I feel like I should preface this review by saying that I don't like baseball, in fact I think I would rather watch paint dry, it is just as exciting. So it was with great trepidation that I picked up this book and how very surprised by how much I loved this book by the end. The book isn't really about baseball, it just happens to be the catalyst for many of the actions in the book.

I really liked the dual time periods in the book, the start of Calico Joe's red hot career, his down to earth attitude about what was happening to him, along with the hero worship of a little boy who really has an "in" with professional baseball, along with what is happening in the present dealing with those same characters.

In both the past and the present I loved Joe, thought he was a class act in either time period, his actions telling to his character. Paul was another character that I loved right away. My heart broke for him in the past, his knowledge of what was going to happen, and then having to live with it. As an adult Paul was just as sweet as that little boy and just as brave. I like how he dealt with Warren, matter of fact and not caring about him, because really he doesn't deserve it. Warren, on the other hand, is a piece of crap in either time period. I almost hate to say it, but Warren's present is just what he deserved.

The ending was great, because really the people that needed the connection to happen were Joe and Paul. I loved the surprise that Joe had for Paul, love that it was important to him, and love that Paul got it back. I wish that we would be able to see what Paul writes at the end, because I think that he could finally give Joe the recognition he deserved.