Sandlot Summit
Rick Fishman

Reviewed by A. E. Jaskiewicz

Baseball is considered one of the great American past-times.  That’s why it seems so fitting that it is used to decide the fate of the free world in the comic tale, Sandlot Summit.  When it comes down to a fight between the Russians and the U.S.A. during the cold war, it’s a group of 12 year old kids that battle it out on the ball diamond, rather than soldiers on the battle field.  The only question is, can a rag-tag group of kids from Ohio win and help freedom reign?

At the beginning of the story, you catch on rather quickly that coach Felix Farley is not the best baseball coach in the world.  His team never wins.  Coach Farley seems more interested in giving everyone a fair shot than actually winning.  That’s why it comes as a big surprise to him when President Ronald Reagan asks him to represent the free world in a symbolic war against the Soviet Union.  Instead of fighting an actual war, the two super powers are going to battle it out on the ball diamond, with twelve year old baseball players as the combatants.  Coach Farley has a short period of time to gather an all star team together to battle the Russians, but he manages to pull it all together and get nine players.  There are seven boys, one little sister (who has to play as a punishment to her older brother) and an enthusiastic German Shepard named Denver.  Through some outside help from Charlie, “The Master of Baseball”, and Felix’s arch rival, coach Brock Boyle, Felix hopes he has what it takes to win.

The characters in the book are all well thought out.  The ones who are supposed to be likeable, are likeable.  The ones who are supposed to be villainous are just that.  There is a clear sense of who you want to root for, and everyone is very cut and dry.  Even though not all the boys get along (like trouble-maker Nat Pickler vs. Sting), they still come across as kids you are cheering on when it comes down to it.

The voice of the characters in the book comes across as very age appropriate.  The boys and girls talk just like that, boys and girls.  They don’t sit around debating the upsides and down-sides of being at war with the Soviet Union, not do they give their opinions of other political issues of the time.  Instead, the boys and girls seem far more interested in things like video games, sports and chasing after crushes.  Things that kids in that age group would really be interested in.

I found there to be a strong message of patriotism throughout the book.  It seemed that there was a great message of love your country and serve your country well.  For example, even though Felix didn’t believe he was the right man for the job, he still stood up and did what the President asked of him, because he was doing it out of pride for his country. 

Sandlot Summit is a very good read for both boys and girls at a middle grade reading level.  There is an added bonus of a glossary for some of the more difficult words, so that kids on the younger end of the spectrum can keep up.  The book is fun, but at the same time, teaches a little bit about history, interweaving the two so kids don’t even realize their getting a quick history lesson.  This book is not just for baseball fans or history buffs, it is something that any kid can enjoy.