"Determined Joelle is a fine protagonist. Readers will be caught not only by her drive to play ball and her willingness to take risks but also by her passionate commitment and the broadening vision... the well-paced plot will engage readers, who will be moved by the story of a young teen who stands up for what she believes and goes after what she wants." --Booklist
"Joelle is a well-drawn character, sometimes unsure of her place in the scheme of things, and at other times ready to take on the world... Breezy and fast-paced, with a feminist slant." --Kirkus Reviews
"Filled with realistic emotions and dialogue, this involving tale has just the right amount of baseball action. It also provides an honest look at what it's like to be the new kid at school... a winning story that will appeal to many readers." --School Library Journal

Leveling Information

Accelerated Reader
AR Quiz: 69016
AR Reading Level: 3.7
AR Points: 7

F&P (Fountas & Pinnell)
F&P Level: T
F&P Grade: 5

Reading Counts
Reading Counts Level: 4.9
Reading Counts Points: 13
Reading Counts Interest Level: 6-8

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She has also published stories for children in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Children's Digest, and Child Life. Butler is the children's book review columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She lives in Iowa.