One-Handed Catch by M.J. Auch

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. With the holidays, sick kids, and a baby being born next Monday (Congrats Karen!) we have been a little preoccupied. Hopefully, things will settle down soon. Plus, we have a couple more books to giveaway, so keep checking back!

Title: One-Handed Catch
Author: M.J. Auch
Reviewer: Stephanie
Genre: YA Fiction
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: There is some slightly disturbing imagery in the first 3 chapters as the main character looses his hand, but it is not graphic.
Premise: After losing his hand in an accident in his father's butcher shop in 1946, sixth-grader Norman uses hard work and humor to learn to live with his disability and to succeed at baseball, art, and other activities. (King County Library System)
Opinions: I randomly picked up this book a couple years ago and was moved by the story. I recently reread it and again was moved by the awesomeness of this story.

Norm looses his hand in a butcher shop accident (that is discribed, but not graphically). We then follow the next year of his life as he tries to adjust to having one hand. Things that are easy with one hand, are incedibly difficult for him: tying shoes, making fire at scouts, and playing baseball. Norm loves baseball and decides he still wants to play so in his determination discovers a way for him to play with just one hand.

This is a character driven novel. Norm is a highly interesting and complex character. The emotions of this book are very true to life. (M.J. Auch took experiences from her husbands life to write the book.) Plus it is totally quirky and funny. When my husband read it he was laughing his head off. M.J. Auch captures the 11 year old boy absolutely perfectly. I hope you enjoy this FabulousRead.