
By Mike Lupica
Book #1 in the Heat series
A young boy navigates the challenges of growing up in the Bronx while dealing with the loss of his father and the pressures of being a talented baseball player.
Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo dreams of the Little League World Series, but his powerful pitching raises suspicions. Orphaned and living with his brother, Michael must hide from authorities to avoid separation or deportation. Without proof of age, his world unravels, forcing him to find unexpected allies. Can Michael overcome these challenges and keep his dreams alive?
The #1 Bestseller! Michael Arroyo has a pitching arm that throws serious heat along with aspirations of leading his team all the way to the Little League World Series. But his firepower is nothing compared to the heat Michael faces in his day-to-day life. Newly orphaned after his father led the family’s escape from Cuba, Michael’s only family is his seventeen-yearold brother Carlos. If Social Services hears of their situation, they will be separated in the foster-care system–or worse, sent back to Cuba. Together, the boys carry on alone, dodging bills and anyone who asks too many questions. But then someone wonders how a twelve-year-old boy could possibly throw with as much power as Michael Arroyo throws. With no way to prove his age, no birth certificate, and no parent to fight for his cause, Michael’s secret world is blown wide open, and he discovers that family can come from the most unexpected sources. Perfect for any Little Leaguer with dreams of making it big–as well as for fans of Mike Lupica’s other New York Times bestsellers Travel Team, The Big Field, The Underdogs, Million-Dollar Throw, and The Game Changers series, this cheer-worthy baseball story shows that when the game knocks you down, champions stand tall.
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