What makes Hard Hit special is not that it deals with subjects that haven't been dealt with, death is a very common subject in books, as is cancer. Not to say it isn't incredibly sad, because it is, or that it's not good, because it's great. Not at all. Where this book's strength lies is in its execution. It's told entirely through a series of one-to-two page poems, all interconnected and about the same plot. Never does it break from this pattern.
Your basic plot is as follows: a boy, star player of his baseball team, is shaken when his dad gets diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He starts to barter with himself. If he can pitch a no-hitter, maybe his dad will heal. Having lost my grandma to cancer, I can completely identify with the exploits of this character. Ann Turner possesses an extrodinary ability to realistically depict these events, and you can't shake the feeling she's been through this before.
The poems themselves are where this book truly shines. They have an undeniably strong rythm. One of my poems was described by someone as "like the pedaling of a bike" and those words were applicable here. The raw voice, rythm, and emotions of these poems grips you hard, and never lets go.
In truth, this is a quick story, about two bus trips depending on your speed, and it would be easy for this to be a gimmicky story, like David Lubar's Hidden Talents, but Ann Turner's unwavering voice makes it a classic. It comes highly reccomended at 4 stars.
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Tomato
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Beautiful! I look forward to reading more book reviews, Tomato. In this review, you have thoughtfully written about a book of verse with the topic of death, and it seems to me that many adults would get a lot out of this book too.
ReplyDeleteI must ask, though, since I know of your kinship with puns- was this one intentional?
"Where this book's strength lies is in its execution."
Mrs. M.
Well, in some twisted fashion my subconcious mind was possesed by the fusion of Tim Burton and Jeff Dunham and....
ReplyDelete'Nah, totally unintentional.
I'll have to pocket that one for the inevitable Lord of the Flies review, though...
Tomato
"We are but mere mortals, enticed by the siren songs of flipping pages and the aroma of ink. Whether it be in hardcover or paperback, fantasy or sci-fi, comic book or non-fiction, we scour the fringes of literature new and old, mainstream and obscure, classic or contrived. Cereal boxes and warning labels arranged and rearranged to form epics. Lexicons of words contained in every layer of our lips. It's very simple. There are those who follow...and those who read."
ReplyDeleteWOW! Tomato- did you create this? If so, may I please use it on a poster?
Mrs. M.
Yes, I did create it. I wanted something epic to introduce the feature. It's almost Tolkien-esque, isn't it? A bit ocerblown, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, you may use it on a poster, as long as I get to see it when it's finished and you give me credit.*
* I say this as I'm spazzing all over because I get a poster in the Hall of Thinkers! By the way, are you using Old Cramped But Kind Of Nostalgic Room or Idea Place With The Big Window Overlooking The Playground room this year at my old school?
Tomato