Winners Take All
ISBN: 1-56145-229-7; $4.95
To order: Click on cover at left.

Reviews

Children's Literature:

How does it feel to cheat at something important, get away with it and then mistakenly become a hero because of it? Kyle finds out the hard way when he fakes a winning catch that leads his baseball team one step closer to the championships. Although he is unable to bask guilt-free in this kind of glory, he chooses it over the truth. The problem is, there is someone who knows that Kyle didn't really catch the final fielder that landed over the fence, and he wants Kyle to fess up. Kyle chooses to ignore him despite the growing twinges of guilt and shame that dog him. Kyle's grandmother, a real baseball aficionado, coincidentally regales Kyle with tales of sportsmanship and honesty and the great baseball hall-of-famer Christy Mathewson, giving Kyle the framework to rethink his actions and do the right thing despite the disappointment of his family, coach and teammates. Any child who has ever been tempted to fudge the truth in order to get a pat on the back will relate to this meaningful tale of redemption and the power of honesty. —Karen Deans

Fourth grader's online review for class project:

Have you ever cheated or lied in something really important and got away with it? Did you feel so bad that you want to tell the truth but you didn't know how? That is exactly how Kyle felt.

The Reds are facing the Cubs in a tight baseball game for first place. Bryan of the Cubs hits a potential home run, but Kyle catches it over the fence. Then Kyle drops it. He really wants to win so he picks the ball up and becomes the hero. Will Kyle tell the truth? I love this book because it has sports and feelings. I also liked the book because I think almost everyone has been in a situation like Kyle's. I hope you will like reading this book as much as I have. Enjoy reading this great book by Fred Bowen! —Nico, fourth grader in Mrs. Butler's class in Virginia.