The Baseball Box Prophecy

by Bruce Newbold

The hag plunged him into the cold darkness of the canal's current and then tossed him easily onto the muddy bank. Cletis gasped for air and cried for help. But the forest was empty. No one had ever lived to tell of seeing the witch. Taking his arm, she dragged him to the back porch of the broken hovel in which she lived. There, under the light of a single bulb, she turned to Cletis, revealing the fleshy and pocked face that all but covered the emerald green eyes that peered back at him—eyes that knew him, pierced him. Eyes that would lure him back to her time and again, enticing him into a labyrinth of ancient prophecy, time travel, magic, and danger...and a revelation of his true identity.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Lds, Sports, Childrens

550 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2009

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a 6 year old that because of a hearing loss first struggled with speech and now in 1st grade is struggling with reading. We have worked hard with him but when pushed too hard he just shuts down so I was looking for something that I could read to him that was, to him, the dreaded "chapter book", I wanted to teach how fun reading could be and my hope was that he would enjoy books even though reading was hard. I could not have picked a better book for him! We went to Costco hoping to find something that would be interesting to him and the author Bruce Newbold was there, we talked to him about the book and my son thought it was great to have a special note written just for him in the book. We started reading that night, it took us a little less than 3 months to finish it. I am so grateful for the lessen that it had, we were able to talk about friendship, being a team, love, loyalty, and family as well as difficult things like losing a loved one. Oh, and of course baseball! More than all that though I was happy to see my son following a story and becoming invested in the characters and excited about what we would read each night. The last night we read we had about 30 pages left and my son just couldn't fall asleep he was so excited and I was too! It had a great ending and over all I am happy I read it and would recommend it to anyone of any age!

[Bill Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happened across this book while shopping in Costco, probably when it was first available. As a middle school teacher I started looking for the books that my students were reading during our school's reading periods. I saw this book and thought it look interesting, so I picked it up.

Now I've read this book three times now and have enjoyed it with each reading. I enjoyed the story and the fact that someone would select the game of baseball as a backdrop for a fantasy story. I enjoyed the characters as they were developed and interacted with one another. I enjoyed the various emotions various parts of the story invoked within. And I have enjoyed the fact that there is a satisfying ending.

I discovered this school year (2012-13) something more about the boy on the cover of the book. One of my seventh grade students saw that I had the book on my classroom book shelve and started telling me that he and his family knew Bruce Newbold and that his ninth grade brother was used to provide the basis for Clitis opening the box. I actually believe both brothers somewhat resemble that boy on the cover. So now this book has a bit more significance for me.

Anyway, it's a great read for those who enjoy a good story!

[Lucas Hooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 30%
I was offered the entire series free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to give this book a chance, but I just couldn't keep reading it.

As an introduction to fantasy or more Middle grade reading, I can see how someone could enjoy it, but for me personally, it just wasn't enjoyable.

For starters, it's really long. I know that's a lame critique, but it's true. 550 pages is a lot for an audience of elementary/middle school readers to commit to, especially for the first book of a series.
Normally I would excuse this, like I do for Brandon Sanderson, Christopher Paloni, or J.R.R Tolkien, but something about the long pages mixed with the relatively simple, Fablehaven esque plot just rubbed me the wrong way.

All of this may be because I'm simply not the target audience. I'm a teenager whose read many, many fantasy novels prior to this one. Why would I read a book about witches and young boys when I've read so many who have had nearly the same plot in little over half the pages?
The pacing was at snail pace. Maybe it got faster later on, but it certainly didn't pick up the pace when I was reading it. It definitely needed a good editor to help remove some of the filler words and scenes within it.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the size of the book deter you, or your child. Think of it as books 1 and 2 in a series. It was a very refreshing combination of realistic fiction and fantasy. The baseball story- teammates, pranks, fun, and friendship really resonate with the reader. The fantasy part, keep you on the edge of your seat. The two worlds are well woven together, and you just can't put it down. I'm hoping that some reluctant readers in my library will give it a chance. They won't be disappointed!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of disliking sports --- let alone reading about them --- this didn't stop this book from getting 4.5 stars in *my* book! Excellent for adults and kids. Great examples in the characters. Fascinating fantasy. Super.

[Melodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 1/3 of this book was very slow. The story did pick up more in the middle and was more interesting to read. Overall this book was not great.

[Samuel]

not great

[Christopher Yamasaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Baseball Box Prophecy by Bruce Newbold was a refreshing taste to the fantasy world. Taking a new approach to the theme of "magic" he managed to push a time travel oriented magic theme that really added a new dimension. While at first the story started off slow, and had a few places here and there where I lost what was happening (the only reason why it isn't five star) the book maintained a fast paced action filled adventure. Many parts of the book had me on edge itching to find out what would happen to protagonist Cletis, and his dad. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new thrill in the fantasy section.

[03codyp · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Baseball Box Prophecy
By Bruce Newbold

Cletis Dungarvan a 12 year old boy who likes baseball tries out for his towns Unofficial baseball team. In the process he catches an amozing ball, hits a homerun, slides through a pile of crap and rings the chimes of the witches house which changes the whole story. After He rings the charms he runs out and goes back up to his buddy's and plays the recording so he has to go back down again and ring them, this time the witch is waiting and catches him in the process of ringing the chimes. tying to get out fast he breaks the screen and has to talk to the witch, who has a really ugly face but beutiful green eyes. Cletis comes back the next day and fixes the screen as the lady asks so that he doesn't have the cops call him. things go on and he is visiting her after practice and talks to her. he ends up getting wrapped up in a prophecy that might end up killing him and everybody he loves.

i would rated this book a 4 because its really hard to get into but once you do you love it and you cant wait to read the next pages. The action really starts about a fifth or fourth of the way in and then there is very little to no boring parts.

I would recomend this book to those who love baseball, magic, timetravel and fantasy action. I wosnt sure that i would like it because of the baseball but it made pretty good sense and the action parts and magic and time travel was amazing i loved it so much. Even if you don't like baseball you should still read this book because it is so awesome

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow going in the very front but once I got into it, I felt the pull every time I put it down to go do something around the house. A smart story about boys growing up. The neighborhood boys gather together to play baseball in the abandoned lot each day. They are SERIOUS about baseball! The new kid has to be initiated in order be able to join so he heads down into the woods to ring the chimes on the porch of the "witch". Thus begins the start to a new and mysterious world for Cletis where he is the center of an ancient prophecy.

If you like baseball even a little this has tons of it! History, strategy, love of the game, a good background for a fantasy story. Newbold balances well his baseball genre with this fantasy for a seamless mix of the two. This is not terribly heavy ont he fantasy but enough there to make it an interesting story.

Also, there are some really nice themes throughout about paying attention to the feelings (promptings) from your heart and knowing the difference between what is good and what is not. Newbold is LDS and I see that through the morals in the story and the higher lesson that is taught about the Light of Christ in each of us and how if we ignore it or get too used to being around what is dark, our sensitivities to things that are good versus bad tend to weaken.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cletis is a 12 year old boy that wants only to play baseball with the neighborhood boys, but to get on the team he will have to pass the initiation that all the other team members have done. What's the initiation, simple to take a recorder down into the wooded area behind the ball diamond, record tinkling the old hags chimes that are hanging on the back porch. Simple enough. Cletis takes the challenge, races down the hill to the hags house, rings the chimes, and runs up the hill to his friends. When they play the recorder there is nothing on it. What is Cletis to do, he has to pass this initiation to get on the team. Cletis grabs the recorder and goes back down the hill to try again, only this time the hag is waiting for him.
The adventure starts when the hag chases Cletis and falls into the water, calling for help, Cletis can't just leave this old women to drown, so he returns to help her out of the water, and finds that they are connected in may ways. Cletis is part of a prophecy that the hag has been waiting to put into motion for 1000 years. As Cletis returns to the hags home he learns so many things, is given amazing gifts, and learns that what he has always grown up believing isn't necessarily the truth.

[AnnaMay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was pretty fun, as long as I tried to ignore the 'LDS religious inuendos.' I tried not to cringe when the author used the phrase 'every fiber of my being' twice, or when two people laid their hands over another's head to restore a special power of good. Why do authors do this? (LDS authors?) I read the scriptures if I want stuff like that. Leave it out of a good baseball book.

The baseball scenes were fantastic. I felt like I was back in my uniform (softball) in the middle of an intense game, feeling the pressure of the moment. Very cool. Loved it. These scenes saved the book.

The characters were pretty fun. I loved getting an inside look at boyhood baseball-in-the-park fun. There was even one girl on the team, so I really related to that (I grew up playing sports with the neighborhood boys.)

This book had the feel of a great bedtime story (suspense, good vs. evil, drama, excitement).

A good story. Fun read. It's a bit 'hoaky' at times like many LDS fiction books are, but that's excusable. I enjoyed not having to put it down due to questionable material (as I do so many other books.)

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable, inventive story. The plot has a few elements similar to other current fantasy books and films, but some new twists are used to make the story unique. The main character, twelve year old Cletis Dungarvan, has adventures involving good and evil "ancestors," time travel, and baseball that carry his family and friends along with him through mystery and danger to an exciting conclusion.

What I enjoyed most in this book were the writing elements that were used with great creativity and precision. I particularly liked the characterizations: each character was distinguishable not by idiosyncracies, but by deeper traits and distinct behaviors and thought patterns. The dialogue was pleasing to read. It sounded like real conversation, with a variety of speech patterns, pronunciations, and slang that were distinct to each character, and believable for that character's age and experience. And I enjoyed the descriptive writing, particularly of each setting. Each place and time was easy to picture in my mind as I read.

[Dlora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. Partly because of the relationship between the boy and his father. Partly because of the larger-than-life story of good versus evil. Partly because of all of the great baseball details and the kids' love of the game. Despite the supernatural elements, the book seemed grounded in real life details. And yet, I kept comparing Cletis' adventures with my idea of what our journey through life is like. The magical elements in the story -- like prophecies, traveling through time, shape-shifting, undergoing a test of character -- and the struggle to recognize good and evil, and the desire to choose what is right, reminded me of so many concepts of the gospel. It was uplifting without being sentimental or sappy. Realistic and yet fantastical. Thought-provoking without being didactic. It worked for me as an adult but I think it would be fascinating to a kid.

[07bradenc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cletis Dungarvin is on an adventure through time! He is just a middle school kid who wants to play a good game of baseball, but his world changes the night he joins his baseball team. He takes the dare of his life and ends up in some trouble with the "witch" who really is really is a harmless, very, very, very, old woman. Almost 1000 years old. Cletis ends up becoming very good friends with this old "witch", Abish. Abish actually helps Cletis play better. Cletis's best friend Elston start having weird things happening to them and the world around them. Cletis painfully wakes up to hour-glasses burned into each of his shoulders, and Elston moves away and betrays Cletis for his new team. The Prophecy is being fulfilled step by step and it looks like Cletis won't be strong enough to make it. It all comes down to the last game. Cletis's team vs. Elston's team and time.

[Char · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book wasn't too bad, but SOOO long!!!--it kept going and going and going, past what I thought the goal they were looking for all along! There were some cool ideas of being aware of light/dark and feelings, but
it wasn't quite enough to captivate me--I kept waiting to "into the story" enough to move quickly through it, and it NEVER happened! It's one I wouldn't mind my children reading, IF they could stick w/ it, but I won't be reccomending. I realized halfway through that Newbold's written screenplays, and then it started to feel like that--w/ all of the stage descriptions, prop details, etc., and it MAY work fine for a screenplay, but for a novel, it was cumbersome. I did learn quite a bit more about baseball though!

[Rebecca Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read a summary of htis book several times and kept going back to it. I finally purchased it and read it. It took a little time to get into it (but I have to admit, I ended up going back and re-reading the beginning after I finished the book..... I just couldn't quite get into it on the first read), but once I finally "got into it" I loved this book.

The "mystery" was fascinating and I couldn't figure out where it was going for quite awhile. I loved the character development by Newbold (key for me in enjoying a book) and the characters came alive.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you have ever played softball or baseball in your life. The baseball "stuff" is great!

[Nicole Bourdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! From the second I read this I wanted a copy of my own to read again and again. This boy whose mother had passed away years earlier tries to get his own life by joining a baseball team. He does, but runs into this crazy old lady that turns out not to be the witch he thought she was. But she has her own share of secrets and she very much knows who he is, and he may just be the boy she's been looking for all these years. But evil is looking for him too, and what happened in his past and soon to be present may seal the deal of who he should listen to, even if both of them are someone he should care for and take advice from.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, especially the first half. Newbold reminds me a bit of Orson Scott Card and I thought I was going to like this book as much as some of Cards. However, I am not as much a fan of fantasy as I am of science fiction and Newbold made his book way too long for my tastes and patience. He does a great job with painting word pictures and weaves many world view concepts into his story that I am comfortable with--I will probably read more of his stories. I just hope they are a little more focused and I hope he is more eager to seek an ending than he was in this book.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not the kind of book I usually enjoy, being fantasy and all. :) But it was well-written and there were enough true principles running through it to keep me thinking and happy all the time I read. Themes: of following your feelings--being in tune with them--using them to determine what is wrong or right to do, of doing what's right and everything will turn out okay, of acting as far as you know how to act with the faith that you'll be given the next step as you go, of love, of redemption, of coming from afar with inborn gifts, of being connected to all people across time.

[Daria · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this book was full of baseball references that I didn't always catch. But Newbold did make it so I could still follow along the actual story line. Personally I found this book a little wanting. I was tempted to put down the book several times, but my curiosity about the actual prophesy had to be satisfied. This is a good long book that a young boy might enjoy (or a girl who likes baseball). The pace was too slow, and I personally felt that this book could have been written in three hundred pages versus six hundred.

[Brock Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really thought this book was a great read. It was a bit long but I thought it was worth it. The characters were well described and I could imagine to myself what they would look like. There was a lot of cliffhangers that kept me hanging and wanting more of the book. I liked it because I could relate to it since I play baseball. Almost every other chapter there was a twist to the story that kept it interesting. There were some parts that weren't really important. But overall I thought this was a good book and would recommend it.

[Gkeller123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to see this book in the store, as I know Bruce Newbold from BYU years ago, as well as our first married ward 30 years ago. I LOVED this book. It was so hard to put down. It has a lot of baseball in it, but it is not important to be a baseball fan to love the book. It is about love, trust, magic, faith in yourself, etc. A great fantasy book, lots of pages (over 500). I can heartily recommend it!

[Janette · Rating 2 out of 5]

After slogging thru 550 pages, I'm still not sure what I think about this book. It is all about baseball and fantasy/sci.fi. mixed in. It had nice messages and sentiments,(good vrs. evil) but really was sort of boring. I thought some things were not resolved too well at the end, after all of that reading! They were raving about it on the radio, but it definately isn't anything to get too excited about. A 12 yr old might really like it, except it is too long for a kid to read.

[CarolAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read especially if you want to get a child interested in reading. It's a wonderful book to read to a child also. It has tremendous lessons of teamwork, love, dedication, selflessness and sacrifice. This is not just a book about baseball. It has time travel, magical powers, evil versus good, and morphing. And it tied up all the details and I like a book that wraps everything up.

[Pam Engman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I saw Bruce Newbold autographing copies at Costco one day and thought, "What a great book for Connor to read". Connor is currently reading the Lightning Thief Series. I started reading and couldn't put it down. I know very little about baseball but found myself really interested. Great story with strong characters. A must read

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me way too long to get through this book. It was a little long winded. The story was cute, but I don't know a lot about baseball history. It would be a great read for someone that loves baseball.

p.s. My reading is really lacking lately and I think I would of enjoyed this book more if I could have read it faster.

[Ronni Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the dialog was awkward, it was incredibly slow paced. It seemed to be geared toward 12 year old boys (the age of the main character is 12) but it was so slow I can't imagine any boys that age sticking with it. I guess if you're really patient and a huge baseball fan then this book might be for you. Otherwise, I'd skip it.

[Julianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was, well, ok. I felt the concept was new and interesting and the baseball angle would be appealing to sports fans who normally wouldn't read a 'sci-fi' book. However, the book was painfully long, and the writing style was distracting.

If this is ever produced in Hollywood, I will definitely be interested, but the book won't hold a place on my shelves.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read that would be great for anyone who loves baseball and fantasy. The story is well told by an author who has written screen plays. I picked this book up because I had heard that it was as good as Harry Potter. Unfortunately, Harry Potter still sets top on my bookshelf. I think though that this book will make a great movie. It is a long book that keeps your attention.