When vandals deface the Harmony Point sign, the town does indeed seem to become the "arm pit" of the region. The baseball team hasn't won a game in two seasons and the town itself is falling into disrepair. But when the new postmaster becomes the ball coach, Clay and the rest of the Terriers finally seem to stand a chance of winning a game. Until they overhear a bureaucrat from the city say that the post office will close unless the "numbers" work out. The team begins "Operation Tennis Elbow" - a letter writing campaign designed to generate enough mail to keep the post office - and its postmaster - in town (and coaching their baseball team). And along the way, they learn the power of the pen in effecting positive changes in their community.
"This book would be a terrific read-aloud for students to learn about citizenship, community service, and collaboration. Sportsmanship and hard work, respect for coaches are also valuable lessons within the story."
— School Library Journal starred review
"Saving Arm Pit is a delightful middle grade chapter book about dramatic adventure in baseball teams written especially to appeal to readers age 9 and up. Complete with a special glossary of baseball terms, information about baseball rules at web sites, and interest-piquing forms, letters, publicity advances, and journalism ephemera, Saving Arm Pit is an irresistible automatic page turner for kids. It's also just a lot of fun."
— Midwest Book Review
2012 Silver Birch Express Award shortlist
2012/13 Great Stone Face Award shortlist
2012/13 Red Cedar Book Award shortlist
2013/14 Nutmeg Book Award shortlist
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