THE RIGHT CALL

A gifted young pitcher proves better able to handle the pressure to succeed than his father does in this companion to Game Changer (2018).

Greenwald again addresses themes of violence in youth sports—but this time, he focuses as much on how inflated expectations can lead to ugly conflicts between parents and officials as on the danger of injuries to athletes. Fifteen-year-old Cal Klondike, who presents white, is thrilled to be a dominating pitcher for the Walthorne Baseball Academy team. But he winds up quitting baseball after a scary shoulder injury requires rehab, and then, a few months later, his intense, pushy dad assaults and seriously injures umpire Henry Goshen. The tale unfolds through a mix of news stories, text exchanges, emails, free verse reveries, and trial and interview transcripts, and readers will easily follow the events and Cal’s changing emotional landscape. Following the assault, the storyline settles into exploring the developing relationship between Cal and, surprisingly, Mr. Goshen, a retired Vietnam vet who bears no animus toward Cal’s father. The umpire believes that people shouldn’t be judged by their best or worst days, and he wisely urges the angry teen to forgive his sincerely repentant parent. Along with a shared setting, some characters from the earlier novel’s supporting cast return, notably sensitive guidance counselor Mr. Rashad, who gently nudges Cal toward both articulating his feelings and perhaps even rediscovering his love for the game.

A thoughtful exploration of a concerning issue.