★ "With short, fast-paced chapters, Deuker’s realistic novel pits poverty, friendship, teamwork, self-reliance, and supportive adults against wealth, privilege, overambition, and overbearing helicopter parents. Even readers who don’t like baseball will be riveted to this human-interest, underdog story." — Booklist (starred review)
"Deuker weaves an interesting plot dealing with socio-economic inequality and drug use into a cast of varied characters. An entertaining visit to the ballpark." — Kirkus Reviews
"Acclaimed sportswriter Deuker deftly weaves baseball action into a solid coming-of-age tale, as Laz navigates the class divide when the well-off Thurmans take him in when he switches schools." — School Library Journal
"Readers will be plenty worried about Laz’s future….cheer[ing] for Laz’s next longshot chance.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books