Product Description
With Love and Laughter is actress Amy Yasbeck’s most enduring memory of the life she shared with her husband, John Ritter. He was one of America’s most popular and beloved film and television actors. We welcomed him into our homes weekly with his Emmy Award–winning portrayal of Jack Tripper on Three’s Company and his hit comedy 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. On September 11, 2003, John Ritter’s death from an undiagnosed aortic dissection, at the age of fifty-four, shocked and saddened not only his family and friends but also his millions of fans around the world. In this celebration of the life she shared with John, Yasbeck gives an emotionally honest account of navigating the shock and heartbreak of her family’s sudden loss. She honors his memory by recounting the lessons learned from her husband and his unique approach to life. She encourages us to enrich our own lives, as John did, by joyfully acknowledging our connectedness to one another. The tragedy of his untimely and avoidable death holds its own valuable lessons: life-saving ones. In 2007, John’s brother, Tom, empowered with the correct information about aortic aneurysm and dissection’s familial link, was properly diagnosed and his aneurysm was treated successfully. Knowing who is genetically at risk for this condition enables us all to avoid being blindsided by this insidious and often deadly disease. Here is an account of Yasbeck’s call to action for the public and medical community alike, culminating in the formation of the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health and the Ritter Rules. In this powerful memoir Amy Yasbeck shares her deeply personal and ultimately hopeful journey of surviving the devastating loss of her husband. Yasbeck looks back with anecdotes and memories from both John’s life and her own. Here are the unforgettable times she shared with a man who was adored for finding humor in everyday encounters, never failing to energize and entertain everyone around him. His philosophy was summed up by his favorite autograph for his fans, With Love and Laughter, John Ritter. Amy Yasbeck’s powerful story reminds us that love never dies . . . and the laughter doesn’t have to end.AMY YASBECKWITH LOVE AND LAUGHTER,

John Ritter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Not as good as I expected
Although the book did share some touching and amusing anecdotes about John Ritter, I felt as if some of the book was nothing more than a publicity stunt for Amy Yasbeck.She spent a significant amount of time talking about her life, her career highlights, her acting abililty (does she even have any?), her brushes with fame, etc.Is she that desperate for work?I would have enjoyed reading it much more if her focus was concentrated more on her late husband rather than herself.I was disappointed.

GREAT READ
THIS BOOK WAS VERY WELL WRITTEN.DEFINITELY, A GOOD READ.THE STORY IS VERY SAD, BUT ULTIMATELY VERY INTERESTING.

Thank You, Amy Yasbeck
I selected With Love and Laughter, John Ritter because I was a fan of the late actor. I grew up with Three's Company and those memories are part of my life, part of my growing up. Every time I saw him in an interview I felt he was a good, warm person. I even adored his guest role on Buffy. I didn't watch 8 Simple Rules, because I think I took for granted that this still young man would have time and many other roles, and that I'd catch up with this show eventually. Instead, we lost him and our loss is so much less than the loss felt by his loved ones.

I adored this book and read it in one long sitting. Just a wonderful read for fans of the late actor.

As I read, I was impressed by some of the clever lines, but there would be the odd sentence that let me know there really was no ghostwriter here. Amy Yasbeck clearly wrote this on her own and did a fabulous job. She also has a sense of humor that I could well-believe was a wonderful match for her late husband. And she does like puns. :)

The story she tells is beautiful, romantic, and heart-breaking, and she tells of a John Ritter who deserved all this accolades and fans. A man who loved his family first and foremost, but never forgot to appreciate the person on the street who approached him, and who also valued the moments where he wasn't recognized and could just be a regular guy. She describes him as everything we'd want him to be, and she makes it sound real and convincing, and she reminds us of why his loss was felt by so many people who'd never had the pleasure of meeting him.

She also writes of her own childhood and career, but it never feels intrusive, or like she's taking time away from the story of John. She is the woman he loved, who loves him, who had a child with him, and her story is part of his story. Her story is also interesting in its own right.

If you're a fan of the John Ritter, I highly recommend this heartwarming and ultimately uplifting story!

Audio book to be issued?
My (now adult) children loved Mr. Ritter's television work.I encourage Ms Yasbeck and her publisher to consider the issuance of an audio version of the book on CD.It would make an excellent gift for my children and others, who occasionally spend considerable time travelling in cars.Thank you.

With Love and Laughter /John Ritter
Great, interesting read about a truly talented loveable man.
Also, very informative insights into Aortic Dissection. ... Read more

Product Description
Tom Gallagher is in a tight spot. The fate of the Dillontown team rests on the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. If Tom's team loses, they lose their field too. But how can they possibly win? Just when everything seems hopeless, a mysterious boy named Cruz de la Cruz rides into town and claims to know the secret of hitting. Not to mention the secrets of Dante Del Gato, Dillontown's greatest hitter ever. Since he walked away from the game years ago, Del Gato hasn't spoken a word to anyone. But now he might be Tom's only hope for saving his hometown. From the award-winning author of Over the Wall and Choosing Up Sides comes this imaginative tale of one boy's struggle to preserve the spirit of the game he loves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

This One's a Winner
I had the privilege of meeting John H. Ritter several years ago when he spoke and signed books at an event for young readers in my hometown.Ritter's two great loves are baseball and his Christian faith, both of which inform his career as a novelist.Ritter writes sports stories that you don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy, spiritual tales that are wholesome and uplifting but not preachy.On the surface, "The Boy Who Saved Baseball" doesn't seem all that different from dozens of other stories you may have read: a big game in which there is more at stake than bragging rights and wounded egos, in this case, the heritage of a small California town.With this basic premise, however, Ritter manages to construct a tale of mythic proportions."The enigmatic figure who appears at the eleventh hour to save the day" and "the cantankerous recluse who holds the key to some great mystery" are well-worn archetypes, but in Cruz de la Cruz and Dante Del Gato, Ritter has given them new flesh.What truly makes this book stand out from the rest, however, is the frequent, lovely passages of almost lyrical prose that will take your breath away: "A boy needs to read the earth.This is a truth older than the iron dust that redpaints the boulders. . . . It's a feeling truth, a gut truth from deep inside, that leads a boy to . . . wander nights, to turn blind corners and enter black-eyed caves, hunting for earthen knowledge, follwing a starborne hunch."These moments of beauty are interspersed among fast-paced action passages with nuanced and intriguing characters.There's something in this book for everyone.Thoughtful young baseball fans in particular are sure to enjoy it.

The boy who saved baseball book review
I thought this book was very interesting.I felt that I could relate to parts in this book because I have been in situations like Tom in book.On page 176 it says "Tom could not even feel his feet touch the earth or the ball in his hand."When I played in the AAU 12U tournament in Kissimmee Florida the very first game the bleachers were full and I was so nervous that I could not feel my fingers.In the book Tom got up to bat with two outs the game tied up in the last inning.I have been in the situation.It was the championship game and there was two outs with runners on 1st 2nd and 3rd.Like Tom I got the hit. I would recommend this book to a friend because all of my friends play sports and like me they can relate to parts in the book like I did.Over all it was a great book.

Great book!
A very good book!I first learned about it from a great baseball social network - [...] .It's all players, coaches, and umpires from all levels of the game.

Believe Me, They Don't Come Much Better Than This
Can't think of a baseball novelist any better than Ritter. (Kinsella? Mark Harris?) "The Boy Who Saved Baseball" IMHO will someday be a classic. It says Ritter played college ball and you can tell he's been in pressure situations which he conveys in vivid authenic language. Always a fast moving story, always twists and turns, totally unpredictable, real characters, poetic words, the whole shot. Hats off! Glad to find out about this one.

I can also honestly recommend his other books. Each one different from the rest. Read a sample page, you'll see. Can't wait for this new one coming up too.

It's a great baseball book!
I am 11 years old and I play baseball. This was a great book I think because it had soooo many things that were going bad but then turned into great things. It made me feel...when you try your hardest, you will always win the game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Religion Vs. Nature
Luke's life has always been difficult.His father is a minister, and his job keeps Luke and his mother and little sister moving around often to different churches.He is always the new kid in his class, and that is sometimes hard.Even harder, though, is the fact that Luke has always been left-handed.His father believes that left-handedness is the sign of the devil, and he spent much time trying to force Luke to be right-handed.Luke tries also, but can't deny that it is much easier to do everything when he uses his left hand instead of his right.

One day shortly after moving to another new town, Luke comes across an informal baseball game, played by boys about his age.When a ball rolls to his feet, he picks it up and throws it back with his left hand.The rest of the boys are blown away by how good the throw is.Luke's father, though, feels almost the same about sports as he does about left-handedness.He would never consent to let Luke play baseball.

As his classmates keep pressuring him to join a team and his left-handed uncle also encourages him, Luke feels more and more tempted.Is it possible his father isn't always right?

I liked Luke's internal struggle to be something he couldn't be.I liked that he respected his parents enough to try to do what they wanted, but he was his own person enough to question them.I also liked Luke's uncle--he was a great character to balance out Luke's father.

I thought Annbeth's attraction to Luke and her pursuit of him didn't seem realistic, though.She seemed too aggressive for this time and for a girl who barely knew this boy.I also didn't like how the author resolved the conflict between Luke and his father at the end of the book.It seemed like the author took the easy way out.

"Cornwall, NY Sixth Grader"
"I am a sixth grader.I chose this book because the title interested me because of the topic of baseball and sports.Anyone who enjoys baseball will be interested in this book.When I started to read it, I realized that there was a lot more to the book than just sports.The main character, Luke, was a great pitcher who will teach anyone who reads the book a lot of lessons.
All Luke wanted to do was pitch, but his dad would not let him.He was the local preacher and he believed that baseball was the Devil's work.Luke was scared of what his dad would do if he found out that he loved baseball and wanted to play.A kid in Luke's class, named Skinny, was always trying to convince Luke to play baseball on the town team so they could make it to the State Championships, but the problem always went back to his dad the preacher.
Luke was a lefty and his dad also thought that being left-handed was the work of the Devil too.I found his thoughts about the Devil kind of strange!Luke's Uncle Micah, who became a big part of Luke's life, was also a lefty and he encouraged him to pitch with his left hand, because he knew it was important to him.My favorite part of the book was when Luke pitched his first game and struck someone close to him out.Everyone was cheering for him, even Annabeth, the girl he liked. Annabeth always told Luke he was lucky to have the chance to pitch because there was not a girl's league for her to play in.
Something tragic happens in Luke's life that changed his priorities and made him think differently about baseball.I liked this book and would recommend it because it teaches a good lesson about the importance of family and how sports may not always be the first thing to think about in your life.Luke figures out that things will work out and you can do whatever you want without forgetting about what is important in life."P.L.

Best Book Ever !!
I'll keep it short and sweet:

This book is GREAT, it makes you want to keep reading all day! In my opinion, it is the best book I ever read.

Jacob

Great Book From Start to Finish!!
John Ritter's "Choosing Up Sides" is a beautifully written story of a boy trying to understand his father, all centered around the game of baseball. The cover enticed me to open the book and dive right into it.Then the story took over! The characters come to life on the pages. I found this story funny, entertaining, suspenseful, and amazing. This book will become a baseball classic for all time. I highly recommend this book.

Such A Good Book!
Jason's book review for amazon:

Love baseball?? This is such a great baseball book for the real baseball fan. Suspense, drama, humor, baseball, AND Babe Ruth! Need I say more? You will love it I promise. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Coverage includes: indentation of ceramics; particle impact damage; ceramic coatings; grinding mechanisms; and strength degradation of ceramics. ... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: New York : G. W. Dillingham companyPublication date: 1899Subjects: France -- History Revolution, 1789-1799 FictionNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the absolute best of Dave Barry; selections from four of his most popular books, including the hilarious Guide to Guys. There's no such thing as too many laughs! Dave Barry is on the loose and no one is safe! ... Read more

Product Description
This true story about drug testing in the airlineindustry shows how an innocent person falls prey to corporateinsensitivity and government rules. A random drug test shows traces ofcocaine. But there is a grave mistake, putting at risk a man'sreputation, career and dreams. The fight to uncover the truth andclear the flight attendant's name weaves drama, emotion and humortogether in a story that shocks and informs. The story moves thereader from tears to outrage while questioning the science of drugtesting. Where does the buck stop, who can you trust and how do youprotect yourself? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

ATrue Story on Drug Testing
This is a very interesting and true story on how someone can be
wrongfully treated in a world of drug testing. i cant beleive what john and Roger went thru.All the work and hassle to try to prove your innocence.clear your name and get your job back.it is a great book.id advise anyone to read it.
Great job John and Roger for all you helped and stood by John and believed in him. Your great guys.
Love YA
RENEE

A RivetingTrue Story
John Ritter's story is one that should be read by anyone who is subjected to random drug testing and who believes they have nothing to worry about, if they don't use drugs. Ritter skillfully paints a picture of his struggle to clear his name and reputation after a random drug test wrongly indicates a positive result. As I got deeper into the book I became extremely angry at the treatment he received from his employer and the union that he had worked so hard for when they needed him.I also gained tremendous respect for the author and his life partner, who would not give up, even as the disappointments mounted.The book was such fascinating reading, I couldn't put it down. I especially appreciated all the research and valuable information Ritter provided that someday may help someone in a similar situation.

LIVE FROM MINNESOTA
This is an excelant book very interesting. How the system can do someone wrong. A Real Life Story. Great Job John

Mandatory drug testing at YOUR work place?READ ON !
If you are subject to random drug testing at your place of work and think 'no problem' since you don't now, nor have you ever, 'used or abused drugs'... think again.Then read this chilling account of what happened to one man, his life, and those nearest and dearest to his heart.

His ability to see humor even during the toughest days of his ordeal comes shining through as he takes you from the beginning of his tale, to a conclusion that will shock and surprise you.At least, it surprised me, and I have known Mr. Ritter for years.His accuracy in relaying his story is absolute and precise.

His determination to discover what could possibly have brought this situation to his doorstep will benefit all who read A Trace Element, but especially those of us who are subject to the mandatory random drug tests.Mr. Ritter left no stone unturned in his quest to clear his name and salvage his reputation.He shares in his book a wealth of information that should you ever, heaven forbid, find yourself in his position, you will at least have a valuable reference book of where to begin looking.... ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
What Dave Barry did for American history in Dave Barry Slept Here and for getting older in Dave Barry Turns Forty, he does for everything else in America! Tupperware ladies, eighties people and leisure-concept salesmen beware: Dave Barry is on the loose and no one is safe! 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dave does it again!
In this audiotape, Dave Barry has once again proven that he is the funniest man in America, and we should encourage him. This is probably the only person in the world who could write a column about an article that appeared in a tabloid newspaper about giant killer fleas, and actually be funnier than the original article! Mr. Barry covers the gamut, from toilets that communicate with each other to fishing trips where his son and a doomed worm are competing to see which can be the most pitiful. I have read virtually all of Mr. Barry's books, and this is the fifth audiotape of his that I have heard. This rates very high among them, being a compilation of some of his best writing. This tape has the added benefit of being narrated by John Ritter(of Three's Company fame), who has wonderful comedic inflection. If you are already a Dave Barry fan, this is a needed addition to your collection. If you haven't yet discovered him, this is a perfect place to start! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Barry at his best; don't miss it!
I've read most if not all of Dave Barry's books, but for some
reason had missed DAVE BARRY'S WORST SONGS AND OTHER
HITS . . . now I know why; it apparently never came out as book.

What Dove Audio did was record his original "Bad Song Survey"
columns and then add a long piece about Elvis fans and the tale
of his "Tupperware Song" . . . the compilation rocks.

Barry is sooooo funny, as evidenced by his description of the
voter's choice for Worst Song--in both the Worst Overall and Worst Lyrics
category:

"MacArthur Park," as sung by Richard Harris, and later remade, for
no comprehensible reason, by Donna Summer.

It's hard to argue with this selection. My 12-year-old son, Rob, was
going through a pile of ballots, and he asked me how "MacArthur Park"
goes, so I sang it, giving it my best shot, and Rob laughed so hard
that when I got to the part about leaving the cake out of the rain, and
took so long to bake it, and I'll never have the recipe again, Rob was
on the floor. He didn't believe those lyrics were real. He was sure
his wacky old humor-columnist dad was making them up.

So as to not disappoint readers of this review, here are the other
results . . . the clear runner-up in both categories was "Yummy
Yummy Yummy (I Got Love in my Tummy), performed by Ohio
Express, and coming in a strong third was "(You're) Having My Baby"
by Paul Anka. Honorable mention went to Bobby Goldsboro, who
got many votes for various songs, especially "Honey."

Arte Johnson and John Ritter both did a fine job on the narration
of WORST SONGS.

Fun listening to cope with traffic on the Northway...
If you are a Dave Barry fan, you'll enjoy this compilation of tales....The piece about Elvis fans and the saga of the Tupperware Song are the best!John Ritter is an excellent choice to read / "sing" thetales (very expressive storyteller and great "singer" for thistype of musical content).Thanks for making the commute more tolerable! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: G.W. Dillingham Company in 1901 in 292 pages; Subjects: Knights and knighthood; Italy; Fiction / General; Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Literary; History / Europe / Italy; Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Medieval; Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Medieval; Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / Arthurian; Juvenile Fiction / Royalty; Travel / Europe / Italy; ... Read more

Product Description
Andy Ramos, a freestyle skateboarding trumpeter, has dreams as big as a baseball moon. Born into a family of musicians, Andy wants to take his unique fusion of Latin jazz, rock, and hip-hop straight to the top. But when he crosses paths with Glory Martinez, a softball pitcher who has Olympic-sized dreams of her own, the mysterious fusion of their athletic and musical skills changes everything. Or is that because of the elegant but eerie man in black? Under the Baseball Moon is a stylistic blend of music, softball, and friends that will capture the hearts and souls of readers who march—or skateboard—to a different drum. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Unusual story of music and softball
When Andy Ramos was in grade school his parents were friends with a woman whose daughter was a little loco. Unfortunately, whenever crazy little Glory had a meltdown Andy was the one they got to calm her down, earning both of them embarassing reputations. When the mother and daughter left, Andy re-invented himself. Taking the trumpet lessons he took from his grandfather and melding music and talent Andy became the skateboarding trumpter "painting" the scenes around him with his own blend of musical instrumentation.

The summer that Andy and his band are ready to "break out" who comes back but Glory. However, the Glory that has returned is not the crazy little girl Andy knew, she's now a driven softball player obsessed with becoming a leading pitcher on a national team. As fate would have it Andy and Glory learn to play off each other, inspiring and driving their respective abilities to new heights. But, is this effect a mystical connection or are they being manipulated by another force?

Under the Baseball Moon has got to be one of the most unusual stories I've read in a while. The content involving a trumpet player and softball player, the music, the language and storytelling are all unusual and inspired. Although the Crossroads references are something I'm familiar with, not much else was. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and think it would be a great recommendation for kids pre-teen and up.

Outstanding!!
My review of this fantastic book:

There are a lot of books out there on the market.There are good books, there are bad books.Sometimes there are books that stand out as great."Under the Baseball Moon" by John H. Ritter is one of those stand out books.It's about a teenage boy named Andy who has dreams of using his unique style of trumpet playing to become famous.Things become complicated when Andy crosses paths with his childhood friend, Glory Martinez, who has a dream of her own of becoming an Olympic softball pitcher.Things are further complicated when Andy meets a mysterious man in black who offers Andy fame and fortune for free.BUT what's the cost of free?This book is exceptionally well written and easy to follow.There are many dynamic characters with their own personality.This combined with the author's witty remarks makes an awesome duo.

What I liked most about this book is that it's captivating. In many sports books you lose interest due to predictability and cliche endings. Overall this book was fantastic. I would definitely recommend "Under the Baseball Moon" to anyone looking for a fun read.

Baseball Moon was the biggest surprise of my life!
I have never enjoyed a book so much or been so surprised by a book as I was by Under the Baseball Moon. You start off thinking it's a sports story, then you realize it's a musicians story, then you see that it's really both mixed in together and SO MUCH more. It's very difficult for me to descrbe it, only to say this book now stands as my favorite book of all time. It's humorous and mysterious and has the most amazing plot and so many interesting characters you really like. You get so taken away by this mysterious thing that's happening to Andy and Glory that they become like your closest friends since it sweeps you away too.

I won't spoil it for you except that you need to pay attention all the way through tthe book because the ending will ASTOUND you. I hope they make a movie out of this book real soon so then I can see everything that happens in real life.I would say ten stars if I could its such a good book!!

Another Great Baseball Tale
John H. Ritter returns with another great baseball fable, this time adding the elements of jazz music and a little more romance. Just as in THE BOY WHO SAVED BASEBALL, there is still a bit of possible magic and some very quirky and entertaining characters, including a protagonist on a mission, Andy Ramos.According to Andy's heartthrob, Glory Martinez, when the moon looms large during a daytime baseball game, it is what fans call "a baseball moon."

Just as Andy and his friends, Tran and Lil Lobo, hope for the success of their garage band, Glory also dreams of being a big softball star. She and Andy discover that his trumpet seems to infuse her softball playing with magical power. A few musical "improvs" on Andy's trumpet, and Glory's pitching and hitting improve "two hundred percent better," according to her best friend, Kayla. Together, the two will do amazing things, under the "baseball moon".

John Ritter weaves his usual magic and creates an even better novel--a little more literarily complex, just as magical, and even funnier than his earlier works. Recommended for ages 11 to 18. (Please see the latest issue of VOYA for even more details.)

An instant baseball classic
The finest contemporary author of baseball books for teens has written not just another baseball - or, in this case, softball - book; rather, a multilayered and thoroughly engrossing love story starring two 15-year-olds determined that this will be their "breakout summer."

Freestyle skateboarder Andy Ramos "paints the town" with his old trumpet and his unique style of music, "cultural fusion." Glory Martinez also has grand dreams, of a career in fast-pitch softball. Yet first she needs to make the travelball team and impress the scout from UC Berkeley.

Andy and Glory soon realize that each makes the other's craft better - takes it to a higher level. But is some strange "outside force" responsible for Andy's breaks, or Glory's shoulder problems? Did Andy make a deal with the devil? What's going on in this "organical beach town filled with soul," Ocean Beach, California?

This magical mystery tale is told with brilliance, grace and style, from the lyrical first page to Andy's song lyrics that end it. "Under the Baseball Moon" gets my vote for breakout book of the summer.

(A version of this review originally appeared in the Palo Alto Weekly.) ... Read more

Product Description
Dillontown was built upon a gold mine. Yet for the villagers, life is about something even more valuable: baseball. Home to the Dillontown Nine, they would give anything to join the ranks of professional ballplayers—even their gold. Yet to make it, they will need to defeat the world champion Chicago White Stockings—and their crooked owner, willing to wager anything for the mine, and willing to do anything to avoid losing. Fortunately, Dillontown is home to two boys who know a little something about winning. One is young Jack Dillon, nephew to Dillontown founder Long John Dillon. The other? A boy on the run, in need of a second chance: none other than Billy the Kid.

One of the fi nest storytellers of our time, John H. Ritter brings the Old West to life in this prequel to his breakout success, The Boy Who Saved Baseball. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

"The Desperado" Strikes!
I am a 12-year-old baseball fan, and I think this is the best baseball book I have ever read. The adventure starts out when Jack Dillon heads to Dillontown, San Diego in the 1880s. On his way he meets a man who goes by the name of Billy the Kid. When they arrive, they get caught up in an all-or-nothing baseball game between the Dillontown 9, and the American champion Chicago White Stockings. Unfortunately, as excitement builds, there is less and less that I can tell you without giving away the story. You just have to read it for yourself!

This book is an overall great read ranging from late elementary school to middle school kids. If you read Desperado, you need to read The Boy Who Saved Baseball, which is the second book in the trilogy. I have read it. I am a big fan of the series, and am looking forward to the third book. I think all of John Ritter's books are great, and I think everyone should read them all like I have.

Storytelling at its best!
No one is writing better books about baseball (and life) for young readers (and oldsters lucky enough to find them) than John H. Ritter. His latest is a prequel to the popular "The Boy Who Saved Baseball," and takes place in 1881 in the "gold hills of San Diego."

Part tall tale, part historical fiction and COMPLETELY enjoyable -- think Mark Twain describing a showdown on a baseball diamond in a Wild West town where the "church" is in an abandoned gold mine -- "Desperado" is a fast-paced story starring young Jack Dillon and his new companion, Billy the Kid. Yes, that Billy the Kid, "wanted, dead or alive."

Jack heads west to follow his dream to play for the Dillontown Nine Baseball Club, led by his long-lost Uncle Long John Dillon, a black man. (Jack is merely dark-skinned, a minor detail he talks his way around. Jack is a VERY good talker.) African-Americans were barred from professional baseball until the mid-20th century (grrrrr), but in Dillontown, anyone can play the game - including Jack and Billy. John Dillon has challenged the National League champion Chicago White Stockings to a game with an enormous winner-takes-all jackpot. Jack and Billy are drawn into the contest with surprising - and enormously satisfying - results.

Can a baseball book steal your heart? This one does.

(A version of this review appeared in the Palo Alto Weekly.)

Hee-Yah! - Batter Up!
Upper elementary and middle school readers who love baseball will love John H. Ritter's latest novel.Even if you aren't a baseball (or wild west fan), you'll find that John's books are always bigger than baseball - they are really about life and relationships and justice and power.
This one is no different.An unlikely pair, fifteen year old Jake and Billy the Kid, join forces reluctantly and that's where the adventure starts."When the game ends, you either had a good life or a bad one or a hobgoblin of both.But it's over, right?You move on...Because Tomorrow -- and here's the best part -- tomorrow you are born again."

Not only is John's Desperado entertaining, but his tradmark "musicality of language" makes this book an excellent suggestion for classroom studies.Teachers can use Desperado to introduce the late 19th century West,African-American studies, social studies discussions of freedom, and certainly writing models of good word choice.

All in all, I'd say this one is another home run!If you like this book you'll enjoy the rest of John's books The Boy Who Saved Baseball][[ASIN:0698119312 Over the Wall, Under the Baseball Moon,and Choosing up sides.

"the Desperado" stole my heart.
I bought this book for a friend's son, and I thought I'd read a few pages to get a sense of it before I gave it to him...and now, I confess, "the Desperado" stole my heart.Before I even knew what was happening, I was caught up in the rip-roaring action, almost feeling as if I were the one escaping by my wits on horseback.The author has that rare combination of fast-paced plot, engaging characters, and lively language which can quickly transport you to another time and place, which in this case is the wild west of Southern California in the 1880's.Baseball is the pretext for concocting a tale of wild west miscreants who battle the corrupt but unbeaten Chicago baseball machine that will have you wanting to stomp your feet and whoop and holler along with the Dillontown 9.Author John Ritter follows in the path Mark Twain blazed a century ago in using local dialect and vibrant vocabulary to bring his characters to life. I expected a story for young readers, but the richness of the language as well as the colorful story line means that I will be buying my young friend another copy of the book, because my copy is now being passed on to my husband and other friends. This is a great book for any reader of any age! ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more