Fielder's Choice - Paperback

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by Rick Norman (Author)

Beneath the baseball and the shuck-and-jive narration is a story about a young man learning to live his own life. -School Library Journal

Andrew Jackson Fielder dreams about pitching in the major leagues. It is an unlikely dream for a kid growing up in Smackover, Arkansas, in 1939. But for Fielder, it comes true, partly due to the afternoons he and his brother spend practicing pitches in a pipe yard down in the south Arkansas oil patch. However, this humorous coming of age story is more about learning to live life and take responsibility for bad decisions than it is about playing baseball.

During World War II, Jackson is shot down and ends up in a prisoner of war camp. Following months of abuse, he is "recruited" by a Japanese admiral who wants his son to pitch like a pro. The boy, a young kamikaze pilot is determined to learn how to throw a "goose ball". His commitment and hard work help Fielder reconnect with his love of baseball and learn valuable life lessons. These baseball stories inspire readers and teach them the importance of trust and responsibility.

Author Biography

Rick Norman Bio:

Rick Norman is a business attorney practicing in Lake Charles, Louisiana. USA Today called Rick "a master storyteller" and Rick himself concedes he became an attorney so that he could be paid for exaggerating the truth. His debut novel, the August House release Fielder's Choice, received rave reviews. Amorak Huey wrote in Southern Living: "It has earned that spot on my bookshelf reserved for the most memorable baseball books, right next to the likes of Mark Harris' classic, Bang the Drum Slowly." Fielders Choice is widely used in courses at colleges and high schools. For years Rick was a regular contributor to National Public Radio's (NPR) weekly sports show "Only a Game." His commentaries and skits can still be accessed on WBUR's webpage. Rick has also written several treatises on commercial law. Not content with writing, broadcasting or practicing law, Rick also paints and his paintings adorn many Louisiana law offices.

Number of Pages: 196

Dimensions: 0.51 x 8.42 x 5.5 IN

Publication Date: December 15, 2006

Accelerated Reader:

Quiz Name: Fielder's Choice

Interest Level: Upper Grades, 9-12

Reading Level: 5.3

Point Value: 8