Nick’s welcome home from the hospital isn’t all that warm. Then again, it's just he and his dad now, and his father hasn’t smiled in a long time. It's obvious his dad won’t be giving him any breaks, and he seems to resent the limp Nick's developed as a result of Polio, which kept him in the hospital for over a year. His father's always busy playing catcher for the local semiprofessional team, and Nick had to do all the chores around the house. After being away for so long, he knows he doesn’t have any friends left. After all, he went from being the best pitcher in town, to someone who can’t walk without limping. He’ll never be able to pitch now. When an unlikely friendship begins with the girl next door (who's obsessed with baseball), Nick has someone to talk to and maybe play some light ball games with. At the stadium things are really happening. The famous Satchel Paige has come back for another season, and Nick can’t believe his luck. Especially when he gets to meet the great player, and the owner of the team gives Nick some important jobs. Satch takes a liking to Nick and pushes him to overcome his limp and the painful brace that he has to wear. Will Nick’s dad ever show him the affection he needs? Is it possible for Nick to move around without the brace? Will Nick ever get on the mound again? What will happen when they travel to towns that aren’t happy with a team made up of both black and white players? You'll have to read this story to learn more baseball history!


King of the Mound: My Summer with Satchel Paige by Wes Tooke brought history to life for me. I didn’t know anything about Satchel Paige’s baseball career, and even though the characters in this story are made up- I still learned a lot. I really connected with Nick because he's kind and struggling with the way his life has changed. My heart went out to him, and I was glad he was able to make a good friend who helped him see the brighter side of things. I could easily picture the baseball games that were taking place, and I loved imagining the stunts Satchel Paige performed in order to get fans to come to the games. What a talented player! I was sad to see what life was like for any baseball players who weren’t white. It's terrible to think that people wouldn’t let a talented player sign for the majors- simply because of his skin color. This book helped to show that if we don’t take no for an answer there may be consequences we don’t even see! Fans of baseball will definitely enjoy this book and the interaction between Nick and Satch. For those that don't like baseball- if you like to see people working to overcome challenges, this is a story you'll really get into. This book will be enjoyed by kids in third grade and up. A reminder to us all to never give up on our dreams! ( )

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I loved how the author creates Nick, a compassionate young boy who loves and lived for baseball. He recovers from polio, but not without a brace and a limp. His distant father who is tough on the outside but inside worries about his son and still grieves for his wife who passed away. His father is an aging catcher that Satchel Paige plays on. I loved how the author connects the three different characters. Nick learns life lessons from Satchel and sees how unfair Satchel is treated because of the color of his skin. Satchel teaches Nick determination and to keep your eye on the prize. This book is a great read aloud for students. It could also be used in literature circles based on Black History Month, baseball, or sport themes. I have since recommended it to several of the reluctant male readers in the classroom and they have enjoyed it. It is also a Nutmeg Nominee for our state's kid choice books for the year.

This is a book that will hook young sports enthusiasts, but will also hold the interest of any reader who believes in the power that nothing is impossible. This story takes place in North Dakota, in the early 1900’s with a young boy just leaving the hospital after a year of fighting polio. It takes place when serration was still around, which meant black and white people could not play on the same baseball team, no matter how great they were. When one boy is about to give up, a hero steps in and gives hime the courage and power to believe in himself and the impossible. It is a quick read, but also should be encouraged to be read slowly. There is so much research that could go with this book. Students could spend time learning more about Satchel Paige, segregation, and polio. ( )

A nice sports/historical fiction novel. This is a story about a strained relationship between a father and son and their love of baseball. This novel addresses the segregation, prejudice and racism within semi-professional and professional baseball. I connected with the main character as I had a great uncle with Polio and grew up hearing of how he overcame his disabilities. I'd recommend this book, especially to a student interested in the history of sports/baseball or a student who may also have a strained relationship with a parent for one reason or another. ( )

For fans of the sport and those of just good people, loved watching Nick grow through that summer. ( )