Over the Wall

By John H. Ritter

Book Overview

Tyler's temper is out of control. If he isn't careful, he'll blow his chances of making the All-Star team and being noticed by a scout. But Tyler's coach, a Vietnam War veteran, has seen anger destroy enough people. He knows that if Tyler is ever going to fulfill his dreams, he'll have to learn to fight his battles with his glove, his bat, and his love for the game. Not with his fists. But it all comes down to Tyler. Does he care enough about his future to work through the past?

"A grand slam." (The ALAN Review)

"An ambitious mark that predents a compelling, multilayered story." (School Library Journal)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0698119312
• ISBN13: 9780698119314
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.6"
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Review of the tale of tyler

The book is about a13 year old boy named Tyler. He lives in California but in the summer he goes to New York to play baseball. When he is there he loses his temper a lot, one day the coach pulled him aside and told him to cut it out, stop being so mad! Then he went home and just froze and decideed that since they (his family) were going to washington monument to pay thier respects to thier family he would read a book on...

Ritter hits one Over the Wall

John Ritter's second novel is an intricate web of baseball, war, and coming of age. Ritter's 14 year old hero, Tyler, almost lets anger destroy his sport. Through his development of self-control, he is able to come to terms with his family and with his country's involvement in the Viet Nam War. The story is seamlessly woven together with humor and insight into the development of adolescents. There are positive adult role...

A Twelve-Year-Old Thinker

By far, the similes with the most important roles in OVER THE WALL are the many walls. Tyler has many problems, but the main one is his father. In the first chapter, Tyler said, "It was like he was facing a big brick wall. . .and he couldn't see a thing." Then, in the second chapter, Tyler wants to hit a baseball "over the wall". If I took that at face value, I would think that all he wants is to do well in baseball, but...

Over the Wall

Over the Wall by John H. Ritter is the best young/adult novelI've read in years. As a 6th grade teacher (and the parent of a twelve-year-old) I find it increasingly difficult to find quality books. Books about shape-shifting alien technology, slime creatures, and silly young sorcerers seem to dominate the market. [...] Why not read a book that entertains and teaches something at the same time. Using the metaphorical backdrop...

"Over the Wall," an entertaining story that also hits home

I started reading "Over the Wall" on a Saturday, and could hardly put it down until I finished it on Monday. Like Jonh Ritter's first book, "Choosing up Sides," this is a well written and very entertaining story, for readers of all ages (I am 46 years old). I especially identify with Tyler's struggle to replace anger with empathy, despite what other people think. I tend to react with anger, at least at first. Anger...