Choosing Up Sides

Choosing Up Sides

“I grew up with my left hand tied behind my back…”

So begins the tale of Luke Bledsoe, the 13-year-old son of a preacher, whose family believes that the left hand is “the hand of the Devil.” Moved from town to town, he’s spent his whole life feeling like an outsider. Until by chance he steps onto a baseball field and discovers he can pitch. And he’s good. Better than good—he’s a lefty with a fastball straight out of heaven. There’s only one problem: his father.

“The left side has always been the side of Satan, contrary to God,” he tells Luke. “And baseball itself is nothing but the Devil’s playground.” Strong words for a boy who grew up trying to please his pa. But in stealing away to pitch, to feel the passion and camaraderie of the game, Luke discovers a whole new side to life.

Harkening back to the days when left-handers were burned at the stake as witches—Choosing Up Sides is the harrowing, but inspirational, story of one boy’s quest to find himself.

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Winner of the 1999 International Reading Association’s
“Children’s Book Award for Older Readers.”

Praise for Choosing Up Sides…

“No ordinary baseball book, this is a rare first novel.”

— Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

“A dramatic and inspirational story.”

— The Los Angeles Times

“Beginning with one of the best opening paragraphs in recent memory… With its wide appeal, this first-person story is a recommended purchase for all public and school libraries.”

— Dr. Stefani Koorey, VOYA

“Like the best…sports novels of Robert Lipsyte, Chris Crutcher, or Walter Dean Myers, this novel goes well beyond the issues involved in a game… Authentic…suspenseful…excellent…”

— Dr. Marjorie M. Kaiser, The ALAN Review