Excerpts from reviews of  Beanball

"Each voice maintains its individuality, with all the voices combining seamlessly to tell a powerful story.  In his debut novel, Fehler succeeds at everly level."

            Kirkus Reviews

“You don’t have to be a baseball player or even like it to connect with this book. Hard to imagine a better book.”

            Maggie McKinney, Galley Review Group, Kalamazoo Public Library

“BEANBALL by Gene Fehler will not be gathering any dust on library or classroom shelves.  As soon as the first sports fan has read it, the line of readers will be forming right out the door. . . Reluctant readers with an interest in sports will be wanting more when they finish BEANBALL.”

            Sally Kruger at  teensreadtoo.com

“Teen readers will find it effortless to like Luke and root for his recovery and his blossoming relationship with Sarah.  The story is well paced, quite satisfying, and will appeal to the reluctant reader.”

            Debbie Clifford, VOYA

“In this moving baseball novel in free verse, Luke “Wizard” Wallace, a gifted high school center fielder, gets beaned by a pitch. . .We learn about this life-changing event from different points of view . . . This multifaceted approach successfully conveys the various reactions to Luke’s accident. . . This swift read will appeal to both reluctant readers and baseball players.  As Luke works through what, and who, is really important in his life, his experience might help them imagine how they might cope under similar circumstances.”

            Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT

“Tough, smart, and thrilling. You don’t need to love baseball to love this clear-eyed story and its gutsy heroes.”

            Robert Lipsyte, author of The Contender (on Beanball cover)

“Sports and I have always had a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship. So I don’t generally enjoy reading about them either.  That said, I wound up flipping through a few pages and got hooked in. . . And I’m not ashamed to admit that I did cry a bit. . . Recommended for readers ages 10 and up, sports fans, reluctant readers (the pace works really well) and lovers of novels told through poetry.”

            Kimberly Pauley, Young Adult Books Central

“In very distinct free verse monologues, Fehler successfully captures all the tension and heart of his narrators as they relay Luke “Wizard” Wallace’s encounter with a beanball that leaves him blinded in his left eye. For baseball fans or not, poetry fans or not, this just may change your perspective of both.”

            Kathy Carrigan, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops

 “Poet and baseball enthusiast Fehler should attract a crowd with his first YA novel, related by 28 narrators in free-verse monologues . . . What makes this brief novel believable and rewarding are Fehler’s clear grasp of the dedicated athlete’s mind and his ability to imagine what it feels like to be suddenly and seemingly permanently sidelined. Fehler does an excellent job in pacing his shifts of perspective; and the central story, of Luke’s friendships and eventual recovery, comes through with drama and clarity.

            Publisher’s Weekly

“The story is told in 28 free verse monologues. . . The format makes for an interesting flow of thoughts as each character gives readers their insights as events unfold. . . Boys and girls, sports-minded or not, will enjoy this fast-paced read.  This title will make a good addition for any secondary library media center looking for sports books, especially those for guys and those needing a quick read.”

            Deb Grove, Library Media Connection

“The horrific injury [to Luke] that results shapes not only the outcome of the game but also the feelings of all the people who observe Luke’s injury. BEANBALL  presents these events, and their aftershocks, in a slim, free verse mode. Using a minimalist style, Fehler swiftly moves from person to person involved in Luke’s injury and thereby chronicles the panoply of emotions that a traumatic event can generate.”

            Greg M. Romaneck, Children’s Literature

“Luke’s frustrations and fears are palpably real and believable. . . The short, terse narrative will attract reluctant readers, and Luke’s nightmarish ordeal will keep them turning the pages.”

            Linda Perkins, Booklist

“This novel in poems by Gene Fehler explores the effect of a tragic sports injury on a community. . . the accident that shatters his skull also shatters his high school and family. . . These poems of despair, compassion, resiliency and hope will speak to young people grappling with the ups and downs of life.”

            Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Parent

“I find BEANBALL is just like a cheese cake. A small piece at a time and just let the little bites of flavor drift over slowly over my head. I like It.”

            Bruce M. Stewart

It could have taken place in the 1950’s. It’s a simple story, detailing what are very honest and straightforward perceptions. In about the first third of the book, I thought that simplicity wasn’t going to work. But after that point, it really did.”

            Ian, ACPL Mock Printz

“It was really good. It was a short quick read and would be perfect for those who don’t mind sports too much. . . I also love the way the book was written, not really in poetry form, but it was told by several different points of view.”

            Shannon, babysha29646.blogspot.com

“The narrative that unfolds weaves together the remainder of the baseball season with Luke’s slow recovery process to create a riveting story, reminiscent of Mel Glenn’s verse novels, such as JUMP BALL: A BASKETBALL SEASON IN POEMS.. How each character views his or her relationship with baseball and with Luke himself shifts and evolves believably, and ‘tween and teen readers will find it realistic and compelling.”

            Sylvia Vardell, author of Poetry Aloud Here and Poetry People; co-editor of Librarians’ Choices

“Luke ‘Wizard’ Wallace is a determined, talented player, and a leader on the field and off. Then, in a game versus their archrivals, he leans into a fastball thrown by Kyle Dawkins and is hit by a pitch that leaves him blind in one eye. This plot-driven, brief novel is a page-turner.”

            Marilyn Taniguchi, School Library Journal

“Poet Gene Fehler writes an unusual baseball novel titled BEANBALL.. . In a spare 119 pages, Fehler immerses us into the reactions and emotions of coaches, parents, Wizard’s girlfriend, teammates, friends and teachers when they learn that Wizard is blind in one eye. Kyle Dawkins, the pitcher from Oak Grove, feels the burden of guilt so keenly that he quits the baseball team. . . But it is Wizard’s own reaction to the news, to his surgeries, to the possible end of a promising baseball career that grips readers.”

            Lisa Thalhimer, Richmond Parents

Note:  Beanball was published February 18, 2008, by Clarion Books, a division of Houghton Mifflin.  It’s one of 12 books nominated for the KSRA (Keystone State Reading Association) Young Adult Book Award.