This book review has a boring title

                                               By: Sumeet S.

            Mike Lupica, the author of The Heat, is one of the many authors that are able to create suspense within a normal plot. The Heat is basically about two boys, Michael and Carlos Arroyo, trying to live their own lives without the presence of their father and their mother. This story also revolves around Michael Arroyo and his amazing skills in baseball.

            Michael Arroyo is a 12-year old little boy that pitches baseballs like he is a high school pitcher, however there is one problem: there is no proof that he is actually 12-years old. He has no father, mother, and his birth certificate is stuck in Cuba, his native country. All of the rival teams do not believe that someone that can pitch that well can actually be 12-years old. Also, in order to pitch in the championship game, Michael has to get his birth certificate in order to verify his age and play in the championship game.

            He has a 17-year old brother named Carlos Arroyo. He is the only reason why Michael is alive right now. He had to drop out from school and work in two jobs so that he is able to supply for his brother and himself. He knows that Michael has always wanted to play baseball in Bronx Stadium someday and he will do whatever it takes to give Michael that chance to shine in his dream.

            Mike Lupica created so much excitement, doubt, and interest throughout the whole story. Mike also makes sure he knows what Carlos is going through with his two jobs and the amount of stress that he is going through. He also helps us feel the pain that Carlos goes through when he has to lie to everyone about his dad's existence and about what could happen with him and his brother. Mike also does a very good job of creating realistic images of the other characters in the book from Justin to Manny Cabrera.

             I have always been a fan of Mike Lupica's work, but this book absolutely blew me away with the amount of excitement and suspense this book holds. And since I hear that a new book, Summer Ball, is coming out very soon, I will read his other books until he releases his new and upcoming book.