Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 5))
Michael Arroyo's left arm is "a gift from the gods." His Papi would say, "Someday, you will make it to the World Series." Michael has grown up the object of his father's dreams, but what he loved most was just playing catch with his father in Cuba and, now, playing pickup games with his friends in the shadow of Yankee Stadium. Lurking behind the scenes is the issue of Michael's real age and whether he's really eligible to play in the Little League World Series, if his team makes it that far. Lupica follows his bestselling Travel Team (2004) with another winner. He has the veteran sportswriter's gift of dialogue and muscular prose, employed well in creating believable characters and well-developed action scenes. The story culminates in a tear-jerking scene with Michael on the mound in Yankee Stadium, making this work an irresistible treat for sports fans. 2006, Philomel, 324p, $16.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 10 up. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Paula Rohrlick (KLIATT Review, March 2006 (Vol. 40, No. 2))
Sports journalist Lupica (author of Travel Team) pitches another winner here. Twelve-year-old Miguel Arroyo, born in Havana, came to the South Bronx illegally two years ago with his father and older brother, Carlos. Now called Michael, he’s an amazing pitcher and dreams of making it to the Little League World Series in Yankee Stadium, but obstacles keep rearing up in his path. His father died just six weeks ago, and 17-year-old Carlos is trying to make enough money to support the two of them without coming to the attention of the authorities. However, Michael has foiled a purse snatching with a well-aimed baseball, and the authorities are now seeking him out to celebrate his achievement. Even worse, coaches from opposing teams are questioning whether Michael is really 12, but his birth certificate is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Michael meets a girl who throws like a boy, and she turns out to be the daughter of a big-time Yankee pitcher. This satisfying old-fashioned tale has a happy ending, of course, but baseball fans will enjoy the action and Michael’s passion for the game and won’t mind that the outcome is predictable. An engaging story. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J*--Exceptional book, recommended for junior high school students. 2006, Penguin, Philomel, 224p., $16.99. Ages 12 to 15.

Curtis Chandler (The ALAN Review, Fall 2006 (Vol. 34, No. 1))
Heat is a well paced, steadily building novel that examines baseball, cultural identity, first love, and adulthood. When their father dies, Michael and his older brother are forced to fend for themselves. But should anyone find out their secret, they will be split up or worse…sent back to Cuba, spoiling Mike’s chances of playing in the Little League World Series. This coming of age tale uses the America’s past-time as backdrop for exploring multiple adolescent themes. The fairy-tale ending borders on the unbelievable, but overall the work is a terrific read for those looking for a dose of childhood baseball nostalgia. Category: Baseball/Family. YA--Young Adult. 2006, Philomel, 220 pp., $16.99. Ages young adult.Wamego, KS

Elizabeth Bush, Reviewer (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May 2006 (Vol. 59, No. 9))
Twelve-year-old Miguel (Michael) Arroyo just wants to play baseball and to elude the attention of child-welfare officials for a few more months, until his older brother Carlos turns eighteen and can legally care for him. Flying under the radar, however, is no easy task for the star pitcher of the Bronx Clippers, favored to make it to the Little League World Series. Not only must Michael stall his own coach from discovering that Michael’s father died of a heart attack three months ago, but he must produce his Cuban birth certificate to prove to jealous rival coaches that he’s eligible to play. Fast-talking, ever-schmoozing buddy Manny keeps the child-welfare worker temporarily at bay by convincing Uncle Timo to pose as Michael and Carlos’ father, but the birth-certificate problem seems insurmountable, given that the Arroyos entered the United States as refugees. Help, though, arrives from a surprising source--a beautiful young girl with a powerful pitch of her own and a family secret she’s equally anxious to keep hidden. Yes, there’s a fairy-tale happy ending, but it’s satisfyingly hard won, and in the end it’s Michael’s determination, Manny’s friendship, Carlos’ dedication, and concerned adults’ timely intervention that have as large a role as serendipity to play in bringing Michael to the mound in Yankee Stadium for the district finals. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2006, Philomel, 220p, $16.99. Grades 5-8.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2006)
Twelve-year-old Cuban refugee Michael Arroyo dreams of leading his Bronx team to the Little League World Series, but he must cope with the sudden death of his beloved father and challenges to his age from an opposing team. Colorful characters, expressive dialogue, and fast baseball action are spiced up by more than a little melodrama. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2006, Philomel, 220pp, 16.99. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Rollie Welch (VOYA, April 2006 (Vol. 29, No. 1))
Lupica's second middle school sports book follows Travel Team (Philomel, 2004/VOYA December 2004) and relates the story of twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo who considers baseball his "best friend," has a terrific once-in-a-generation pitching arm, and misses Papi, his father who is not around. Originally from Cuba and now living in the South Bronx near Yankee Stadium, Michael dominates Little League games with at-home support from his seventeen-year-old brother, Carlos, and on-the-field help from his sidekick and catcher, Manny, a friend who "always has his back." Trouble arises when Michael's overpowering talent embarrasses a spoiled brat opponent, provoking the player's father to question Michael's age and demand to see a birth certificate. Adults cannot acquire the necessary proof from Havana, and Michael is benched. Targeting middle school readers, this sports novel hits the sweet spot during the on-field play, and many diverse secondary characters-Maria Cuellar plays second base-bring life to the action. Although they are necessary to the story, subplots of Carlos scalping Yankee tickets, the plight of Cuban immigrants, and an alluring girl with a powerful throwing arm (and a secret) slightly interrupt the novel's flow. The author's devotion to the New York Yankees and constant name-dropping does not encourage a gray area and will either annoy or be embraced by teens. One viewpoint is that the Yankees, Katie Couric, Oprah, Dan Patrick of ESPN, and the Daily News all mentioned on a single page seems excessive. That complaint aside, this positive portrayal of Hispanic teens competing athletically is recommended for both school and public libraries. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2006, Philomel, 324p., $16.99. Ages 11 to 15.