Ideal for fans of sports novels and Wisconsin novels - Continues the story of Mickey Tussler that began with The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the TV movie A Mile in His Shoes ) - Follows the journey of the minor league Brewers It’s 1949, and eighteen-year-old pitching phenomenon Mickey Tussler is back. He and his team, the minor league Brewers, continue their journey in this sports novel. In spite of Mickey’s claim that he will never play baseball again after the violent end of the last season, his manager (and now surrogate father) Arthur Murphy convinces the socially awkward, autistic, and emotionally fragile boy to try it again. Mickey comes back and has to learn to deal with the hatred and destruction around him. When a young African American player joins the Brewers, the entire team hears racial threats and is subjected to violence. Mickey witnesses one violent episode firsthand. Struggling to understand such hatred and ugliness, and afraid of the consequences of telling anyone what he saw, Mickey’s field performance suffers. Now, the boy needs to deal with a part of human nature that he barely understands. "This was home. The ballpark. The one place in the world that mattered. The one place in the world that did not morph in the tumult of the universe." Nappi follows up The Legend of Mickey Tussler (2008; made into the 2011 TV film A Mile in His Shoes) with more diamond action between the Brewers and archrival Rangers. This is highlighted by the return of Mickey, the "Baby Bazooka," and the arrival of slugging catcher Lester Sledge from the Negro Leagues... Not even repeated attacks from local members of the KKK prevent him from emerging "like a powerful pupa" to shine on the field. Meanwhile, as Mickey mows opposing batters down, his mother and Brewers manager Arthur "Murph" Murphy consummate their relationship ("...her entire lifetime had been communicated to him through her soft, wet lips"). As in the opener, Rangers' chicanery again leads to a climactic Brewers defeat, but a call to the Show for Murph, Mickey and Lester tacks on an upbeat ending. (Excerpted from Kirkus) "Remarkable. The very best in today's baseball fiction just got a little better." -Don Williams, retired sports columnist, Newark Star Ledger "A moving story about an exceptional boy with uncommon athletic ability. This novel harkens back to the days when baseball was King." - Chris Platt, award winning YA author "Frank Nappi knocks another one out of the ballpark! If there were a Hall of Fame for Baseball books, this heart-warming Mickey Tussler series would be in it." - Betty Dravis, author "Yet another brilliant baseball tale by a first-rate storyteller. The ongoing sage of Mickey Tussler will speak powerfully to young readers as well as anyone of any age who truly loves our national pastime." - Howie Rose, WFAN Sports Radio "Will win over kids and parents alike. Read it together one summer between ballgames and on a family vacation." - Peter Schilling, Author, The End of Baseball Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, Echoes From The Infantry , received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler , garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story " A Mile in His Shoes " starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work, including Sophomore Campaign , the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW , which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. Frank is presently at work on a third installment of his Mickey Tussler series and his next thriller. He lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony. Used Book in Good Condition