{"product_id":"9780062327529_the-hurricanes-of-weakerville","title":"The Hurricanes of Weakerville","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMiddle grade star author Chris Rylander brings his signature sense of humor, a compelling and original baseball story, and tons of heart to the story of the Hurricanes of Weakerville.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll his life, Alex Weakerman has had one passion: baseball. Specifically, the Hurricanes of Weakerville, Iowa—the scrappy independent-league team owned by his Grandpa Ira.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this heartfelt coming-of-age story, even as the team and the town have fallen on tough times, there's no place Alex would rather be than at the ballpark—a hot dog in one hand, a pencil and scorebook in the other, keeping track of each and every statistic. Alex has never been all that great at playing baseball, but that doesn’t matter. For someone as painfully awkward as Alex, being a fan—and a wiz with baseball stats—is all he needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Grandpa Ira passes away, though, Alex is crushed. He's lost his best friend, and he doesn’t see any way that the team will survive. But Ira, it seems, has one last trick up his sleeve: his will names Alex the new manager of the Hurricanes, putting the family legacy in his hands.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlex is as excited as he is terrified at the chance to finally put some of his fantasy baseball genius to use. But as he sets to work trying to win over the players, he soon learns that leading them to victory is about more than just stats. Will he be able to save his team, his hometown, and his family legacy?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Fourth Stall\u003c\/i\u003e, a SCBWI Sid Fleischman Humor Award winner and multiple state-award favorite, \u003ci\u003eThe Hurricanes of Weakerville\u003c\/i\u003e is sure to appeal to middle grade readers looking for a funny underdog story about real kids.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Middle Grade Baseball Story:\u003c\/b\u003e Thirteen-year-old Alex Weakerman is a wiz with baseball stats, but can he manage a whole team of professionals when he can barely play the game himself?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHeartfelt Story of Friendship:\u003c\/b\u003e With his hilarious best friend by his side, Alex has to navigate the tricky world of the locker room and win over players who don’t want a kid for a boss.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDealing with Grief and Loss:\u003c\/b\u003e After losing his Grandpa Ira, Alex must step up to protect the one thing they both loved—the scrappy Hurricanes of Weakerville.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHumor and Heart:\u003c\/b\u003e Perfect for young readers who love funny, heartfelt books about sports, family, and finding the courage to step up to the plate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Chris Rylander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46889886908565,"sku":"9780062327529","price":12.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0484\/3175\/9509\/files\/9780062327529.jpg?v=1776888542","url":"https:\/\/harpercollins.com.au\/products\/9780062327529_the-hurricanes-of-weakerville","provider":"HarperCollins AU","version":"1.0","type":"link"}