2 Mickey Tussler Novel reviews and Giveaway!

 

Blurb:

In the late 1940s, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against him.

My Review:
This was a heart wrenching story about a young boy with Autism, and parents that have no idea what Autism is, never mind how to raise a child with Autism. I felt for Mickey, and I wanted to shake his mother. She needs to wake up! Arthur was better at talking to Mickey, but in a way e was only using Mickey. It was good for Mickey to join the outside world. Mickey proves that Children with Autism can do anything other children can do, they just do it a different way. I am giving this a 5/5 and recommend that every one read it.

It’s 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes). Despite Mickey’s proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season’s violent conclusion, his manager—and now surrogate father—Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him. When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy’s performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human nature he scarcely comprehends.

My review:
Yet again Mickey has dealt with violence his whole life. He dealt with his father's violence by showing his autistic tendencies. Why should it be any different when he sees violence in the baseball world? I really wanted to just go inside the book and tell these people what autism is and how to help children with autism. Mickey ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He eventually plays ball again, but at what cost?
The author did a great job writing these characters. I got attached to Mickey and was so happy when Molly went back to the farm.  The books are well written and I read each of them in a day. I can not wait to see the movie! Hopefully the script will stay true to the books. I am giving both these books a 5/5 and will read future books by this author.     


Giveaway:

Frank will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  

 

 

 

Follow the tour here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-tour-mickey-tussler-series-by.html