Screaming at the Ump

Twelve-year-old Casey Snowden knows everything about being an umpire. His dad and grandfather run a New Jersey umpire school, Behind the Plate, and Casey lives and breathes baseball. Casey’s dream, however, is to be a reporter—objective, impartial, and fair, just like an ump. But when he stumbles upon a sensational story involving a former major league player in exile, he finds that the ethics of publishing it are cloudy at best. This emotionally charged coming-of-age novel about baseball, divorce, friendship, love, and compassion challenges its readers to consider all the angles before calling that strike.

It’s the scoop of a lifetime. But what’s the right call when the truth hurts everyone he cares about?

• Finding Your Own Path: Casey has always dreamed of being a reporter, but when he uncovers a huge secret at his family’s umpire school, he has to decide what kind of person he wants to become.
• A Father and Son Story: Set against the fascinating backdrop of professional baseball, this novel explores the powerful bonds between a son, his dad, and his grandfather.
• Journalism Ethics: When the lines between right and wrong blur, Casey must navigate the ethics of telling a story that could ruin a man’s life while making his own career.
• A Book About Divorce: On top of everything else, Casey is navigating the emotional fallout of his parents’ divorce and his mother’s sudden return into his life.