YOUNGEST HERO

Miriam Woodell's husband's alcoholism ruined his promising baseball career as well as their marriage. Now her son, Elgin, wants to pursue his father's career path. The tale of Elgin's climb to baseball glory is at times unbelievable and clichéd, but the story is nonetheless engaging. Some passages, such as the one about Elgin's first battle with a pitching machine filled with golf balls, read by Jack Sondericker, are filled with gentle humor. Laurie O'Brien reads Miriam's passages with a tone of deep concern and moral conviction, while Sondericker reads Elgin's passages with an obviously older voice that still conveys the confidence--even cockiness--of the young baseball prodigy. J.A.S. 2003 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]