Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip

Peter Friedman's life changes forever when a serious elbow injury ends his promising baseball career before his freshman year of high school. He must find a new direction while also processing major changes in his grandfather's health and behavior. Photography enters Peter's life when his grandfather, a skilled photographer, gives him expensive camera equipment. As Peter explores this new creative outlet and bonds with a classmate named Angelika in photography class, he discovers talents and interests beyond sports. The story follows Peter as he navigates complex relationships with his best friend AJ (who remains on the baseball team), his increasingly forgetful grandfather, and potential romance with Angelika. He faces decisions about honesty, loyalty and how to move forward when life takes unexpected turns. This coming-of-age novel examines themes of identity, loss, and personal reinvention as its characters cope with change and learn to redefine themselves beyond their initial dreams and expectations.

Readers connect with the authentic voice of main character Peter and his relationships, particularly with his grandfather. Many reviewers note the book handles grief, growing up, and change with both humor and sensitivity. Parents and teachers report the book resonates with middle school students while remaining appropriate for the age group. Liked: - Natural dialogue and believable teen interactions - Balance of serious themes with lighter moments - Photography details and baseball elements - Realistic romance subplot Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more development of secondary characters - Baseball terminology can be confusing for non-fans Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (50+ reviews) Common Sense Media: 4/5 stars "Perfect mix of funny and touching" appears frequently in reviews. Multiple readers praised how the book addresses tough topics without becoming overly dark or depressing.

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🌟 Sonnenblick was inspired to write young adult fiction while teaching middle school English, where he noticed a lack of books addressing serious issues for young readers. 📸 The photography elements in the book are drawn from real techniques and principles, offering readers authentic insight into the art form. ⚾ The baseball injury depicted in the story (UCL tear) is the same injury that requires "Tommy John surgery," named after the first baseball player to successfully undergo the procedure in 1974. 🎯 The author has written multiple award-winning books about teenagers facing medical challenges, including "Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie" and "After Ever After." 💫 The book was selected as a Junior Library Guild Selection and earned a place on the Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Master List.