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alissacath's review against another edition
3.0
12 year old kid lives in a town where it has been raining for 22 years due to a baseball game and an old Indian curse. One day, the rain stops
bupdaddy's review against another edition
5.0
What most interests me about this book is that it's a book for maybe a 6th grader, and one of the main characters, Sturgis, is morally ambiguous. And the narrator/hero's dealings with him are too. At times, I didn't know how to feel about the very believable Sturgis. I didn't know whether Roy (the narrator) would just give up on him or not, nor even whether I wanted him too.
And Roy's mother is interesting too. Not as clearly resolved, but a very interesting, and far from perfect, mother.
Plus it's been raining for twenty-two years, so that's cool.
And Roy's mother is interesting too. Not as clearly resolved, but a very interesting, and far from perfect, mother.
Plus it's been raining for twenty-two years, so that's cool.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
3.0
Roy lives in Moundville where it has rained without stop for the past 22 years. No one is quite sure why, but the rain began during a baseball game between rival towns Moundville and Sinister Bend. Roy is obsessed with baseball and travels outside his hometown to play, but one day the rain just stops. What is the first thing that Roy and his buddies do? Pull together teams to train, play ball, and resume the game against Sinister Bend.
Middle school
Middle school
saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
Roy is a catcher. He idolizes Johnny Bench, the catcher who "changed the image of catchers from dumb guys who didn't know better to smart guys who handle pitchers and manage the defense" (162). He's a natural leader who plans to play ball in high school.
But he can't play in his own hometown.
See, it's been raining in Moundville for over 20 years.
Nobody knows why, although some have theories about a Native American curse, but it's been raining all that time. It first started raining in the middle of a baseball game on the fourth of July. Moundville against the rival town, Sinister Bend.
Well, one day, the rain stops.
I liked this. I hoped it would have a bit more of the fantasy element in it - it's really a book about baseball with a supernatural twist or two thrown in. Roy gets a team together, learns how much work goes into creating a diamond, gets to know his new "foster brother." And has parent issues. Realistic characterizations. - In fact, I think some might say that Roy is too good, but I found him realistically well intentioned.
The only things I was vaguely uncomfortable with was the surprisingly diverse cast (which isn't crazy obvious, but I keep an eye out for such things) and the Native Americans coming off as the enemy (according to some interpretations). But I think Scaletta is skating a fine line here, and I think he succeeds. Or maybe I'm still deciding.
Great cover.
But he can't play in his own hometown.
See, it's been raining in Moundville for over 20 years.
Nobody knows why, although some have theories about a Native American curse, but it's been raining all that time. It first started raining in the middle of a baseball game on the fourth of July. Moundville against the rival town, Sinister Bend.
Well, one day, the rain stops.
I liked this. I hoped it would have a bit more of the fantasy element in it - it's really a book about baseball with a supernatural twist or two thrown in. Roy gets a team together, learns how much work goes into creating a diamond, gets to know his new "foster brother." And has parent issues. Realistic characterizations. - In fact, I think some might say that Roy is too good, but I found him realistically well intentioned.
The only things I was vaguely uncomfortable with was the surprisingly diverse cast (which isn't crazy obvious, but I keep an eye out for such things) and the Native Americans coming off as the enemy (according to some interpretations). But I think Scaletta is skating a fine line here, and I think he succeeds. Or maybe I'm still deciding.
Great cover.
rwarner's review against another edition
4.0
I mentor a young man going into 7th grade, and his class was assigned this book as summer reading. I read it so I could discuss with him. It's decidedly for young readers, though it tackles some very mature (in the sense of grownup, not pornographic) topics. The treatment of these topics is aimed at younger minds, though, so feels somewhat incomplete. Nonetheless, it's a good introduction for young people to a world where things go wrong all the time, and sometimes good happens and sometimes bad happens, and it's up to you to choose your attitude.
The story is fun and moves along well, with diverse characters, twists, intrigue, kindness, deceit, anger, and forgiveness.
The story is fun and moves along well, with diverse characters, twists, intrigue, kindness, deceit, anger, and forgiveness.
book_nut's review against another edition
It was okay -- the half that I read -- as far as baseball books go. But I wasn't that into it, so I bailed.
curiouslibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
It's been 4 months since I read this one, so it's hard to do a good review. But I really enjoyed reading this one. The baseball was exciting and the larger story was compelling and interesting.
Recommended. Grade 4-8.
Recommended. Grade 4-8.
toryhallelujah's review
3.0
Not great, but not terrible. A good baseball story (very heavy on the baseball, if you aren't a fan), but with a predictable realization at the end.
devafagan's review
I love books where all sorts of little elements are set in place, and then they all come together and everything fits and you just sit back and admire it. For me, Mudville was one of those books. It's got a town where it never stops raining, curses, a dad who can't cook, old rivalries, and lots and lots of baseball. And it all melds together into an engaging and surprisingly (for me) exciting story. I say surprisingly because I personally am not the world's biggest baseball fan. But because of the contagious enthusiasm of the characters, I loved it along with them in MUDVILLE. I am so glad I had the chance to read this book!