Life Lessons from a Season of Little League for Homebound Individuals

"This is a tale that depicts the transformation of a team into a family and a family into a team... a remarkable book," said Cal Ripken, Jr. "An absolute necessity to read!" raved USA TODAY (ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2023).

An incredibly heartfelt and unexpectedly humorous memoir about the concepts of family, bereavement, and progressing in life. Following the death of her brother due to cancer, and only four months later, her mother, Teresa Strasser finds solace solely in her irresponsible and cantankerous father who resides in a trailer park. Although he conveniently claims to have no recollection of her tumultuous childhood, he displays unwavering devotion as a grandparent. As her son embarks on his rookie season pitching for the Little League, Teresa and her father form a grief support group comprised of just the two of them, seated in beach chairs meticulously aligned behind the first base line.

Devoid of professionally trained counselors and regulations beyond those enforced by the Little League of America and human emotion, the stages of grief for Teresa and her father materialize as the draft, the regular season, and the playoffs. A single season of baseball becomes the structural basis for an evocative memoir encompassing themes of family, loss, and the fundamentals of baseball and life. They enthusiastically cheer, engage in playful banter about other teams, bicker at each other intensely in the parking lot, and exhibit an excessive level of investment in the outcome of the Little League.

Making It Home presents an unflinchingly candid expedition through grief, self-doubt, and anxiety accompanied by a dose of humor and an unwavering belief in the power of optimism. Although America's favorite pastime may merely be a game, it continually offers opportunities for redemption, even for those at the bottom of the batting lineup.

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