New York Times bestselling author Tim Green delivers another exciting baseball tale that will keep kids on the edge of their seats. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica. Tommy Rust is a pro at being the new kid. So when his dad marches onto his baseball field, he knows that time is up. In his new town, he goes by the name Brock, and he's having a hard time fitting in. And being friends with the bully from the wrong side of the tracks isn’t helping. But thanks to a prank gone wrong, the baseball coach of the travel-team notices Brock’s skills and offers him a place on his failing baseball team. But can Brock prove himself on and off the field before he strikes out and becomes the new kid…again? A Father-Son Story: Brock’s dad is always on the run, pulling him out of towns just when he starts to feel at home. But the secrets he’s hiding are more dangerous than Brock could ever imagine. - Dealing with Bullies: Brock is the new kid, but he refuses to be pushed around. When he stands up to the school bully, Ryan Nagel, he starts a fight that might just end in a surprising friendship. - Starting Over: Tommy Rust is gone. In his new town, he’s Brock Nickerson, a kid trying to fly under the radar. Can he keep his real identity—and his incredible baseball talent—a secret? - A Coming of Age Story: More than just a game, this is a story about finding your voice, choosing your friends, and learning what it means to be part of a team when your whole life is temporary. Gr 5–8—After hitting a two-run homer in the third inning that ties the championship game, Tommy Rust finds himself at bat, poised to bring in the game-winning run. Then his dad shows up and Tommy knows he's not there to watch the big game. It's time to run. For as long as Tommy can remember, this is how they live- going from town to town, always under a different name. By the time Tommy and his dad reach their destination, a little town in Upstate New York, he has memorized his new name, Brock Nickerson, and managed to push down his anger at being uprooted yet again. In an attempt to fit in at his new school, Brock accepts a dare and throws a rock through Coach Hudgens's window. The Coach, admiring Brock's throwing arm, offers a ticket out of trouble: he wants Brock to join the travel team. Brock and the Coach are compelling and sympathetically drawn characters. Brock's dad is not as fleshed out and comes across as inconsistent. While the baseball action is engaging, the mystery surrounding the father and what he does for a living is never fully explained. This lack of resolution may hint at future installments.—Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ “Exciting, romantic and thought-provoking, this book scores a home run. ” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Engrossing.” - The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books It's hard being the new kid, both on and off the field. It's bases loaded, bottom of the last inning, and Tommy Rust is up at bat in the championship game. This is the moment he's been waiting for. But then his father barges onto the field, and Tommy knows what will happen next. They will be leaving immediately—again—because Tommy and his dad are on the run. Now Tommy is in a new school, in a new town, and he is no longer known as Tommy. Brock Nickerson is the name of the new kid, and finding a place for himself is proving to be a challenge, especially when his new friend is the bully from the wrong side of the tracks. Things aren't looking good for Brock, so to fit in, he accepts a dare to throw a rock at the travel-team coach's window. Coach Hudgens has demons of his own, and many say he's "washed up." The travel team he's been running has lost every ball game in the last year. However, when Coach catches Brock in the act, he's more impressed by his pitching arm than angry at the prank. But can Brock save Coach's team . . . and maybe Coach himself? Or will Brock's father make him be the new kid in yet another town? New York Times bestselling author and former NFL defensive end Tim Green delivers another baseball tale with sports action and emotional heart that will keep kids on the edges of their seats. Tim Green , for many years a star defensive end with the Atlanta Falcons, is a man of many talents. He's the author of such gripping books for adults as the New York Times bestselling The Dark Side of the Game and American Outrage . Tim graduated covaledictorian from Syracuse University and was a first-round draft pick. He later earned his law degree with honors, and he has also worked as an NFL commentator for FOX Sports and NPR. His first book for young readers, Football Genius , inspired in part by his players and his own kids, became a New York Times bestseller and was followed by Football Hero , Football Champ, The Big Time , and Deep Zone . He drew on his experiences playing and coaching Little League for Rivals and Pinch Hit and two more New York Times bestsellers: Baseball Great and Best of the Be