Youngest Hero,the/Abridged

Rating:
Summary: Just what you'd expect a hero to be!
Review: Engrossing! Captivating! I was intrigued by the main character's minute attention to every detail in the game of baseball. He used all of his senses to micro-analyze every aspect of hitting and fielding to become a great player. Like with other books, I kept waiting for the fatal flaw in Elgin, but was very pleased that he turned out to be a moral person as well as an excellent athlete. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Delightful and thoughtful for all, no matter your passion
Review: I listened to this book on tape and was really drawn into the characters by the voices of Laurie O'Brien and Jack. I couldn't believe that Laurie was just ONE person being all those characters! What else has she done!?!? I was inspired by this story of one family's struggle to find itself through all the ups and downs of prison, divorce, relocation, age discrimination for the young Elgin, who wants to play baseball with more than all his heart. There's even a little romance in there for the single mom as she works to do more than survive & make her son's dream come true. I found the two reader's voices a little disconcerting as they traded off reading the story, at the beginning, but soon grew to appreciate their different characters and the varieties they brought to each one. I highly recommend this book for all ages. I loved listening to it in bed before I went to sleep. It gave me something to look forward to every evening. It also inspired me to concentrate more on my own sport activity and I did well, thinking of Elgin and his determination.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful and thoughtful for all, no matter your passion
Review: I listened to this book on tape and was really drawn into the characters by the voices of Laurie O'Brien and Jack. I couldn't believe that Laurie was just ONE person being all those characters! What else has she done!?!? I was inspired by this story of one family's struggle to find itself through all the ups and downs of prison, divorce, relocation, age discrimination for the young Elgin, who wants to play baseball with more than all his heart. There's even a little romance in there for the single mom as she works to do more than survive & make her son's dream come true. I found the two reader's voices a little disconcerting as they traded off reading the story, at the beginning, but soon grew to appreciate their different characters and the varieties they brought to each one. I highly recommend this book for all ages. I loved listening to it in bed before I went to sleep. It gave me something to look forward to every evening. It also inspired me to concentrate more on my own sport activity and I did well, thinking of Elgin and his determination.

Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: Since I reluctantly read Hometown Legend and was blown away, I've been looking at Jerry Jenkins' other books, and it's been fantastic. This is a wonderful book, and if you're a sports fan like me, you'll appreciate the incredible attention to detail and obvious sports knowledge Jerry has. However, if you're not a sports fan, like my wife, you'll still love it like she did because of the precious characters and terrific dialogue.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: Since I reluctantly read Hometown Legend and was blown away, I've been looking at Jerry Jenkins' other books, and it's been fantastic. This is a wonderful book, and if you're a sports fan like me, you'll appreciate the incredible attention to detail and obvious sports knowledge Jerry has. However, if you're not a sports fan, like my wife, you'll still love it like she did because of the precious characters and terrific dialogue.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: A Homerun!
Review: This book was excellent. I loved every single minute of it. Even though I am not a big sports fan, this book was engrossing with it's facinating detail to the game of baseball. It gave me a new appreciation of sports, and what it means to the people involved in it. The characters were precious, and I truly felt like I knew them. Several days later, I still remember them well. THAT's the sign of a great book!

Rating:
Summary: Like Hometown Legend, This Book Shines
Review: While Jerry Jenkins may best be known for co-authoring the "Left Behind" series books with Tim LeHaye, he has shown his knowledge of sports by writing the biographies of many sports greats, including Orel Hersheiser. In his two latest books, Jenkins deals with young football (Hometown Legend) and baseball (The Youngest Hero) players with an obvious love of both games.

The Youngest Hero is the fictional story of a boy named Elgin Woodell, the son of a former major-league hopeful turned convict because of a crime he committed while on a drinking binge. While Elgin's father is in jail, his mother must support herself and her son on a meager income, while doing everything she can to support his love for baseball. More importantly, though, she recognizes Elvis' incredible talent, and is determined not to let this talent become his ultimate downfall. She devotes all her energies to raising Elgin with a good set of values, while keeping those who wish to exploit her son at bay.

At the same time, Elgin's mom must deal with an unforgiving heart toward her former husband, who has hurt her immeasurably.

The Youngest Hero is a story that shows how success can come to those who work hard and strive for the best. It shows that true love involves sacrifice, and the importance of forgiveness. And whether or not you're a baseball fan, The Youngest Hero will touch your heart in a way that not many books can.

Read this book, enjoy it, and most of all, be prepared to be changed by it.