The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat
The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat
From Pura Belpre Honor Author and PW Flying Start, 26-year-old CAMILLE GOMERA-TAVAREZ
Rosie: Capricorn. Does great in class. Wants nothing more than to get into the prestigious Innovation Technical Institute and kiss this awful school goodbye. Her talisman: a magical jacket from her mother’s past that gets people to do whatever she says.
Caro: Leo. Rosie’s older sister. Always been closer to their estranged father – and always butted heads more with their strict mother. A trip to Dominican Republic for her father’s wedding leads her deep into family history that clears up any illusions about her parents she’s ever had. Her talisman: a baseball bat that fixes whatever it breaks.
Zeke: Certified Triple Pisces. Up in cold-ass Jersey City living with his aunt after his grandmother dies and his father moves to London to take care of his mother. He crushes on EVERYone – he knows he’ll find happiness in love, and maybe a way out of this depression. His talisman: a manifestation stone that will make anyone fall in love with him.
Rosie, Caro, and Zeke – and their talismans – find themselves intertwined in a magical, hilarious, and whip-smart Outsiders for the modern day, written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, a 2022 Publishers Weekly Flying Start.
P R A I S E
★ “A hilariously great time… A perfect addition to any teen collection.”
–School Library Journal (starred)
★ “Dazzling.”
–Booklist (starred)
"A quick read and the characters are especially enjoyable… We all could use friends like this group of teens, and reading how they come together is a nice way to spend an afternoon."
–Locus Magazine
“Skillfully and chaotically represents the ups and downs of high school… a singularly compelling experience for readers.”
–Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books