The Rhino in Right Field - (Washington Park Stories) by Stacy Dekeyser (Paperback)

About the Book

In 1948, Nikko Spirakis, twelve, loves baseball but must get past his hard-working immigrant parents--and the rhino in the outfield--to become a batboy for the local minor league team.

Book Synopsis

"Laugh-out-loud fun...A winner in every way." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Funny and good-hearted." --Publishers Weekly

A boy who loves baseball must get past his hard-working immigrant parents--and the rhino in the outfield--to become a batboy in this laugh-out-loud middle grade novel in the tradition of The Sandlot.

Nick wants to change his life. For twelve years, he's done what his hard-working, immigrant parents want him to do. Now he's looking for his own American dream and he thinks he's found it. The local baseball team is having a batboy contest, and Nick wants to win.

But the contest is on a Saturday--the day Nick has to work in his father's shop. There's one other tiny--well, not so tiny--problem. A 2,000-pound rhinoceros named Tank. Nick and his friends play ball in the city zoo--and Tank lives just beyond the right field fence. Nick's experience getting the ball out of Tank's pen has left him frozen with fear whenever a fly ball comes his way. How's a lousy fielder going to win the contest?

Nick practices every day with his best friend, Ace, and a new girl who has an impressive throwing arm! But that's not enough--to get to the contest, Nick has to lie to his parents and blackmail his uncle. All while dodging the school bully, who's determined to win even by playing dirty. Nick will need to keep his eye on the ball in this fast, funny story about a game that can throw you some curveballs--just like life!

Review Quotes

"[A] warm, wonderful novel."--Shelf Awareness for Readers

"Accessible, detailed, and charmingly genuine...a solid home run."--Booklist Online

"DeKeyser skillfully melds historical details of 1948 Milwaukee with fast-paced action and humor...A recommended purchase for large middle grade collections."--School Library Journal

"Funny and good-hearted."--Publishers Weekly

"Laugh-out-loud fun with a wonderful cast of characters. A winner in every way."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

About the Author

Stacy DeKeyser is the author of The Rhino in Right Field, which was a Bank Street Book of the Year, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, and was on seven state reading lists; How to Catch a Polar Bear; The Brixen Witch, which was a Chicago Library Best of the Best book and received two starred reviews; and its sequel, One Witch at a Time, as well as the young adult novel Jump the Cracks and two nonfiction books for young readers. She lives in Connecticut with her family. To learn more, visit her online at StacyDeKeyser.com.