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Hard Hit
As she did in her groundbreaking memoir, Learning to Swim, Turner takes on a tough subject through luminous poetry. The result is a shattering and healing journey through one boy's loss of a parent.
As the pitcher on his HS team, Mark lives and breathes baseball. Sure, there's pressure from his coach and his dad, who both push him hard, but it's nothing that time with his buddy, Eddie, or with his crush, Diane, can't diffuse. But all that changes when Mark's dad is diagnosed with cancer, and everything Mark has ever believed in--love, God, and baseball--is called into question.
This profoundly affecting novel in verse traces the physical and emotional journey of a boy in crisis, and all the requisite emotions--anger, denial, fear, bargaining, sadness, & acceptance--that accompany loss.
As the pitcher on his HS team, Mark lives and breathes baseball. Sure, there's pressure from his coach and his dad, who both push him hard, but it's nothing that time with his buddy, Eddie, or with his crush, Diane, can't diffuse. But all that changes when Mark's dad is diagnosed with cancer, and everything Mark has ever believed in--love, God, and baseball--is called into question.
This profoundly affecting novel in verse traces the physical and emotional journey of a boy in crisis, and all the requisite emotions--anger, denial, fear, bargaining, sadness, & acceptance--that accompany loss.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2006
12 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Ann Turner
102 books35 followersAnn Turner, also known and published as Ann Warren Turner, is a children's author and a poet.
Ann Turner wrote her first story when she was eight years old. It was about a dragon and a dwarf named Puckity. She still uses that story when she talks to students about writing, to show them that they too have stories worth telling.
Turner has always loved to write, but at first she was afraid she couldn't make a living doing it. So she trained to be a teacher instead. After a year of teaching, however, she decided she would rather write books than talk about them in school.
Turner's first children's book was about vultures and was illustrated by her mother. She has written more than 40 books since then, most of them historical picture books. She likes to think of a character in a specific time and place in American history and then tell a story about that character so that readers today can know what it was like to live long ago.
Ann Turner says that stories choose her, rather than the other way around: "I often feel as if I am walking along quietly, minding my own business, when a story creeps up behind me and taps me on the shoulder. 'Tell me, show me, write me!' it whispers in my ear. And if I don't tell that story, it wakes me up in the morning, shakes me out of my favorite afternoon nap, and insists upon being told."
(from: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai...)
Ann Turner wrote her first story when she was eight years old. It was about a dragon and a dwarf named Puckity. She still uses that story when she talks to students about writing, to show them that they too have stories worth telling.
Turner has always loved to write, but at first she was afraid she couldn't make a living doing it. So she trained to be a teacher instead. After a year of teaching, however, she decided she would rather write books than talk about them in school.
Turner's first children's book was about vultures and was illustrated by her mother. She has written more than 40 books since then, most of them historical picture books. She likes to think of a character in a specific time and place in American history and then tell a story about that character so that readers today can know what it was like to live long ago.
Ann Turner says that stories choose her, rather than the other way around: "I often feel as if I am walking along quietly, minding my own business, when a story creeps up behind me and taps me on the shoulder. 'Tell me, show me, write me!' it whispers in my ear. And if I don't tell that story, it wakes me up in the morning, shakes me out of my favorite afternoon nap, and insists upon being told."
(from: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 12, 2019
Theme: (Spoiler) One possible theme for this story is make best of the things that don't last long like family. In the book Mark, the main character had a tragic loss in his family. His dad developed cancer and passed away.
May 22, 2017
In the book Hard Hit I thought that the theme was its not over until its over. In this book the main character never gave up on his Dad. His Dad had thought him how to play baseball. I think that he didn't give up on his Dad because of some of the morales his Dad thought him.
April 13, 2018
The theme for this book is to never give up in anything. That is that because when Mark's dad went into the hospital they thought he was never going to get better. But he did.
May 19, 2022
Easy book to read, finished it in an hour. A good story that shines light on how kids deal with death and how hard it is to accept. This book made me sad but I’m glad I read it.
October 9, 2015
This was a very good book by Ann Turner, it was about a boy who played baseball. His dad had a brain tumor that seemed to get better, but then got worse and he sadly died. In the end, the boy reached his goal of pitching a no hitter against North Hampton High and told his dad just before he died. In the end of the book after the dads funeral, the boy and his friend Eddie, and his sister, buried the no-hitter baseball with some of his dads ashes. Overall i thought this was an amazing book and i would recommend it to everyone even if they don't like baseball like me.
June 9, 2012
poignant. Each page has 1-3 sentences running down page. Short gulps of thought and emotion. Doesn't dwell on the type of cancer but the effects on everyone.
January 19, 2018
Hard Hit was about a young boy and his relationship with his dad. Mark Warren was the baseball star in his town and he played with his dad all the time, it was his favorite thing to do. About midway into the baseball season the Warren family received bad news from the doctor. Mark has to grieve with the news but is determined to have his greatest game of his life just for his dad. Main characters of this story include Mark, his dad, his mom, and Josie which is Mark’s sister. The Warren family was hit with arguably the most devastating news that no family wants to hear. A big part of the story was Mark grieving with the problem by pitching a no-hitter. My favorite character in this story was Mark because he was able to persevere even tho the odds were against him.
I could relate to Mark because he plays for his family. He has to deal with outside problems while he is playing a game but then is determined to do good in honor of them. Once I had an uncle that was in the hospital due to leukemia but I could not see him because I had a baseball game. I was determined to do good for him. I ended up hitting two doubles and hitting the winning run in. After the game we raced to go see him, I told him all about the game and he started feeling better after that. I have felt what Mark was going through and I know it is extremely rough. I had to support my family and myself when my uncle was in the hospital.
I absolutely loved the book and would recommend it to any sports fan that likes a good comeback story. The book’s message was very touching and I could put myself in the position that Mark was in. My favorite part of the story was when Mark threw the no-hitter in honor of his dad because it made the story have a good ending. My least favorite part of the book was when he was skipping practice and would isolate himself from his family and friends when he found out his dad died. I did that too when my uncle was in the hospital and it only made the problem worse. Ann Turner did a really good job expressing the feelings of Mark and his family over the course of the story. I like how she included the funeral even though it was sad. I thought it was really meaningful when Mark buried his no-hitter ball with his dad. She could have done a better job by adding more to the plot or adding a side problem.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes sports or likes it when the main characters have a good ending. I tend to like books with a plot that I can relate to and that was what drew me to this book. If you are like me and are not the fondest of reading then I would recommend this book to you because it is an easy read. Reading this book was time well spent because it teaches a valuable lesson that you should cherish what you have while it is still here. Sometimes unexpected things happen that could turn your life upside down and you do not want to regret not being with someone.
I could relate to Mark because he plays for his family. He has to deal with outside problems while he is playing a game but then is determined to do good in honor of them. Once I had an uncle that was in the hospital due to leukemia but I could not see him because I had a baseball game. I was determined to do good for him. I ended up hitting two doubles and hitting the winning run in. After the game we raced to go see him, I told him all about the game and he started feeling better after that. I have felt what Mark was going through and I know it is extremely rough. I had to support my family and myself when my uncle was in the hospital.
I absolutely loved the book and would recommend it to any sports fan that likes a good comeback story. The book’s message was very touching and I could put myself in the position that Mark was in. My favorite part of the story was when Mark threw the no-hitter in honor of his dad because it made the story have a good ending. My least favorite part of the book was when he was skipping practice and would isolate himself from his family and friends when he found out his dad died. I did that too when my uncle was in the hospital and it only made the problem worse. Ann Turner did a really good job expressing the feelings of Mark and his family over the course of the story. I like how she included the funeral even though it was sad. I thought it was really meaningful when Mark buried his no-hitter ball with his dad. She could have done a better job by adding more to the plot or adding a side problem.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes sports or likes it when the main characters have a good ending. I tend to like books with a plot that I can relate to and that was what drew me to this book. If you are like me and are not the fondest of reading then I would recommend this book to you because it is an easy read. Reading this book was time well spent because it teaches a valuable lesson that you should cherish what you have while it is still here. Sometimes unexpected things happen that could turn your life upside down and you do not want to regret not being with someone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2017
This is a book that is about baseball. And you you like baseball than this book is good. It is a really short book but it is a really good book and it is really funny but i can be really boring sometimes because you haven't got to the right part of the book. But also the book is really short like i said but it only has like twenty words per page which isn't that good but it's still a great book. This is a really great book over all even now there are not as many words you would think there would be.
BY, COLE NEMMERS
BY, COLE NEMMERS
May 15, 2017
Hard Hit is a short, but touching book. I'd recommend it to any grieving child or friend of someone who is grieving. I love the metaphors between everyday, common occurrences and religion (salvation and communion). We find our comfort and our salvation and our resurrection in the simple things; sunshine on hair, soft grass, a dog's wet nose, even a science project. This book expertly expresses both the small beauties in life and the massive gulf of grief and juxtaposes the two in a way that only poetry can.
May 21, 2018
I really liked this book because it talks about a boy whose dad got diagnosed with cancer and it changed his whole life and I can relate it to my life because my dad has cancer and it affects my life a lot and I've seen my dad at his best and at his worst and he is still fighting strong. I recommend this book to anyone who has a loved one going through cancer or loves poetry.
May 15, 2018
I would give this book a 5/5 because this book is really upsetting at the part where he finds out about his dad. This is an amazing book because it keeps you wondering if he is going to be able to pitch a no hitter.
December 27, 2018
A short, but very emotional book. The author did a great job of expressing things like sadness, love, and grief in just a few lines, but that really packed an emotional punch. I was really rooting for Mark to pitch a no-hitter and for his dad to get better.
July 5, 2024
This book is very short (only a few words per page), but it's a commendable effort at exploring a relationship between a dying father and his son, as well as how his illness is affecting those around him. 7/10
January 14, 2025
This book was really fast and quick to read. I liked this book a lot because it can tell when the author is putting her self out there to know what she has been going through or others might be going through. This book is here to help others to know that they arnt alone
February 26, 2018
do not let go of the past
June 19, 2019
Mark deals with the loss of his father. He has issues with certain things that have to deal with his father, but learns how to cope.
July 16, 2025
quick read. found in a train station, traded books.
October 15, 2018
In the book hard hit (pages 1-128) The reader is introduced to the main character Mark. Mark was the best pitcher on his baseball team. One day his dad died and his whole world went upside down and he declared he was going to do what no other person at his high school had ever done.... throw a no-hitter against Northeast Hampton high school. His dad then gets better and the brain tumor is no longer there in the cat scan. His dad goes back for a checkup and the tumor hadn't left but had gotten bigger.
June 18, 2009
From Destiny Library record, "A rising high school baseball star faces his most difficult challenge when his father is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer."
Touching book written as a series of poems separated into sections titled Wind Up, Strike One!, Extra Innings, and Three Strikes! The father's illness and the family's reactions and changes are shown. Although dealing with a difficult subject, I didn't have the emotional reaction to this book as I did to At the End of Words : a Daughter's Memoir by Miriam Stone.
Review from Kirkus Review starred (February 1, 2006)
Mark Warren's world is about to be turned upside down by his father's sudden diagnosis of cancer in this novel written in a spare, masterful sequence of poems. The tenth grader, an aspiring star pitcher, still has an innocence and ability to feel, qualities absent from much of contemporary YA fiction. And while the story follows a formulaic structure-Mark's got a best friend and falls in love-both these characters support Mark with genuine warmth and affection through the ups and downs of his father's treatment. What keeps this arresting is the kindness and understanding of the characters-not just Mark's friends, but his family, too-and the astonishing minimalist language of each poem that advances the storyline and reveals Mark's attempt to grapple with everything. There isn't a lot of background noise: no sidebar conversations into other character's unhappy or dysfunctional lives; the focus is clearly on Mark, life and death and the exquisitely evoked simple and complex mysteries of the universe. Backmatter includes "National Help Lines" for further information on cancer and organizations to help children with bereavement. (Fiction. 12+)
Touching book written as a series of poems separated into sections titled Wind Up, Strike One!, Extra Innings, and Three Strikes! The father's illness and the family's reactions and changes are shown. Although dealing with a difficult subject, I didn't have the emotional reaction to this book as I did to At the End of Words : a Daughter's Memoir by Miriam Stone.
Review from Kirkus Review starred (February 1, 2006)
Mark Warren's world is about to be turned upside down by his father's sudden diagnosis of cancer in this novel written in a spare, masterful sequence of poems. The tenth grader, an aspiring star pitcher, still has an innocence and ability to feel, qualities absent from much of contemporary YA fiction. And while the story follows a formulaic structure-Mark's got a best friend and falls in love-both these characters support Mark with genuine warmth and affection through the ups and downs of his father's treatment. What keeps this arresting is the kindness and understanding of the characters-not just Mark's friends, but his family, too-and the astonishing minimalist language of each poem that advances the storyline and reveals Mark's attempt to grapple with everything. There isn't a lot of background noise: no sidebar conversations into other character's unhappy or dysfunctional lives; the focus is clearly on Mark, life and death and the exquisitely evoked simple and complex mysteries of the universe. Backmatter includes "National Help Lines" for further information on cancer and organizations to help children with bereavement. (Fiction. 12+)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2010
Poetry--Book in Verse
This book is in the form of poetry and so it was short and a quick read. It is about a teenage boy who is the star pitcher on the baseball team, just got a new girlfriend, and is starting to feel a little resistant of his parents and the structure in his life. Then he and his family get the news that his father has cancer and their whole lives are changed. At first, he struggles with baseball, but then he resolves to pitch a no hitter for his dad, who loved pushing him harder and harder to be a better pitcher and he eventually does so. His father eventually dies and he has to try to figure out how to carry on with life.
This is a good book for young readers because it is quick, but there are some very valuable literary devices being utilized in it as well that could easily be discussed. The form that the book takes definitely makes it different from other books with similar story lines. I liked it because it felt a lot like the voice of a teenage boy. It wasn't wordy, but precise, and described feelings and emotions in very few words, utilizing the space on the page and the line breaks in the poetry. There were times when I really felt like I could feel what he was feeling and there were times when I had to read things over because of a lack of punctuation, which I would argue was deliberate. I would recommend this book to young readers: junior high or high school. It is easy to read but also very deep and I think young readers could definitely benefit from what it has to offer.
This book is in the form of poetry and so it was short and a quick read. It is about a teenage boy who is the star pitcher on the baseball team, just got a new girlfriend, and is starting to feel a little resistant of his parents and the structure in his life. Then he and his family get the news that his father has cancer and their whole lives are changed. At first, he struggles with baseball, but then he resolves to pitch a no hitter for his dad, who loved pushing him harder and harder to be a better pitcher and he eventually does so. His father eventually dies and he has to try to figure out how to carry on with life.
This is a good book for young readers because it is quick, but there are some very valuable literary devices being utilized in it as well that could easily be discussed. The form that the book takes definitely makes it different from other books with similar story lines. I liked it because it felt a lot like the voice of a teenage boy. It wasn't wordy, but precise, and described feelings and emotions in very few words, utilizing the space on the page and the line breaks in the poetry. There were times when I really felt like I could feel what he was feeling and there were times when I had to read things over because of a lack of punctuation, which I would argue was deliberate. I would recommend this book to young readers: junior high or high school. It is easy to read but also very deep and I think young readers could definitely benefit from what it has to offer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2015
This book is about a boy named Matt and he's a sophomore in High School. He is living his life the fullest and hes enjoying his life. Matt gets a Girlfriend and he's is an amazing baseball player at school. He enjoys everything that is happening to him. This all changes until he finds out that his dad is diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Matt's life starts changing he starts struggling with baseball and he becomes depressed. Matt and his dad's had a strong connection together. His dad is always motivating and helping Matt with baseball. The book shows the emotions and feelings Matt has for his Dad. Those feelings he has for his dad is showing that he cares about his dad and doesn't want something bad happen to him.
This book is different from other books. Hit hard is a story written in a poetic way. This story could be a real situation in real life because Can get everything he wants a girlfriend, a best friend, a family that loves him, but that all changes because a something tragic happening. I would give this book a five out of five because this book explained a lot of details and described the emotions Matt was feeling. Even though many things happening in the story became out to be sad, in the end Matt didn't give up on baseball and dedicated the things he did to his Dad.
This book is different from other books. Hit hard is a story written in a poetic way. This story could be a real situation in real life because Can get everything he wants a girlfriend, a best friend, a family that loves him, but that all changes because a something tragic happening. I would give this book a five out of five because this book explained a lot of details and described the emotions Matt was feeling. Even though many things happening in the story became out to be sad, in the end Matt didn't give up on baseball and dedicated the things he did to his Dad.
December 21, 2011
Hard Hit
I gave my book Hard Hit 5 stars because it was really good. Even though it was a poem it still had that flow of a book. When I started the book was kind of hard to under stand because of it confusing repeating of words but in the middle you finally come out of your blonde moment and understand it. I was also the fact that the parent had gotten a type of cancer that mad him really sick the connected me to the book because of a sad time when my mother got a cancer. It truly makes you so scared and upset, where I think the title fist in perfectly because you are really taking a Hard Hitt. If your a person that say you don’t like poems there is also another interesting turn its also about baseball which yet again the title fist perfectly. I truly recommend you read this, because it’s a book that is sure to not disappoint!!
I gave my book Hard Hit 5 stars because it was really good. Even though it was a poem it still had that flow of a book. When I started the book was kind of hard to under stand because of it confusing repeating of words but in the middle you finally come out of your blonde moment and understand it. I was also the fact that the parent had gotten a type of cancer that mad him really sick the connected me to the book because of a sad time when my mother got a cancer. It truly makes you so scared and upset, where I think the title fist in perfectly because you are really taking a Hard Hitt. If your a person that say you don’t like poems there is also another interesting turn its also about baseball which yet again the title fist perfectly. I truly recommend you read this, because it’s a book that is sure to not disappoint!!
October 19, 2011
I gave this book 4 stars because I really liked how Mark never gave up to be a better baseball player so he could get his no-hitter inning. I also liked how Mark and his dad had a really good connection even though the dads tumor was spreading and he was about to die. I liked that because the whole book was in a way touching because the whole family never gave up on hope and they stayed together during the whole time the dad was sick. I thought it was good because I think that a lot of people can relate to Mark because a lot of other peoples family members are sick too. That is why I liked the book Hard Hit.
October 12, 2012
Novels in verse are perfect medium to express young people emotions and this is shown in Hard Hit, by Ann Turner. The protagonist, Mark, is a star of a baseball team in his high school, living happily with his family in suburbia until a family drama takes place – his father is diagnosed with cancer. Mark questions God, love, future – the book becomes his memoir of emotions and philosophical questions. The book is divided into 4 parts, verses, double spaced, are printed only on one side which makes this book a very quick read.
I would recommend this book to families experiencing issues related to parental illness and loss.
I would recommend this book to families experiencing issues related to parental illness and loss.
February 27, 2009
Ann Turner is the author of Hard Hit. She found out herself that life is a surprise, and that nobody knows what is going to happen. Mark Warren finds himself in a good life but suddenly the coin turns out to be a suprise, he believes in love,God,and the future. I know that each person has lots of suprises in life, sometimes I get into someone else's shoes to know and feel how that person is suffering. If you get into somebody else's shoes that is suffering, you will know how that person is feeling. What would get in your thoughts? What would you feel when you are having a difficult day?
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October 11, 2011 I like this book because it happens alot around the world. this book is about a high school kid named Mark. Mark loves baesball but has alot on his mind cause marks dad has cancer. Mark is the starting pitcher but cant really make it to practice as much cause he goes visits his dad at the hospital. Then marks dad passed away and mark was just so depressed. Now for every game he dedicates his games to his past away dad. This book reminds me of my best frind in louisisana his dad had cancer and he was also in baesball but my friend had a better ending my friends dad got rid of his cancer..
November 28, 2011
It was okay probably just cause I like baseball and if you like sports it is a good option to go to if you need to read a book. I think this could be a real situation in real life because he's got everything he wants a girlfriend, a best friend, a family that loves him, and it helps when your the best pitcher on the team too. His dad gets a brain tumor and gets treatment and everything then on his CAT scan it says it's going away then out of no where he dies only to find out the doctors goofed and it was still growing....... But I gotta say I felt sorry for the kid.
July 20, 2013
A moving, beautiful novel in poem form (poem in novel form?) about a high school boy whose dad is dying of cancer. The short book fully captures each emotion Mark experiences and the deep love he has for his dad. Turner is a local author and the book is set in Westhampton, Ma. I appreciated that the family had a religious faith ( Catholic) and the caring relationship Mark has with his younger sister. Very touching and well done.
September 19, 2014
I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars. I think the idea and the concept of this book is a really cool and it works but I didn't like the way the author wrote it. The book was choppy and written almost in a poetic form and it was alittle boring. the last few pages were my favorite when *spoiler* author Ann Turner, had the son, Mark and daughter Josie and the wife of te dad all standing around his death bed, it really tied the book together and made it a worth while read.
November 13, 2015
Mark Warner was the star player of his high school baseball team. His life seemed to be good, until his father got a phone call saying that his pancreatic cancer has spread, which changed his life forever. As time goes on Mark explains how he is a teenage boy living his life, while his father is loosing his life. Read this book to find out what happens when there seems to be no hope, and it will have you on the edge of your seat.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews