STAR
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
"Shawn, get your gear and let’s go!" shouted his dad. Shawn crawled out of bed and put on his glasses. He didn’t feel like getting up but there was no point in arguing. He dressed in his baseball uniform, grabbed his glove and hat and headed downstairs. Brian was already outside practicing his "home run" swing. Shawn hated being on the same team as his brother; everybody always compared them and Brian was a better player in every way. On the way to the baseball diamond, Shawn listened to the usual pre-game ‘pep talk’ from his father. "Shawn, you have to give 100% effort today, follow through with your swing, chase after the ball--" Shawn tuned him out and sat quietly in the car, wishing he were someplace else. By the top of the ninth inning of the game, Shawn had struck out four times and Brian had two home runs. Shawn could hear the other kids complaining about him. They wouldn’t dare tease him in front of Brian but he knew they didn’t want him on their team. He wanted so much to prove himself to the team by making great plays but he was also afraid of making a mistake. It was the bottom of the ninth inning. They were winning by one run. If they allowed no runs for the other team, they would win the game. There was a runner on second base and two out. Shawn stood in left field praying that the ball wouldn’t be hit to him. Just then, he heard the crack of the bat and watched the baseball soar high into the air. This was his big chance. The ball was coming towards him. Shawn moved into position and raised his glove, ready to make the play of the game. If he made this catch, the game would be over and he would be the big hero. It would change his whole life, he thought as he aligned himself perfectly and watched the ball soar straight at his glove. It seemed as though he was waiting forever
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The sudden death of Brian’s mother changed his life forever, in ways he could never have imagined. His father is depressed and self-absorbed, his asthmatic, awkward younger brother, Shawn, is a constant source of embarrassment and Brian is filled with excitement and shame resulting from recent malevolent acts he and his friends committed. Only Tera, his little sister, brings him joy. Star is the heartwarming and at times, whimsical, story of Brian, a ten year-old, whose courage, values and clarity about what truly matters transform his life and the lives of those he touches. Susan Shaw’s story is both a wonderful adventure and an educational springboard for teaching national and local curriculum standards in English Language Arts, science and social studies’ core values. Sherry Sparks, Education Consultant and Author
About the Author
Susan Shaw is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. She has worked as a business and personal consultant and has lectured internationally on the topics of health and personal development. In her novel, Susan has incorporated the basic underlying principles of creating what truly matters in life in a way that captures the imagination of children. Her experience with business professionals combined with her passion for helping children was the inspiration for creating STAR. Susan is the mother of two children, Jaclyn and Kyle, who encouraged her to publish this story.