In the late 1940s, the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against him.
Prices/Formats: $12.95 paperback, $12.95 ebook
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781616086589
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release: April 1, 2012
Amazon buy link ($12.95):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1616086580?tag=tributebooks-20B
Kindle buy link ($12.95):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007NLRXVI?tag=tributebooks-20
Nook buy link ($12.95):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legend-of-mickey-tussler-frank-nappi/1009004910?ean=9781620873021
The Legend of Mickey Tussler: A Novel by Frank Nappi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First of all, I do not like baseball. I chose to read this book because it was about autism and sounded good. Some of the portions of the book did not interest me, but the descriptions of baseball games are not overly involved. I think if you only have a simple understanding of the game (like I do), you should basically be able to follow the story.
I was drawn to this book long before I read it. I always love to read about people overcoming disabilities. Yes, this is fiction, but it reads like a true story. There are times it really gets to me. The descriptions of how he and his mom were treated by Mickey’s father were chilling at times. My heart went out to both her and Mickey. I can’t imagine how an autistic boy could get along in the 1940’s. To see him overcoming his issues and being accepted for his talent was really nice to see. I think this is a perfect example of why children born with disabilities don’t necessarily need to be aborted. They can go on to accomplish amazing things, and Mickey sure did.
I appreciated the way the author added in suspense and even a bit of corruption into the story. But never fear. There is a surprise ending, and it was this fantastic, inspiring ending that made me know I had to give this a 5-star rating. That’s right–it was getting a solid 4 before I reached the last couple pages. I look forward to reading the next book!
As a side note, I was going to mark the book down for the following reason. This book is targeted at young adults, I do believe. The profanity was rampant throughout the book, and that bothered me greatly. I realize that many books out there are loaded with profanity and other inappropriate elements. But when a book targets a certain audience, I have higher expectations. As you can see, I chose not to mark it down, but I can assure you that I would not want my daughter reading this book until she was well into her 20’s. There were a couple minor sexual discussions, but I could handle that.
The strength of the story is phenomenal and touching. It never came across as sappy or cheesy. It was real!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
About the Movie:
franknappi.com/
a-mile-in-his-shoes.html
Movie Buy Link ($14.95):
Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over thirty years. His debut novel, ECHOES FROM THE INFANTRY, received national attention, including MWSA’s silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story “A Mile in His Shoes” starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Nappi continues to produce quality work, including SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. The third installment of Nappi’s Mickey Tussler series, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, was released April 2016 and led to a musical adaptation of the award winning series. “Buckle Up and Dig In” was released by MP Music House in September of 2017. Nappi collaborated on the song and has since signed with MP Music House as a writer for future projects. His latest work, I BECAME AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OUTLAW, is a poignant, humorous memoir that chronicles Nappi’s elementary school days and the impact they still have on him many years later. Nappi makes his home on Long Island, where he has lived his entire life.
Frank Nappi’s Web Site:
http://www.franknappi.com/
Frank Nappi’s Blog:
http://www.franknappi.com/blog.htmlFrank Nappi‘s Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorfranknappi
Frank Nappi‘s Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FrankNappi
Frank Nappi‘s Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/fnap33
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1 Comment
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I’m with you, Ruth. I always like to read about people overcoming disabilities too. I’m glad you enjoyed Frank’s novels about Mickey. We appreciate your reviews!
