Soto, Gary. Baseball in April and Other Stories. Harcourt Paperbacks (2000). ISBN-10: 0152025677

Plot Summary

This book contains a collection of 11 short stories that showcase certain events in Soto’s life growing up in some of the poorest areas of California. Included within the collection are stories about spending time with his grandparents, riding bikes, family vacations, talking to girls, etc.

Critical Evaluation

Soto has always had a special talent for understanding what it’s like to grow up as a child. He especially focuses on the experiences that tend to relate to all children, not just those who are less fortunate. The stories are told from a child’s perspective, which allows readers to make a variety of connections.

Reader's Annotation

This book is a collection of 11 short stories.

About the Author

As a child, Gary Soto never thought he would ever become a writer. He did know, however, that he did not want to work in the fields of Fresno, California.

When Soto was a young child, he suffered the loss of his Father, Manuel, who lost his life in a tragic industrial accident. After his father’s death, Soto’s family was left without any money, so they eventually moved to the San Joaquin Valley in search of work. Because his mother was an immigrant, and she had very little education, she began work “picking oranges, cotton, and grapes for very little pay.” She also accepted jobs at the packing houses of local business, which was often dangerous work. Gary, grew up very poor, and he lived in some of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods.

His experiences growing up are the subject and setting of many of his works. These include The Skirt, Fearless Fernie, Canto Familiar, and Jesse.

Genre

Fiction: Short Stories

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts, Social Studies, Social Sciences

Booktalking Ideas

Have you ever read Baseball in April and Other Stories? If you have not, than you have not read one of American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults. The author of this book, Gary Soto is known as, “an author true to his Hispanic heritage and culture” because a great deal of the books and poems he has written are recollections of his life when he lived in Fresno, California as a young boy. Next time you visit the library, check out Baseball in April and Other Stories!

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 9-12

Reason for Book Selection

Our school district’s literature anthology contains several Gary Soto stories. The student’s really gravitate towards his writing style. I especially love his subtle humor.