Right before the start of high school, Peter has pitched his last baseball game. The cartilage in his elbow is damaged so badly it requires multiple surgeries and his career as a baseball player is over. Without baseball, Peter isn't sure who he will be. He's always been Peter one of the star pitchers, with his best friend AJ as the other star pitcher.
Now at the start of high school, AJ has an "in" with the popular athletes, and Peter is just a freshman. Until they show up in introduction to photography, where Peter gets kicked out of class, and into the advanced class, thanks to his grandfather who used to be a professional photographer.
With help from Angelika, the cute freshman girl also bumped into the more advanced photography class, and a little help from AJ, Peter starts to rebuild himself. Of course this would be easier if he didn't have so many secrets to keep, like that he'll never play ball again from AJ, and that his grandfather is slowly losing his memory from his parents.
New friends, new hobbies, and new experiences mean that Peter's life is changing a lot. Sometimes he handles it in a good way, and sometimes he messes up royally. Even with the seriousness of sports injuries, and aging grandparents, Curveball is still a funny read. Author Jordan Sonnenblick is a master of mixing everyday life with sad experiences, and still keeping the story light hearted and fun. Peter is an "every kid" who messes up, and comes clean.
If you've read Zen and the Art of Faking It, or any of his other books you will like Curveball. Budding photographers (and sports fans!) will also find a lot to live with Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip.
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Who else is ready for the Hunger Games movie? Get ready for the movie by signing up for the Hunger Games party March 22nd!)