Nick Crandall feels like he doesnt belong anywhere. He never has felt like he belongs, really. He doesnt fit in this new family with his new fost...
read full description
reviews
Oct 20, 2010
Joshua
rated it: 
Comeback Kids Review
Nick Crandall loved baseball. The baseball field was the only place where Nick felt like he belonged. He did not feel that he fit in during school, with friends or at home because he was adopted at nine years old. Nick was a very good catcher. He could sense the direction and speed of a ball as soon as someone threw the ball to him. Nick was looking forward to playing on the junior varsity team at school but the varsity catcher was injured and Nick was asked to take More...
Nick Crandall loved baseball. The baseball field was the only place where Nick felt like he belonged. He did not feel that he fit in during school, with friends or at home because he was adopted at nine years old. Nick was a very good catcher. He could sense the direction and speed of a ball as soon as someone threw the ball to him. Nick was looking forward to playing on the junior varsity team at school but the varsity catcher was injured and Nick was asked to take More...
Oct 11, 2011
Grant
rated it: 
I thought this was a great book and that this author is one of the best sports authors. This was a great story about how a boy named Nick Crandall felt like he didn't belong anywhere.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 29, 2010
Safe At Home was a solid book by Mike Lupica. It was realistic fiction and appropriate for kids who like baseball. Nick Crandall does not get along with his foster parents. They know nothing about his favorite sport baseball. Nick does not do so well in school, but when he is just 12 years old the high school varsity team calls him to play for them. His teammates do not want him on the team, so throughout the story Nick tries to prove himself to his team, his parents and to himself. This book sh
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 09, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
A great read for third through seventh graders. Nick, a twelve year old, seventh grader, is adopted. He spent nine years in foster care until his dream of a family came true. His parents, a math and English professor, are caring and attentive but push Nick to make better grades and don't understand sports at all. Nick just wants to read comic books. He is such an awesome catcher that when the varsity catcher gets injured, Nick gets drafted. Too bad the team doesn't want a seventh grader on their
More...
Apr 28, 2010
I finally put the Mysterious Benidect Society book down because it was too confusing and, I started this book and now I it's really hard for me to put this book down. It's soooooo good. I'm at the part where Nick just got moved up to varsity from JV because the varsity catcher is injured, and he did his worst throwing of his season. It was so embarrassing for him and, now everyone has a bad impression on him. This is such a good book and i can't wait to see what happens over the season and if Ni
More...
Jan 03, 2012
Eagle
rated it:
The book i read was called Safe at Home by:Mike Lupica. If you like sports and baseball books then you will love this book.Let me tell you about this book.To Nick Crandal baseball wasn't a game it was life.When he was little he would go see the NY Meets play. He tries out for the school baseball team and makes it as a catcher but almost quits.But when he plays all-star player[Zane Diaz] everything goes Nicks way.you could find this book in a store or maybe the Clinton library.
More...
Jul 20, 2010
Janice
rated it:
My son is going into second grade and read this book like he couldn't put it down. He loves baseball, so this story engaged him from the very beginning. He can't wait to get all the other books by this author. I love that he loves to read.
Jun 15, 2011
Safe at Home by Mike Lupica is about a seventh grade boy who has 2 major struggles: 1. Meeting his strict foster parents' academic expectations. 2. Replacing an injured catcher on the High School's varsity team, and playing against much older boys. He is teased because of his age on the team, and although he is extremely talented, fails to show any of that talent in his first practices. While he's trying not to be too miserable from baseball, his foster parents are concrened about his grades. T
More...
Jan 11, 2011
Michelle
rated it: 
The story of an adopted boy who finds himself on the Varsity baseball team when he is not quite ready to play with the big kids. My first Mike Lupica book, pleasantly surprised. It has some issues beyond the baseball diamond to deal with.
Sep 25, 2011
Nadine
rated it:
This is a great series for young sports fans! My 3rd grader read the comeback kids series this past summer. We are excited to move on to the more challenging Mike Lupica books.
Mar 30, 2011
Sandy
rated it:
I read this for my son's book club. It was better than I expected. A good choice for a reluctant reader than is interested in sports. It makes connections between the challenges of being a new kid on a baseball team and being the new kid in a new family after adoption. Many preteen boys can connect with challenges faced by the main character than involve facing difficulties at home, in sports and at school.
Certainly not the book for me, but for boys this age, a great choice.
Certainly not the book for me, but for boys this age, a great choice.
Dec 31, 2009
Emily
rated it:
I started and finished this book today. A nice, light, YA read. It takes me back to 7th grade, though, with all of the awkwardness.
Jun 02, 2011
Hannah
rated it: 
I didn't like this book because it's more of a boys book and that made it boring to me.
Jun 15, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Nick Crandall is an awesome catcher. In fact, the baseball field is where is feels most comfortable. His specialty - throwing out players got stealing. But Nick starts to doubt himself and make bad plays when he’s called up to the Varsity team as a seventh grader. Can Nick find himself before he makes a total fool of himself? This is a terrific story about baseball but also about meeting expectations and finding a place where you feel comfortable. Nick not only struggles with his place on the te
More...
Aug 01, 2011
Lutz Elementary Media Center
rated it:
I was not a baseball fun until the last few years so I didn't always understand the subtlety of the game. This book is great for beginning fans as it helps to explain the importance of the catcher. (Who knew the catcher did more than just be a backstop?) This is a great story that reminds us of the importance of being true to yourself.
May 14, 2010
Ray.r
rated it:
good book about a kid making his way to the 8th grade varsity team when he's in 7th grade and hes just been adopted but his new parents don't know a thing about baseball
Feb 04, 2012
Jan 24, 2012
