camp and fi nds Taylor and Wil randomly matched up as roommates who form a deep bond of friendship during their three-week stay. Readers will anticipate an apparent mis- match of characters, but there’s more to the story, and I’ll get to that. Young Sluggers Baseball Camp is Taylor’s
second home. He’s popular with his friends there – most of whom he doesn’t get to see outside of camp – and he’s a gifted start- ing pitcher. The son of two politically active queer moms, he’s thoughtful about asking for and sharing pronouns, and he is very in- formed about consent and boundaries. He seems like a kid who has it all together. Wil, who would rather be at his beloved
theatre camp, is more reluctant about the summer ahead. Having recently begun to live as a boy, he acquiesced to his father’s well- intended, if ill-informed, effort to validate his son’s identity. Wil isn’t just worried about being accepted as a boy; he’s downright terri- fi ed of what will happen when fellow camp- ers discover that he’s never played baseball. Predictably perhaps, Taylor volunteers to coach his roommate; however, the relation- ship between the pair is not one-sided, and we see both boys grow from it. Rather than conventional chapters, the
ry is narrated by a transgender dad, speaking to his newborn child of all the preparations leading up to their birth. Dad recalls a gathering of loving chosen
family, reassuring an older sib anxious about change, and even being cared for by the other parent Dada when he felt sick during preg- nancy. Space is left in the book for young readers to add their own pictures and words to talk about “who welcomed them as a small person,” or “who gives them hugs,” and “who shares laughter with them.” While this pic- ture book breaks new ground, I think most young readers will fi nd it highly relatable be- cause it centres the excitement of greeting a new family member. Additionally, a title that depicts fathers as the curators of loving home environments is always welcome. Portraying men and boys as caring and
safe people is core to one of Flamingo Ram- pant’s fi rst two novels for intermediate read- ers, It’s A Hit! Arin Cole Barth’s and Marika Barth’s story is set in a summer baseball
16 ETFO VOICE | WINTER 2022
book is divided into four main parts, or acts. What is unique and essential to the structure is that the three-week narrative is disclosed alternately from Wil’s and Taylor’s points of view every two or three pages. While the reader has a strong sense of Wil’s vulnerabili- ties from the beginning, Taylor has his own worries that aren’t immediately perceptible. Over time, as the pair share more with each other, a deep friendship unfolds. Along the way, readers have the opportunity to ponder a variety of themes, including fatphobia, ra- cial stereotyping, neurodivergence as well as trans and non-binary identities. It’s A Hit! is a refreshing take on sports-
themed novels. Where other titles in this genre focus on leadership, Wil’s and Taylor’s story is one of collaboration. As the participa- tion of trans kids in athletic competition has sparked ugly responses in some jurisdictions, it’s a relief to read a story in which queer and trans kids and their families are made to feel welcome at a sports camp. A book in which male characters freely dispense affection and caring should be a welcome addition to any diverse library. Readers who love adventure will revel
in Chy Ryan Spain’s post-apocalyptic nar- rative featuring Black, non-binary siblings Yren and Augi, as they attempt to unravel
By Arin Cole Barth and Marika Barth
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