Sandlot Summit

Rick Fishman
Outskirts Press (2008)
ISBN 9781432718688
Reviewed by Keith James (age 10) for Reader Views (10/08)


“Sandlot Summit” takes place in 1984 during the cold war.  The Soviet Union and the United States are on the verge of World War III.  The Secretary of State from the U.S. jokingly suggests fighting the war in a single contest between champions of each country.  Shockingly, General Zolotov from Russia agrees to play baseball with three conditions:  the players had to be twelve years of age or younger, the American team could only place nine players on its roster, and the Soviets are allowed to select a national all-star team, while the Americans had to use a local team from a single town. 

Felix Farley, a baseball coach who is not very good, accidentally gets picked to coach the American team.  The President thinks that Felix coaches an all-star team, but they confused Felix with someone else.  So, a war is being fought between a Russian all-star team and an American team that has had very few wins and is coached by a goofball.  Will Felix fail and America become a part of Russia?  Or will Felix somehow coach his team to victory?

“Sandlot Summit” is for girls and boys ages 9 and up.  Kids who enjoy baseball and/or funny stories will love this book.  My favorite part of the book happens at the end when the baseball game is over and they decide who wins the game (a.k.a. war).

Overall, “Sandlot Summit” by Rick Fishman was easy to read and a very funny story.

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