Goodbye, Mr. Spalding

By Jennifer Robin Barr

Two friends fight to save their rooftop view and income from a looming wall.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 131 ratings

272 pages· 51,189 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

$18.95Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1930s Philadelphia, twelve-year-old Jimmy and his friend Lola face a looming threat: a wall that will block their rooftop view of Shibe Park's baseball games. As their families rely on selling rooftop tickets for income, the stakes are high. Desperate to stop the construction, Jimmy's risky schemes strain his friendship with Lola. Can they save their view and mend their bond before it's too late?

From the publisher

Set in Philadelphia during the Great Depression, this middle-grade historical novel tells the story of a twelve-year-old boy and his best friend as they attempt to stop a wall from being built at Shibe Park, home of the Philadelphia Athletics, that would block the view of the baseball field from their rooftops. In 1930s Philadelphia, twelve-year-old Jimmy Frank and his best friend Lola live across the street from Shibe Park, home of the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team. Their families and others on the street make extra money by selling tickets to bleachers on their flat rooftops, which have a perfect view of the field. However, falling ticket sales at the park prompt the manager and park owner to decide to build a wall that will block the view. Jimmy and Lola come up with a variety of ways to prevent the wall from being built, knowing that not only will they miss the view, but their families will be impacted from the loss of income. As Jimmy becomes more and more desperate to save their view, his dubious plans create a rift between him and Lola, and he must work to repair their friendship.

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