One-Handed Catch

One-Handed Catch

By MJ Auch

6 ratings 4 reviews 6 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 3 - 8W4.258908
Not even losing his hand can keep Norm from trying out for the baseball team
 
What would life be like with only one hand? That's exactly what eleven-year-old Norm finds out when he loses his left hand in an accident at his family's store. It's July 4, 1946. World War II has ended, and life is getting back to normal. But for Norm, the pressing question now is whether he will ever be able to play baseball again, or be an artist. It's up to Norm to find the strength to get beyond this roadblock and move on with his life.

Set against the quickening pace of life after wartime constraints, this inspiring novel is about an optimist who overcomes his misfortune with discipline and humor--and fulfills his dreams in ways no one could have expected.
Publisher: Turtleback Books
Published on 3/3/2009
Binding: Hardcover

Book Reviews (4)

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Norman Schmidt who is also known as just Norm along with his friends; Leon Schneider and Carl Oberndorfer who are also baseball players. Norm, who always dreams of making the baseball team of the summer league. One day in the summer, when Norm was just working at the family business meat shop, when he was just using the meat grinder until suddenly his hand went in that machine, causing him to lose his left-hand. Norm, who feels like he had to give up his dreams of being a baseball player until he decided to work super hard on the skills, even though Norm actually almost gave up but didn't. This is based on mixed true story and historical fiction story of WWII. - Happy Reading!

One-Handed Catch by Mike Auch is a realistic fiction book. The setting is Baseball fields, bleachers, Norms house, and Norms dad’s meat market. Norm wants to pitch for his baseball team, but his coach doesn't play him because he only has one hand. “You didn’t play baseball that well with two hands, how do you think you’re gonna make it with one? “If you’re gonna tell me what I can and can't do, you can leave.” So he asks the coach if he can pitch, and he says yes. Then he pitches and almost comes back to win the game, but comes up short losing 10-9. Topics addressed in this book are to Never Give Up On Your Dreams. I think this book is inspiring and true because it shows that people can do things they say they can if they have enough motivation. I would recommend this book because it's very inspiring, and it shows a one-handed boy being as normal as a person with two hands.

nigt wing nigt wing

i think this book was great except the hand part

Honestly, I listened to the audio book of this. But DOGO does not have a spot for audio books. This was a really good story, and the audio book really brought out the expression in the characters, even though there was some boring parts. I could really relate. I mean, I did not get my hand cut off like the main character, but I could still relate.