Battery Brothers, by Steven Carman; released March 30, 2014. “Friday Night Lights meets baseball in this edgy coming-of-age story about overcoming adversity and personal tragedy.” – Publishers Weekly
Andy Lembo is bent on becoming the starting catcher on a talent-packed varsity baseball team in his senior year at a new high school–whereas his brother Daniel, still a junior, is a shoe-in to be the team’s ace. With his 88-mile-per-hour fastball, Daniel has Major League scouts drooling. The 
brothers are tight and share a dream of winning the state championship. They also share painful memories of child abuse. But Andy carries extra burdens, from panic attacks to a shaky relationship with their father. Then there’s that burn scar covering half of Andy’s face and the bully who won’t leave Andy alone. Chock-full of nail-biting baseball games, the Panthers are inching toward the division championship. But then Andy loses his biggest supporter in a freak accident and he blames himself for what happened. His emotions raw, Andy quits the baseball team and school, while his father calls him a loser. Eventually, a treasured memory coaxes Andy to attempt a challenging comeback. Andy must find the strength to go the distance–for himself, but also for his brother and their shared dream. All proceeds from the sale of the electronic and print versions of this book will support the Sunshine Foundation.