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The Missing Baseball

Part of Zach and Zoe Mysteries, The

Author Mike Lupica

Paperback

$6.99 US

Penguin Young Readers | Viking Books for Young Readers

5"W x 7.75"H x 0.23"D | 3 oz | 48 per carton

On sale May 01, 2018 | 80 Pages | 9780425289372

Age 6-9 years

Reading Level: Lexile 770L

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Perfect for fans of Cam Jansen, #1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica begins an exciting new chapter-book series, featuring his trademark sports action and heart, and a lovable twin brother-sister duo who solve sports-related mysteries.

There's nothing eight-year-old twins Zach and Zoe Walker love more than playing sports and solving mysteries. And when those two worlds collide . . . well, it doesn't get any better than that. So when a baseball signed by Zach's favorite major league player suddenly goes missing--the search is on! Luckily, amateur sleuths Zach and Zoe are on the case. Can they solve the mystery and find the ball before it's lost for good?

In this first book of the Zach and Zoe Mysteries, bestselling author Mike Lupica begins a series for a new and younger audience, introducing readers to a sports-loving detective duo who can swing for the fences and catch the culprit in one fell swoop. With a recipe equal parts sports and mystery, the Zach and Zoe Mysteries break fresh ground for an author who has been called the greatest sportswriter for kids.

Mike Lupica is a prominent sports journalist and the New York Times-bestselling author of more than forty works of fiction and non-fiction. A longtime friend to Robert B. Parker, he was selected by the Parker estate to continue the Sunny Randall and Jesse Stone series. View titles by Mike Lupica

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“It’s just a baseball,” Zoe Walker said to her brother, Zach. “You have lots of signed baseballs.”

Zach and Zoe Walker were eight, and they were twins. They didn’t look exactly alike, but they did think a lot alike. They just didn’t always think exactly alike.

Like right now, for instance. They were eating breakfast at the kitchen table before school.

Zach knew his sister was both right andwrong. He did have a lot of signed baseballs, that much was true. Some were gifts from his parents. Some he had gotten signed by professional baseball players. Zach and Zoe’s father, Danny, worked as a sports reporter on TV. Often, he would take Zach and Zoe to special events where they got to meet the players face-to-face.

But the ball they were talking about now was different from the others. Zach loved that ball more than the rest, and he was sure Zoe knew it.

The twins loved competing against each other in almost everything. In fact, Zoe even made talking a competition. She seemed to be doing it now.

“It’s not just another ball,” Zach said. “Youknow it’s the ball Will Hanley hit for a homerun—the ball I caught!” It had happened a couple of weeks before. Their parents took Zach and Zoe to a gameat Fenway Park. Zach’s favorite player, Will Hanley, was playing. His team only visited Boston once each season. The family all sat inthe Monster Seats at Fenway. The Monster Seatsare on top of the famous wall in left field called the Green Monster. Looking down at the fieldfrom their seats, Zach couldn’t believe how small everything looked. It was almost as if they were watching a game in their backyard.

“I know Will Hanley is your favorite baseball player,” Zoe said. “And I know why. He’s smaller than just about everybody in Major League Baseball. But he plays big, same as you.”

“And he’s a second baseman, same as me,”Zach added, as he spooned cereal into his mouth.

“But even though he’s your favorite player, and even though you caught that home run ball,” Zoe said, “it’s still just a ball. ” She smiled to herself, like she’d just won the argument. Zach glanced over at their mom, who was grinning from across the kitchen.

She pointed to her watch, which meant it was almost time to walk to the corner to catch their
school bus.

“You know what I always tell you,” their mom said. “It’s not the souvenirs that matter.
It’s the memories that go with them.”

“But that’s the thing,” Zach said. “This ball is part of my memory.”

Lupica kicks off a new series starring a pair of 8-year-old twins who solve sports-themed mysteries . . . Along with plenty of suspenseful sports action, the author highlights in both tales the values of fair play, teamwork, and doing the "right thing." . . . the supporting cast shows some racial and ethnic diversity. Wholesome, uncomplicated fare for the younger Matt Christopher crowd."--Kirkus Reviews

"Mike Lupica is bringing his sports knowledge and excellent writing ability to the chapter book world...[Zach and Zoe] have exciting playoff games, supportive parents, and act true to their ages . . . there is no evil involved in the mysteries, and the community is supportive. It is evident early on who or what is behind the mysteries, but this should be a positive for youngsters who are just getting started with guessing the outcomes of chapter books."--School Library Connection

"Zach and Zoe are likable and kind to each other, and their parents are supportive. Lupica knows how to write sports action with a heart . . . Give these to young readers who are looking for easy sports fiction or who are new to the mystery genre."--School Library Journal

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