This is the third and, as far as I know, final installment of this classis YA trilogy about Roy Tucker, ballplayer on the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1940s. The first book, [The Kid from Tompkinsville], shows us Tucker's growth from a wet behind the ears youngster from a Connecticut farming town to a major leaguer. There are many of hard knocks along the way for young Roy, lots of adversity to overcome. Along the way, there's lot of exciting baseall described, as well. The second book, [World Series], takes Tucker and the Dodgers through an exciting fall classic.

The Kid Comes Back may well be the darkest of the three books. The first two were written in 1941, with WWII still a cloud looming on the horizon for America. This third book was written in 1946, and where the Kid comes back from is several years of hazardous and harrowing combat duty, some of which is described quite excitingly in the first third of the book. The next third of the book is the Kid trying to overcome a painful war injury. Finally we get Roy back on the field, where the problems of the ballplayers returning from the war that's interrupted their careers is explored somewhat. But now, also, we get back to baseball, and the tumult of a difficult multi-team pennant race.

These are, as I said, YA books. None of the characters, including Tucker, are drawn very deeply. The books, in addition to being exciting action/baseball stories, generally follow the theme of the value of hard work, to sticking to your goal despite any adversity a cruel universe might throw your way, and to remaining loyal to your friends and teammates.

As a set, they are a period piece, no doubt. I read them first when I was in the sixth grade or so, with WWII, and world portrayed in these books, while certainly part of the past, still seemed very much alive. WWII veterans, my parents' generation and, not coincidentally, the people who clearly remembered the Brooklyn Dodgers, were still very much an active force in the nation's daily consciousness.

Reading them now again as an adult, I frequently found myself wondering, "I wonder what I made of this scene as a kid? I wonder what I thought about that one?" Anyway, I don't want to make too much of all this. Essentially, it was lots of fun rereading these three books 45 or so years after my first reading. The writing is mannered, geared to a younger audience, and not all of the dialogue and colloquialisms ring true. Also, Tunis certainly takes the color line in baseball for granted, even dropping in a wince-inducing comments about "coloreds" once or twice per book. Nevertheless, I would recommend these three books, and certainly the first one, for anyone who loves baseball and baseball history, and who is also young at heart. ( )