes, will he have the courage to do what has to be done? Baseball is his passion, and as applies bushido to baseball, he comes to terms with the changing world around him and begins his journey into manhood.


Samurai Shortstop is the story of Toyo's search for his own path in a time of social change and family turmoil. Toyo's personal struggle is one all teens can appreciate. He struggles with peer pressure, studies, and parental control and expectations. Nineteenth century Japan comes alive and provides the color and unexpected tension that every good story needs.

Samurai Shortstop is a wonderful, but underappreciated tale about a boy and his love for baseball. Toyo, a 14 year-old boy is faced to grow up faster than he ever wanted to when his uncle committed seppuku, legal suicide in Japan. Everything has changed since the French Revolution, and now there are no more samurais, but now there is baseball, Toyo's favorite sport.
He has just now started the most prestigious school in Tokyo, which means new friends, bullies, and many more problems. He tries out for baseball and starts learning the way of samurai from his father. Toyo and his father never really understood each other, and now that his uncle has died, Toyo only has his friends to help him.

Toyo is a very smart person, and becomes a very good leader. Throughout the book everything that happens helps him, although it doesn't look like it all the time. Toyo starts to put his skill in the art of bushido, samurai fighting style, into baseball. My favorite part of the book is when he fights the older kid instead of letting them beat him up. I would recommend this book to students from 7th grade and up.
--Malik McKenzie

This is a story of a boy named Toyo Shimada. The time is set in Tokyo, 1890. Toyo is sent to a boarding school of a very high caliber, but after he arrives he sees how the upperclassmen treat the first years. To fit in, he joins the baseball team, a sport he loves. He wants to be shortstop, but until he becomes a "man" to the upperclassmen he is stuck in the outfield. He is enraged, but nevertheless he pushes through the tormenting and refuses to quit the baseball team. The only problem is his father, who is still using the ways of the samurai, or worrier. Toyo's father does not want him to play, unless Toyo can convince him otherwise. Other than that, his father has decided to teach him the ways of the warrior, or bushido. At first Toyo does not understand any of his bushido lessons, or why he has to do them, but over the course of the book he learns to use his bushido skills.
This book reminds me of a book called Dairy Queen. The story was about a girl, and football, not baseball, but in the end she overcomes many obstacles just like Toyo. In both books, the main focus is overcoming anything that comes your way. They are both also about standing up to important figures in there lives. It happens to be that in both books that person is their dad. Alan Gratz has written an enthralling tale.
I enjoyed the book, although it does have some pretty gruesome scenes. I liked reading it because you always want to see what Toyo will do next, what the other characters are going to say, or do. It also tells you a lot about what school was like back then, in Japan. It is a lot different from Americans school, and the year it takes place in really makes a difference. Overall, this is a great book and you should pick it up sometimes if you are looking for a great read.