Keeping Score

A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful, sports-loving child feels a bit like an outsider or is struggling to connect across generations. Set in 1950s Brooklyn, this quiet historical novel is about nine-year-old Maggie, a devoted Dodgers fan who forms an unlikely friendship with Jim, an older Giants fan and fire-escape salesman. He teaches her the meticulous art of keeping score for baseball games, creating a special language between them. This shared passion helps them navigate difficult times, including when Jim is drafted to fight in the Korean War. It's a gentle, moving story about friendship, finding your voice, loyalty, and the subtle ways we can care for one another. It beautifully uses baseball as a lens to explore complex emotions and historical events, making it a wonderful choice for sensitive readers.