Two Cultures-One Game-One Wish
Joey Marconi's life in the Bronx covered all the bases-the best pizzeria on the planet, a winning baseball team, and Yankee Stadium just a pitcher's throw away. But when his family moves to the country, Joey slides into a major slump. To make matters worse, his Nonna's legendary meatballs are starting to taste lousy.
Then he meets Bobbi Ming-a baseball lover whose face and heart bear the scars of a tragic accident.
Joey's not sure what to think of their budding friendship, but he relies on her to help navigate his new life-including school bullies, Nonna acting crazier than his curveball, and a trio of loveable llamas.
There's a lot to figure out.
Joey and Bobbi make a strong team, but when Bobbi buckles under the weight of being teased, Joey must decide where his true loyalties lie-with his new friend, or the biggest baseball game of his life.
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A TERRIFIC BOOK!
Apr 19th 2026What a terrific book! Sports fans are sure to enjoy it, but The Year of the Meatball is not just about baseball, it is also about true friendship, family, and coming to terms with life changes. Angela Calabrese vividly portrays the life of a New York Italian-American family as they leave the Bronx for life in the country. Joey must adjust not only to rural life, but to the loss of his friends and his winning ball team. He begins to feel less alone when he learns that Bobbi, who lives next door, love baseball, too. But it turns out that Bobbi is a girl with problems of her own. Readers follow along with Joey as he comes to terms with what it really means to be a friend wherever one lives. Highly recommended.
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FRIENDSHIP RESIDES IN THE HEART
Apr 19th 2026Joey Marconi can’t believe his parents are moving the whole family upstate, where, in their opinion, it is safer. What? Joey doesn’t want to leave his best friends, his championship baseball team, and good old Bronx. Traveling to his new home in the country doesn’t make him happy. Everywhere he looks there’s…cows instead of cars, trees instead of taxis, and worst of all, pumpkin patches instead of the best pizza in the world. What’s a boy to do?
Make new friends, of course. And that’s exactly what Joey does, only when his mother tells him he’d meet a new friend named Bobby at the neighbor’s, he has no idea that his new “best” friend would be a girl. A girl? Who plays baseball, no less. But when Joey’s old friends come to visit, Joey ignores Bobby. And with bases loaded, Joey makes an error. He wasn’t expecting a curveball, but with a changeup ball, learns that friendship resides in the heart, and not in the mind. -
A TOUCHING STORY OF MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDSHIP
Apr 19th 2026
Spoiler! Boys and girls can be friends.
Even though the main character has to learn and struggle through some of his own hurtful bias, his own desire for understanding and friendship make him question and reevaluate what he values and what he's willing to do to stand up for those values.
This book is full of real middle-grade challenges, setbacks, and stakes. Plus a trio of adorable llamas!
Two Cultures-One Game-One Wish
Joey Marconi's life in the Bronx covered all the bases-the best pizzeria on the planet, a winning baseball team, and Yankee Stadium just a pitcher's throw away. But when his family moves to the country, Joey slides into a major slump. To make matters worse, his Nonna's legendary meatballs are starting to taste lousy.
Then he meets Bobbi Ming-a baseball lover whose face and heart bear the scars of a tragic accident.
Joey's not sure what to think of their budding friendship, but he relies on her to help navigate his new life-including school bullies, Nonna acting crazier than his curveball, and a trio of loveable llamas.
There's a lot to figure out.
Joey and Bobbi make a strong team, but when Bobbi buckles under the weight of being teased, Joey must decide where his true loyalties lie-with his new friend, or the biggest baseball game of his life.
-
A TERRIFIC BOOK!
Apr 19th 2026What a terrific book! Sports fans are sure to enjoy it, but The Year of the Meatball is not just about baseball, it is also about true friendship, family, and coming to terms with life changes. Angela Calabrese vividly portrays the life of a New York Italian-American family as they leave the Bronx for life in the country. Joey must adjust not only to rural life, but to the loss of his friends and his winning ball team. He begins to feel less alone when he learns that Bobbi, who lives next door, love baseball, too. But it turns out that Bobbi is a girl with problems of her own. Readers follow along with Joey as he comes to terms with what it really means to be a friend wherever one lives. Highly recommended.
-
FRIENDSHIP RESIDES IN THE HEART
Apr 19th 2026Joey Marconi can’t believe his parents are moving the whole family upstate, where, in their opinion, it is safer. What? Joey doesn’t want to leave his best friends, his championship baseball team, and good old Bronx. Traveling to his new home in the country doesn’t make him happy. Everywhere he looks there’s…cows instead of cars, trees instead of taxis, and worst of all, pumpkin patches instead of the best pizza in the world. What’s a boy to do?
Make new friends, of course. And that’s exactly what Joey does, only when his mother tells him he’d meet a new friend named Bobby at the neighbor’s, he has no idea that his new “best” friend would be a girl. A girl? Who plays baseball, no less. But when Joey’s old friends come to visit, Joey ignores Bobby. And with bases loaded, Joey makes an error. He wasn’t expecting a curveball, but with a changeup ball, learns that friendship resides in the heart, and not in the mind. -
A TOUCHING STORY OF MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDSHIP
Apr 19th 2026
Spoiler! Boys and girls can be friends.
Even though the main character has to learn and struggle through some of his own hurtful bias, his own desire for understanding and friendship make him question and reevaluate what he values and what he's willing to do to stand up for those values.
This book is full of real middle-grade challenges, setbacks, and stakes. Plus a trio of adorable llamas!
