Jennie’s Review

As someone who has always loved baseball, I was immediately drawn to this memoir. The game has a unique way of building confidence and creating community, making it the perfect backdrop for Jack’s story. Watching a young man with Down syndrome find purpose and joy as a baseball coach is genuinely heartwarming, and those moments are the true highlight of the book.

The author’s love for Jack and their family shines through on every page. I found myself smiling whenever the story returned to the ballfield, where Jack’s enthusiasm and relationships with the players remind us that leadership comes in many forms.

I did find myself wishing the focus had remained on Jack more consistently. The memoir spends a significant amount of time exploring the family’s history, including their international adoptions and other life experiences. While these stories add context, they often pulled me away from the person I most wanted to know. Jack’s journey is compelling enough to stand on its own.

The writing style is also quite distinctive. Frequent dividing lines and very short paragraphs interrupted the reading flow for me, making it harder to become fully immersed in the story.

Even with those reservations, the heart behind these pages is undeniable. Readers who enjoy inspirational family memoirs, uplifting baseball stories, or books celebrating the abilities of individuals with Down syndrome will find much to appreciate here. I only wish I’d been given the chance to spend a few more innings with Jack, because his is the story that lingers long after the final page.

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Release date September 8, 2026

Book Summary

Jack is thirty-one years old. He has Down syndrome. He is the assistant coach for a youth travel baseball team in St. George, Utah — and by every account from the players, the parents, and the coaches who work alongside him, he is the most important person on the field.

It wasn’t because anyone gave him that role, but because he earned it.