Book Review: Second Chance (Baseball Buddies, 2)

Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

Pleasant and fun—a lighthearted story of baseball and teamwork

 The Manatees are back! Thanks to Coach Joe and an unexpectedly excellent captain (newcomer Luis), this little league team has the best attitude around. They’re pretty good at baseball—which definitely helps!—but the reason the Manatees shine is because of their teamwork and the lack of pressure. Sure they want to win, but they want more than anything for their teammates to have a great time and do their best. And without that pressure, they end up hitting those homeruns, throwing those strikeouts, and winning some of those games.

In this second installment in the Baseball Buddies series, their number one attribute hits a snag. Two new kids—Ty and Savannah—have been kicked off of every other team in the league for their poor behavior, and Coach Joe thinks they might finally hit their stride on the team with the best sportsmanship in the league: the Manatees. 

Only problem is—they might just be monsters from outer space. Luis wants to give them a shot, but even in their first practice, they’re being total downers. They bring tension and bad attitudes to make everybody flounder. It’s even clear to Coach Joe that these two are just not the right fit for this team. But they won’t be able to play in the league if they’re kicked off of their team—it’s their last chance. Coach Joe thinks they’re too troublesome to bring on board.

But Luis—the most kindhearted, good-natured captain you’ll find—thinks otherwise. Everybody deserves to play and have fun, even monsters from outer space. The Manatees have high hopes for this year, but they may not stand a chance if their team isn’t firing on all cylinders against superteams like the heavy-hitting Dragons. Ty and Savannah are good players; they could help. But will they?

Second Chance is a charming book about a dynamic group of goodhearted kids featuring plenty of great baseball gameplay. If you’ve got a baseball-loving young middle schooler at home, they’re going to love how much baseball is played in this series. And parents will love how it teaches them to manage their anger and tension while playing. It’s always such a pleasure to read a sports book that includes enough sports to keep young ballplayers happy.

Another thing your kid will love is just how easy and entertaining it is. We’re not venturing through a full season here; we’re going through a few important (and fun!) games while building that loving, caring community of a team in just an episode.

This is a story about not giving up and trying your best—even against the seemingly indomitable Hideki. We already love the Manatees. It’s so great that we have the chance to love the Dragons too. Hideki is a homerun-hitting beast on the other team. He should be the bad guy in this story. But in Second Chance, he’s a good one. He’s so skilled and strong, but he’s a kind kid too. He seems like an amazing player you’d be proud to wear the jersey of.

Ty and Savannah’s stories offer another glimpse into the human behind the players. It’s a great reminder for kids that those monsters from outer space are probably just people, struggling with whichever situation’s been handed them.

This book rules. Keep your“eyes up” for the next inevitably stellar installment.

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