Lucky Enough

By Fred Bowen

Ready to head to the diamond for some baseball? Check out this action-packed Sports Story Series book from Washington Post KidsPost columnist and author Fred Bowen – perfect for fans of Mike Lupica and Tim Green.

“A good read for youngsters who know and love the game.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Like many athletes, Trey is superstitious. How could he not be when he just made the Ravens travel team, thanks to his lucky charm—a piece of rare sea glass he found on his grandmother’s beach.

This stroke of good fortune reinforces his superstitious behavior, and the rituals become more and more important to him. In spite of some teasing and even some sarcasm from his teammates, Trey persists―he never steps on the foul line, he obsessively taps the corners of home plate when he’s at bat, he always chooses the same lucky bat. Why stop? After all, his tactics are working; he’s doing quite well on the field and in the batter’s box.

Then one day he can’t find his lucky sea glass. He searches everywhere, but it’s no use. Trey’s performance begins to slip, and he’s convinced that his future with the Ravens is doomed. Things don’t start to improve for Trey until his uncle reminds him of his grandmother’s favorite saying: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

Can Trey take those words to heart and find his swing again…even without his lucky charm?

Author Fred Bowen explores the age-old conflict between luck and hard work in this installment of his Sports Story Series. In the afterword, readers can learn more about famous players with their own lucky charms and superstitions.

Discussion Guide available.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
• Release date: Mar 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781682630860

Fred Bowen

Fred Bowen was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, a seaside town north of Boston. Most of his family still lives there—he has four big brothers and two sisters. His dad loved sports. One of Bowen’s earliest memories is watching the 1957 World Series on TV with his dad and his brothers. Bowen’s dad was his Little League coach and his brothers were his teammates in backyard football and “driveway basketball.” When Bowen turned eighteen, he left behind his sports-happy childhood and headed to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Bowen has always loved US and world history and he made history his major in college. Bowen also loves sports history because of all the great dramas and big personalities, which is why he weaves real sports history into all of his stories. After he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, he went to George Washington Law School in Washington, DC. Shortly after he graduated, he met Peggy Jackson, a journalist. They got married two years later and now have two grown children. Their son is a college baseball coach and their daughter works for a nonprofit in Chicago. When they were in elementary school, Bowen coached their baseball, basketball, and soccer teams—more than thirty teams in all. Bowen was a lawyer for many years and retired from practicing law so that he could write for kids full time. He gets to spend a lot more time writing and he gets more time to visit schools and talk with kids about his books. He also speaks at a lot more conferences and meets more cool teachers and librarians.

Reviews for Lucky Enough

[pocketmermaid · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

George Moses Horton was a North Carolina slave who set himself apart with his love of words and eventually taught himself to read and write. Horton then wrote his own poetry, much of which examined slavery. Though the book glosses over the darker aspects of slavery, it does not make light of it. Horton's life was dangerous, as slaves wee not allowed to learn to read. There is even mention of the creation of North Carolina law that made it illegal for anyone to teach a slave to read and and write -- driving home the point how precious and powerful literacy is.A wonderful, child-appropriate work of history that both delivers the message of the importance of reading as well as a worthy introduction to understanding slavery. An excellent biography of an important man, and the text shouldn't bog children down with too many unnecessary details. Also, the illustrations are beautifully rendered.

[veronica.sparrow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very well written account of George Moses Horton's remarkable life. I found it to be very well written in a way that would be not only appealing but understandable to children. I am actually planning to recommend this book to my own children. Well done!

[pataustin_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“George loved words. He wanted to learn to read, but George was enslaved.” George was, in fact, so determined that over time he learned despite obstacles and ultimately laws against teaching slaves to read. He was particularly fond of poetry and made up verses as he worked, often reciting them aloud. When university students chanced to hear him, they were not only impressed but also eager to supply George with books. When one white student requested that George pen a poem he could give his sweetheart, it became the first of many. He wrote poems to protest slavery until the Civil War broke out and it was no longer safe. George would be 66 before he was free and free to write what he wished. Both text and illustrations evoke emotions and propel the message that Tate hopes will trigger conversations with today’s youth, that “literacy is as much of an issue today as it was in Horton’s day” (unp.)

[maowangvater · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Young George was determined to learn how to read, but because he and his family were enslaved it was difficult. He listened to the white children when they practiced their lessons, and then he found an old spelling book and taught himself how to read by staying up late and studying it by firelight. As a teenager he sold fruit and vegetables grown on his farm to the students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also recited poetry he had composed. Soon students were paying him to compose love poems to their girlfriends. Then the wife of a professor, a poet herself, arranged for his poems to be published. George was soon making enough money to pay his master to let him live and write in Chapel Hill, but his master refused to let him purchase his freedom. It wasn’t until 1863 when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that George was finally free. He was then 66 years old.Tate’s gentle story and lustrous illustrations are an inspiring encouragement to literacy and the hope and freedom that it provides even in very difficult circumstances. It’s a beautiful book.

[melodyreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Picture book biography; slavery; 1800's North Carolina

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Young George was determined to learn how to read, but because he was a slave, this was difficult, in fact it was against the law. He listened to the white children when they practiced their lessons, and then he found an old spelling book and taught himself how to read. As a teenager he sold fruit and vegetables grown on his farm to the students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to make money to live off the plantation. He recited poetry he had composed and soon students were paying him to compose love poems to their girlfriends. Then the wife of a professor, a poet herself, arranged for his poems to be published. George was soon making enough money to pay his master to let him live and write in Chapel Hill, but his master refused to let him purchase his freedom. It wasn’t until 1863 when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that George was finally free. He was then 66 years old. This story is told in a lovely fashion with beautiful illustrations. So many books on slavery deal with the brutality of slavery which was a huge part, but for children this book will get a message across in a gentler way. Tate also includes a short list of references for further reading, as well as a moving author's note that provides some additional historical and personal context for Poet.

Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too
for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.