Kirkus Reviews

A sign regarding the nature of luck hangs on Trey's wall, a remembrance of his grandmother.Trey believes that the blue sea glass that his grandmother gave him brings him luck in baseball—and in school as well, negating the need for extensive study. On the field he steps over the foul lines, taps home plate four times with his carefully selected bat, and, most of all, keeps the polished shard of sea glass with him at all times. He is selected for the Ravens, makes some great plays, and gets some timely hits. When his lucky charm is lost, he goes into a slump. Listening to his mom and uncle reminiscing helps him realize that he has been misinterpreting his grandmother's thoughts about luck. Success is all about practice and hard work and using your talents. Bowen employs nearly every bit of applicable baseball lingo, with detailed descriptions of practicing and playing the game, assuming that readers will understand. He includes some gentle life lessons in a palatable, not too hectoring manner. In a nice touch, there are fun facts about some famous major league players who had lucky rituals, hats, bats, and more. Although Trey and his family are probably white, naming conventions indicate some possible diversity among his teammates.A good read for youngsters who know and love the game. (author's note, sources) (Fiction. 9-12)

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Middle schooler Trey Thompson believes he made the Ravens baseball team thanks to a lucky piece of blue sea glass. When he loses it and goes into a playing slump, caring adults and teammates encourage him to rely on practice, not superstitions, to become a top-notch player. Lots of game action lightens the story's messaging; an interesting addendum highlights superstitions of past baseball greats.

ALA Booklist (Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2018)

Playing on a competitive 13-years-and-under baseball team, Trey relies on his lucky piece of sea glass to see him through. And it seems to work pretty well, until he loses it. He continues to observe baseball superstitions such as tapping corners of the plate with his bat, but still he's definitely in a slump. To make up for his lost luck, Trey tries to ignore his superstitious impulses and work hard, taking extra batting and fielding practice to sharpen his skills. Soon playing better than ever, he reflects on where his luck really lies. A former kids' baseball coach and the writer of a Washington Post sports column for young readers, Bowen adds an entertaining note on baseball superstitions. This short but satisfying chapter book portrays Trey's life on the field, at school, and within his single-parent family. Featuring baseball equipment rather than people, the jacket photo doesn't target or exclude any particular age group. The straightforward story will appeal to young players as well as older ones intimidated by longer novels.