Having moved up to the Rising Stars League, eighth-grade fireballer Jack discovers that a 75-mile-an-hour fastball does him no good if he can't get it over the plate. Enter his big sister's new boyfriend, a college pitching coach, who offers the insight that control trumps speed. Though character development takes a backseat here, there is plenty of game action and technical details, and the way Jack only reluctantly comes around to his coach's way of thinking adds a realistic touch. The prolific Bowen serves up a baseball tale that should appeal equally to middle-grade fans and less-able older readers.

Gr 5-8 This is a quick, easy read with no aspirations beyond what it is: a traditional middle school sports novel. Eighth-grader Jack Lerner is proud of his 75-mph fastball, but has trouble controlling it. When his sister's new boyfriend, a part-time college pitching coach, tells him to take something off his fastball and concentrate on spotting his pitches, Jack is initially resistant, but eventually comes to see the wisdom of the advice. A subplot having to do with a Ping-Pong tournament in which Jack and his friends are involved reiterates the theme that success in sports is more about refining your skills than overpowering your opponents. No overarching social issues are touched upon, and character development is minimal, but sports-minded readers should find the brisk pacing and simple vocabulary to their liking. As in other books in the series, a "Real Story" afterword describes how pro athletes dealt with issues similar to those faced by the characters in the book. Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT