Jacob Shough -- Blogmeister

Todd was a star pitcher on his way to the majors without question when he was hit by a line drive to end his carreer after countless times of trying to come back. Think about a goal you have that you really want to acheive, now think about having an injury or any obstacle come at you that will possibly end your dream. What would you do to come back or would you even try?

Scott Johnson

Born in Chicago he grew up as a Cubs fan. He studied at Indiana University and University of Massachusetts. He lives in Mahopac, New York, with his wife, susan, and his three sons, Ethan, Guthrie, and Caleb. He is a Enlgish and Creative writing teacher at Pleasntville High School in New York.

Other novels: "One of the Boys" and "Overnight Sensation"

Simile- "His bat blurred through the strike zone, the metal clanked like a saw blade striking steel as he pummeled the ball in a huge arc to left."

Metaphor- "The late afternoon sun was pouring in from the stands overhead, so he must not have seen me in the corner of the dugout where I watched."

"If Todd could believe, then I sure as hell could, too. Because this, I saw, was the way back for him, it always had been: on a little hill of dirt sixty feet from his best friend."

This shows the theme of the book is to make a comeback. No matter what you run into for an obstacle if you believe and try you can get through it. The book shows how a kid fights a severe problem but makes it throw it with his friend and trys again.

Article posted May 22, 2010 at 08:08 PM GMT0 • comment • Reads 25

Safe at Second takes place in a time much like today. It takes place in Edgeview High School from the baseball feild to class rooms and hallways, and from the street from one friends house to anothers.

Todd was the allstar pitcher that had it all. He had a major league fastball, beautiful girlfriend

, and was the most popular in school. He was on top getting what he wanted from his coaches because they wanted him to play and he believed noone could touch him. Then after the incident of getting it by the line drive everything changed. He seemed like he had lost everything, he couldn't pitch and avoided everyone. People firs viewed him as the best but now they saw him as nothing. They saw him as someone troubled with being sad and lost which is what bugged him most.

Edgeview High School baseball team has some talent with Todd Bannister, a senior that has been looked at by every college and major league scout for his 90mph fastball. Paulie is Todd's best friend, although he is not very good at baseball he knows alot about it and its major league players. When the season got started Todd got drilled in the face off a line drive while he was pitching, this changed his life dramaticlly.Todd was in the hospital for days and lost one eye.

After he got back in school no one looked at him the same.Before he was the best in the school, the one everyone looked up at to take them to the top, and he held his head high and acted as if he owned the school. Now he avoided people, did not want to be at school, and did not look even close to someone who could be happy. He also was not the same on the feild, he would not throw his high heat fastball anymore, he thought he did not have it, he did not believe he did.

Paulie still had not gave up on Todd, he knew Todd could still throw heat, he just wouldn't. Paulie tried helping Todd by catching for him everynight in the park trying to get him to throw like he use to. Although Todd was not throwing as good the team still had some talent and had a good record that got them into a big game in the playoffs.

The game looked good for them up 5-1 when their pitcher got thrown out of the game arguing with the umpire. They had noone that could pitch left except Todd so he was put in. He gave up 3 runs right away and had runners on first and third with the best clean up hitter at the plate. Todd couldn't do it, he called Paulie to the mound who was playing second. He wanted him to pitch, Paulie could not believe it, he had never pitched before. Finaly coach came out and Todd told him he wanted Paulie to pitch, he could do it. Coach said ok so Paulie toke the mound. He got a ground ball to end the game and get the victory.Everyone ran in the dugout celebrating and cheering with fans except Todd, he stayed in the feild. Paulie watched as Todd stood alone in the feild on the mond. The sun beat down on him as he looked out across the plate only to turn and walk off for the last time.

I am not much of a reader. I do not ever really read for fun, only when i have to. However when I have to read i prefer books about sports or cartoons like Dr. Seuss. Also I like books about animals and nature but however I am still not much of a reader.

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