Böcker av Jack McKenna

The year is 1948. Twelve-year-old Robert Christy's father and his Uncle Jack, two years younger than his dad, had been superb football and baseball stars in high school. When WWII was declared, both served in the Marines. Jack had made it home safely. Robert's father hadn't. Jack was now a sportswriter for the Columbus Dispatch, which Robert thought was the most exciting job in the world. Although Robert loved the game of baseball, nobody in his school wanted a mediocre player on their team, so he sat on the bench, and imagined calling the games. Sportscasting absolutely fascinated him. With his voice, he'd probably be a natural. Uncle Jack presented Robert with a short-wave radio and broadcast quality microphone for his birthday, which led to a chance encounter with Smokey, the Christy men's old high school coach. The combination might turn Robert's entire life around.

15-year-old Joe Taylor is quiet and shy, but he has a blazing fastball and pinpoint control. In 1957 he's one of the best pitchers in the state of Wisconsin. As a freshman at Wautuk High School, he and his best friend, catcher Hank Allyson, spend most of their days on the baseball diamond. While Joe has no lack of confidence on the baseball field, the same can't be said when it comes to girls. His biggest fan, Jayne Littlefield is not just a neighbor, she's also in his homeroom at school. When an opposing pitcher starts deliberately throwing bean balls and nearly injures Joe, he and Hank grapple with a desire to retaliate. Come summer, when Joe attends summer camp, he encounters not just a pack of bullies and a boy from the state reform school, but a large black bear which attacked people in a neighboring campground.