Safe at Second (Novel)

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER.
Review: Do you like baseball? If you answered yes or no to that question, this would be a great book for you. It begins with two best friends playing ball on their high school team- Todd, a superstar, and Paulie, one who isn't so good but makes up for it with his knowledge of the game. Todd has been featured in Sports Illustrated, ten year olds come and ask him for his autograph, and scouts line up at his front door, and his best friend Paulie is his biggest fan.
But then Todd gets hit in the eye by a line drive.
The doctors have to amputate, and now Todd has to deal with the fact that he's not a superstar anymore. Throughout the book, Todd has his ups and downs- acting deliriously happy and then sobbing because he knows he'll never make it to the majors. Will he be able to cope? Will Paulie let him give up his dream?
THis book has everything- it was the only book that ever made me laugh at loud, and the only book that had me sobbing. It's filled with vivd pictures, and all the characters have distinct personalities. I've read this book 6 times, and it never ceases to amaze me.

Rating:
Summary: Safe at Second
Review: I recently had a choice to read any book I wanted for my class. The book just happened to be Safe at Second. When I first started reading the book, I figured it was going to be just another book about baseball. Something that was boring and wouldn't keep me peeled to the pages. But I was very wrong. Scott Johnson did a fantastic job of twisting things to make them seem unreal, yet very likely. Safe at Second taught me to re-think some things in my life. It also increased my interest in baseball. There isn't many books that I would finish reading in one day! The content and real-life scenarios helped me to relate to the things Todd and Paulie were going through. I could understand both sides clearly, and that made the story all the more interesting. When Todd lost his eye, you could feel the intense moments he went through. You could see how it affected him and Paulie. You could see how he was changed. Todd's story takes you through a tragedy that can be overcome, yet sometimes too devastating to go through. Paulie is also changed by the tragedy. He gets to see who he really is, even if it means changing his ways. Safe at Second made me appreciate the things that I have in my own life. After reading the book, I had more respect for things I owned and the people around me. I learned from the characters in the book that life is more than just what you want, its what you get. But if you give your all, no matter what the outcome will be positive. This book is not one for a specific age group. I would recommend this book for anyone of any age. Whether you are in 3rd grade or in college, Safe at Second will surely keep you on the edge.

Rating:
Summary: What a book!
Review: Pitcher Todd Bannister is the best high school pitcher in the United States. His best friend Paulie, also his number one fan, tells the story of this major league bound player and how it came abruptly to an end when a line drive smacks him right in the. The ball hits square on the eye, the coach rushes him to the hospital, but it turns out there is nothing they can do to help it. The only thing they can do is put in a glass eye. Will Todd find the strength to ever pitch again? And what will Paulie do if Todd doesn't make the majors?

This book really freaked me out. I wondered if Todd would ever pitch again. I wondered what Paulie would do because he based his whole life around Todd. I wondered if Todd and Melissa would ever get back together. So many questions were flying through my head. I just couldn't put the book down. Todd eventually goes back to school, but it's not the same. People look at him a different way. People hold doors for him, they let him walk into class first, and they just let him have a whole bunch of special privileges

This book reminded me of the movie, "The Rookie". "The Rookie is about a 40 year old man who tries to make a comeback so he can play in the major league. "Safe at Second" is about Todd Bannister, the best high school pitcher in America, and how he gets hit in the eye by a line drive. Both Todd and the 40 year old man have to deal with some sort of setback. Todd has the problem of only being able to see out of one eye while the 40 yr. old man has the problem of him being old. Both try to make a comeback. Todd fails, but the 40 yr. old succeeds.

I picked this book because of my love of sports, especially my love for baseball. Every year, I can't wait for opening day. The sound of fastballs hitting the mitt and the yell of the crowd after a walk off home run just brings baseball fever to me. When I read the book preview, I was immediately sucked into the book so much that I couldn't put it down. I loved the party scene (it was hilarious). I would suggest this book to any baseball fan.

On a scale of 1-5 I would rate this book as a 4. The story of the book was really great but some of the language is not for young children. I can completely relate to this book because like Todd and Paulie, I'm learning about drugs and how they affect you. Todd's try at a comeback was really cool to read about, but it was also interesting see how Paulie had to switch lifestyles because he had always based it around Todd. It goes to show you, don't base your life around one thing because if something happens to that one thing, what else do you have to jump to.