Have you had enough of alien abductions that involve unpleasant experiments? Do you like baseball? If so, perhaps Way Over the Line is for you. This book is a ton of fun. Two best friends, Ryder and Jessie, are abducted by some very cool aliens who want them to join their baseball team. Jessie loves baseball. There is just one problem–he is afraid of the ball!

There is never a dull moment in this middle readers book as Jessie and Ryder prepare for the Over the Line tournament and explore their new “alien” surroundings. Ryder and the very cool aliens know that Jessie has the ability to be a great player and that they need him to win. First, however, they must help him get over his fear of the ball. Jessie also gets some encouragement from a cute alien girl named Aurrie. Unfortunately, some nasty reptilian space pirates also know about Jessie’s potential and they are less than supportive. You won’t want to miss a pitch in this fast-paced story as the last game approaches and the suspense builds.

Eric J. Krause brings the excitement of baseball to life. You will feel as if you are in the batter’s box swinging at a fastball or out in the field with a line drive bearing down on you. He also captures with humor and insight the fun, and the insecurities, of being a kid. Way Over the Line will leave a smile on your face. It is nice to know that some aliens just want to play baseball!

book review by Jason Sullivan