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Summary of book
This book is a story about Jack Callahan and his baseball team. The Only Game, by Mike Lupica, is part of the home team series. In this book it shows how Jack bounces back from his loss in the championship last year. He goes through the year with a brand new team and coach, but still succeed all the way through the playoffs. This book is way more than just baseball. It is a page turner that keeps your eyes glued to the book. I chose this book because it was a sports book by Mike Lupica. Also, I -
Event 1- Meeting the team
Jack Callahan goes down to the baseball diamond to meet his new team after the devastated lost in the championship game last year. That game decided which team gets to go to the little league world series in Williamsport. Jack already knows a bunch of guys from his team last year that are playing on different teams this year. I thought this event was very important because it propelled the action forward. It created the story by showing his team ,and that he might have a chance at the world seri -
Event 2- Expectations
Everyone in jacks league and family had high expectations about Jack. They thought that he would have been breaking records and become the best baseball player in the area. Also they thought whatever team he would be on would be undefeated. All of these expectations created a picture in every ones mind of Jack going to the little league world series. This made Jack nervous for the year ,and created some decisions that will propel the story in many different ways. I think that all the high expect -
Event 3- Brother
Before the first game of the season Jack's older brother Brad dies. The book does not say how he dies, but it does say that he died right before the season started. This was a big shock to Jack and his family. The whole town knew Brad and Jack’s family. This was in my opinion the most important event in the whole book.. The effect of this tragic death was what propelled the rest of the book, and the mood. In the end, Brad's death shocked not only the Callahans, but the entire town. -
Event 4- Big decision
The biggest decision in this book is when Jack Callahan has to decide if he is going play baseball or not to. This decision was brought on by his brother Brad dieing during the summer. This major event struck him so hard that he stopped playing baseball even when everyone told him to keep playing. I believe this decision of quitting baseball was a bad idea because baseball would've kept his mind off Brad ,and help him concentrate on other stuff going on. Also, having Jack play baseball instead o -
Event 5- Pressure
All of Jack’s friends tried to pressure him back into playing baseball. They pressured Jack constantly at school and out of school to play. They drove him so far that he got all new friends that would not try to force to play baseball. This drove the action forward because it added events to the story made the outcome more surprising and better. I believe that the pressure from his old friends was a big part in the story showed the reader that he was serious about quitting. -
Event 6- New Friends
Jack was so much under pressure about baseball from his friends that he started hanging out will new friends. He got two new friends to hang around with. The first one was teddy that was an overweight child that was being made fun of because of his weight. His other friend was cassie that was the star of softball team for 6th graders. Both of his new friends were arguing with him and that he should not play baseball this year. I believe that his new friends was a little drastic for the situation -
Event 7- Coming back
A couple games into the season the rays, Jacks team, season ,and he decides that he wants to go back into baseball. Jack’s first game is against the white sox and Jack has not practiced for weeks. All of his old friends immediately his friends again ,and actually his best friend fred is on the white sox. The rays end up beating the undefeated white sox with a big hit at the end by Jack to win the game 6-5. I believe that the first game against the white sox was the most important game the whole -
Event 8- Game full of problems
In Jack’s second game they face a team that is in the bottom of the league ,and is not very good. They were the marines and his friend John was on there team. The game was a blow out and score was 10-2 ,but there was one problem. Their starting catcher Scott broke his ankle during the game ,and is expected to not make it back for the rest of the season. I think that this game brought Jack’s confidence up to normal ,and he played up to his potential. -
Event 9- New catcher
After the loss of Scott the rays were desperate for a catcher. Jack told the coach that he knew someone ,and it was teddy. Teddy has not played baseball before besides playing with Jack. The rays went on five game win streak with Teddy at catcher. He was pretty good at it since he has only caught for Jack at extra practice for fun. I believe that this was stretched because he is not athletic at all ,and he is now the best catcher in the league. Also the fact that Jack has been playing amazing is -
Event 10- Championship game
This is the big game for Jack and Teddy. The title for the atlantic champ is on the line ,and so is the chance at making it to Williamsport pennsylvania for the little league world series. In this game against the white sox who they already beat 5-6 in Jack's first game. This game was 3-2 with an amazing catch from teddy to quickly tag out Fred at the plate to win the game for the rays. I believe that the Rays deserved to win the game and make to williamsport ,but the fact that the new catcher -
Conclusion
I thought this book was a great book ,but a not very believable. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a sports fan. If this was a movie I don’t think I would watch it because I would already know what would happen at any point in the movie. The fact that a random character can pop in be an amazing catcher that has never played a sport in his life. If I could change something it would be the fact that they don’t pick a random person to play catcher ,but someone else from there team that p
