Realistic+Fiction

**__One Handed Catch__** by MJ Auch is a 2011 Caudill nominee. This book is so much more than a sports story! This young man loses his hand working for his father and then sets out to overcome this disability and follow his dream to play baseball. The setting, a small New York town at the end of World War II, makes the story that much more interesting and real. The whole country is struggling to heal after all its been through, and Norm and his family have a lot to handle. I think it is particularly interesting that the author based this story on what happened to her own husband as a young boy. - Mrs. Yanch

__﻿Penny from Heaven__ by jennifer L. Holm 2009 Rebecca Caudill Award. This book takes place in 1953. So you get a little bit of learning about the 1950's but a really beautiful story. This story is about a 12 year old girl growing up in 1953. Her dad has died and now her mom is single. Times are hard with the economy which is bad enoughfor penny's family. Her uncle is living in a car, so penny go's to visit. Penny has to go through many opsticles, like almost cutting her arm off from her cousins shoe machines. I think this book is a wonderful story about life and family. - Anna G.