Fair Ball (The Contract #4)

Gr 4-6—Ten-year-old Derek Jeter has his plate full with baseball, finals, and family. His beloved Little League team is vying for a spot in the playoffs, he's trailing just a few points behind his academic rival Gary, and being a good son and big brother are always top priorities. As summer approaches, the last thing this competitive young athlete needs is for his friend Dave to start acting weird. Breaking plans and avoiding eye contact, Dave causes Derek to question their friendship, and this distraction begins affecting both boys on the field. In the end, Derek learns an important life lesson. Short chapters allow the action to move quickly, and explicit messages about hard work and positivity are woven into the dialogue. An overarching theme is that while life is not fair, we are responsible for our attitudes toward challenges and our decisions. Important topics are covered authentically, including race, bullying, immigration, and disabilities. One drawback is the unfortunate choice to name Derek's team the Indians; this problematic detail clashes with the book's otherwise positive approach to diversity. VERDICT Purchase where sports fiction is in demand and where there are fans of the series.—Whitney LeBlanc, KIPP New Orleans Schools, LA