Review: The Joyville Sweat Sox by Linda Fausnet

THE JOYVILLE SWEAT SOX

by Linda Fausnet

Wannabe Pride

Middle Grade Fiction

134 pages

ages 8+

It's against the law to get mad in Joyville. Will Konnie Mack be able to coach a ragtag team of kids who are clueless about baseball without completely losing her cool? 

Twenty-one-year-old Konnie has broken the No Anger law for the third time. She has two choices for punishment: coach Joyville's Little League baseball team for the summer, or spend five years in jail. 

Konnie used to be the best baseball player in town, but she hasn't played the game she loves since she was sixteen. That was the year Bobby Hearsay stole Joyville's team in the middle of the night. It was also the year her father died. 

The current team includes the likes of Clueless Joe Jackson, Joltin' Joanna Demargio, and Carl Repkin, Jr. Keeping her temper in check with these kids won't be easy, and it’s going to be nearly impossible for this bunch to win any games. But Konnie has no choice. Getting mad will land her in the slammer, and her punishment for losing will be far worse than any jail sentence. She will be banished from playing baseball forever….

MY TIDBITS

I love getting my hands on books for kids which include sports. . . there's simply not enough of them around. So when I was offered to review The Joyville Sweat Sox, I was thrilled.

Konnie was a great baseball player when she was sixteen but like many people into sports, tended to let her excitement get the best of her. In other words, she has a bad temper. The first scene has Konnie sitting in a courtroom, waiting to hear the verdict of a ridiculous judge. In Joyville, no one is allowed to get angry and since Konnie has done this three times, she's now facing five years of jail.

This story has an interesting twist of reality with a bit of fantasy thrown in. Each town has it's own funny name (Joyville, Cranksville, etc.) and the players are given even funnier names (Catfish Punter or Clueless Joe Jackson). When Konnie meets the kids she's to coach for the first time, the situation is hilarious. The author definitely knows how to pack in the humor, and kids are sure to laugh their heads off.

But this isn't all fun and games. There are some important and serious messages buried in the pages, ones that kids will never hear enough of. The players learn (as well as Konnie) that a name does not define the person. Even when placed against terrible odds, the players stay true to themselves--a great inspiration.

The only thing that bothered me about this book was the main character. Although the language and writing fit very well to a middle grade audience, the main character herself is not someone kids will easily be able to relate to. The author does a great job giving Konnie a personality kids will understand, but there are still adult view points making it difficult for kids to completely sympathize with her. And the children on the team are held at arm's length, not giving a close enough impression for kids to sympathize with them either.

Still, there's a lot to appreciate in this story and kids will still find it fun to read.

And here she is. . .

LINDA FAUSNET!!!

Linda Fausnet is the author of several books, mostly adult fiction. She has also written numerous screenplays of various genres. Two of her scripts have been optioned by production companies in Los Angeles; Mega Films, Inc. and Runaway Productions. Her screenplay, QUEEN HENRY, was a Finalist in the national Progress Writers Competition. Linda runs an educational and promotional website for indie writers at www.wannabepride.com

Twitter - @lindafausnet

Facebook for Readers - https://www.facebook.com/lindafausnet

Facebook Group for Writers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/369053709961293/

Email List – Choose either WRITER'S or READER'S list - http://wannabepride.com/blog/?page_id=3466

Roxy Rogers: Your Destiny is Calling by Emily Siskin-Toy



 

ROXY ROGERS:

YOUR DESTINY IS CALLING

by Emily Siskin-Toy

Illustrated by Brian C. Krümm

Three Bug Books

32 pages

ages 6 - 9

 

What happens when a young girl with a Hall of Fame baseball pedigree breaks the family mold and follows her dream to become a soul singer? “Roxy Rogers: Your Destiny Is Calling”, a picture book for ages 6 – 9, lets children see that their families will love them just the same when they pursue their true passions in life.
Everybody in Roxy’s family–from her great-grandpa (played with Lou Gehrig), to her grandpa (played with Jackie Robinson), to her mother (super-star college softball player), to her father (was a Los Angeles Dodger), to her sister (won a Gold Medal for Team USA Softball, and so on)–famously played ball, and Roxy is next in line. The only problem is that Roxy dreams of singing soul music like her idol, Aretha Franklin!
A historical addendum provides information about the Hall of Fame baseball players who turn up in the book, as well as Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul music. Additionally, a fun treasure hunt for clues about Roxy’s true destiny runs throughout the book, giving readers an enhanced, interactive experience.

 

 

 

MY TIDBITS

 

Roxy is doomed to be a baseball/softball player. After all, every single family member she can think of was a famous player themselves at one time or another. They say that playing ball is in her blood. But that's not what she wants. Just like many kids, Roxy doesn't want to disappoint her family, so she keeps her real dreams to herself - a fact I found very true to life. After all, what kid is willing to disappoint their entire family?

The illustrations are well done, and the story telling itself is direct to the point (if not perhaps a bit too brief). It's perfect for a short read-a-loud. I especially enjoyed the mention of famous baseball players, and the added tidbits at the end of the book about them, which is sure to interest small baseball player gurus. As an extra bonus, small surprises are hidden in the pictures, which kids are asked to go back and discover when the story comes to an end. This alone guarantees to grab kids' interest.

Summed up, this is a sweet story kids can relate to with a heart-warming ending. Kids will enjoy it.

 

 

You can find this on Amazon here!

 

 

 

 

And here she is. . .

EMILY SISKIN-TOY!!!

 



 

A U.C. Santa Cruz banana slug alum, Emily Siskin-Toy launched her writing career with posts at various film and television magazines in Los Angeles. After a break in the action to raise her daughter, Emily and her college sweetheart founded WOW! Music Studios, a successful children’s music instruction school in Mill Valley, California.
But just like the character in her book, Emily’s true passion was something entirely different; she always dreamed of writing children’s books. Inspiration was everywhere for Roxy Rogers: Your Destiny Is Calling. While coaching her daughter’s youth softball and basketball teams, Emily eventually came to realize that the world of sports was a passion of hers, not her daughter’s, who really wanted, of course, to be a singer. The plot of the story was right in front of her, and the surrounding details would be cultivated from her lifetime of love for the rich history of Major League Baseball and her daughter’s love of music.


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