Brothers at Bat
Summary:
The Acerra family had 16 children, 12 of which were
boys. They all played baseball which led
to them becoming an all brother baseball team. They played against other teams
in the area and did well. They went to
war and returned. They all grew up and had families. They faced some difficulties
but above all they were brothers and they cared deeply for one another. It was
all about being together.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book
because of two reasons: They were family and they played baseball. I love
baseball and family is important to me, so that is a great combination. I think
it is interseting because their sisters played with them in the yard. I believe
that it shows teamwork not only on the field but outside. It also demonstrates
a togetherness that only comes with being family. The brothers knew what each other were
thinking which made them work well as a team.
Citation:
Vernick, A. (2012). Brothers at bat. New York:
Clarion Books.
In a 1930s New Jersey
town, one family liked baseball so much that they made their own team. It
wasn’t that difficult. The Acerras had 16 children—12 of them boys. For 22
years straight, an Acerra played baseball in the local high school. In 1938,
the oldest nine formed their own semipro team. With an age range of more than
20 years among the boys, there was always another Acerra coming up. Vernick,
who interviewed the surviving members of the family, incorporates their
remembrances into this very special exhibition of family loyalty and love of
sports. The narrative takes them through their time on the field, the
dissolution of the team when six of the guys went off to WWII (and all came
home safely), and a team resurgence after the war. With plenty of highs
(winning seasons) and a couple of lows (one brother lost an eye when a bunt
went bad), the story rolls along easily. Best of all, though, is Salerno’s
fantastic art. Using a retro style that combines the look of 1950s TV
advertising (think Speedy Alka Seltzer) and the exuberance of comic-book art,
Salerno’s pictures brim with vitality. The author’s and illustrator’s endnotes
provide interesting context for this story of brotherly—and baseball—love.
— Ilene Cooper
Cooper, I. (2012, April 15). Booklist Review.
Retrieved from Booklist Online:
http://www.booklistonline.com/Brothers-at-Bat-Audrey-Vernick/pid=5053764
No comments:
Post a Comment