Turner, Ann. Hard Hit.TURNER, Ann. Hard hit. Scholastic. 167p. c2006. 0-439-29660-3. $16.99. SA Death of a beloved family member, in this case a father, is indeed a hard hit, and using the poetry format to tell of the impending im·pend intr.v. im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends 1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending. 2. death and the family's grief is a powerful means of conveying the intensity of feelings. Mark loves his father dearly, and they share an interest in baseball, so Mark tries to continue on the team through his father's illness. The four sections of the novel use baseball terminology to tell of the other, larger story: Wind Up; Strike One!; Extra Innings Noun 1. extra innings - overtime play until one team is ahead at the end of an inning; e.g. baseball extra time, overtime - playing time beyond regulation, to break a tie ; Three Strikes! The language is spare but gut-wrenching: "They are starting my dad / on the medicine trail / like the Cherokee Trail The Cherokee Trail, sometimes called the "Trappers' Trail," was a historic trail through the present-day U.S. states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming that was used from the late 1840s up through the early 1860s. of Tears / where you stumble / and fall along the hard way." At the end of the story: "One star gleamed I and sparked / like Dad's eyes I it seemed he was there / loving me / his dust his bones his voice / part of a star." The author lists several helpful resources in the final pages of the book: The Dougy Center: the National Center for Grieving Children and Families; The American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, ; and Comfort Zone Camps, the nation's largest bereavement Bereavement Definition Bereavement refers to the period of mourning and grief following the death of a beloved person or animal. The English word bereavement camp for children ages 7-17. Turner has written honestly, and her work is a helpful resource for those trying to understand grief and loss, because she puts words to these feelings. Claire Rosser, KLIATT |
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