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...

• 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 the vitetnam war.He decides to make a memorial for the Vietnamese people that died, and then it is all star day will he make the team or will tyler strike out on the opportunity to??? the main characters are Tyler, cousin Breena, Louie, his coach (coach) Trioli, his mom and dad, his uncle Phil,his aunt, and his dead sister Alyssa. On a scale of 1-10 I would rate this book a ten because some of the stuff in this book I can relate to! I would recommend this book to boys and girls ages 9-16 because it really sounds like a book for that age group, and people below that age group probably wouldn't get it! The genre of the book is sports fiction. You should read this book, because it really explains a lot about peoples emotions, and it just grabs your attention from the beginning! If I could read this book again I would, because I am a huge baseball fan, If I knew I had to walk away from the game I would flip out like tyler did when the coach kicked him off the team!!! I mean I Eat sleep and live for baseball! * Orono, Me 12

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 models who help Tyler along the way, and even when Tyler does not realize it, the reader will. By the end we care about this young man and appreciate his reflection and growth. In this way, Tyler, too, becomes a role model for the many young readers who will be engaged by this novel. Older readers will appreciate the historical connections and younger readers will enjoy the fast paced story line. This is a great book for a read-aloud and contains enough discussion of the Viet Nam War era to make it a must for an interdisciplinary classroom. I am eagerly anticipating Ritter's third book and welcome him to the ranks of exceptional writers for young adults.

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 there is a deeper meaning. As Tyler makes it clear, baseball is part of him. If he could get a baseball over the wall his dad is facing, it would be like reaching out to him, and hey, maybe the ball would even plonk him on the head and shake him out of the trance he's in. Also, the expression "Get over it" means to let it go, or move on and start fresh. If Tyler's dad were to "get over" that wall, he would be tired of pushing his family away from him, and he could refill that empty shell of his that Alyssa once filled. It is important that he sees what he is doing to his family so he can realize that he is losing them, in addition to Alyssa. This book is making me think.

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 of baseball, Ritter's book does just that. He combines fast-paced entertainment with an insightful look at the history of the Vietnam conflict. It's time our children learned more about this troubling time in our history. Better than any other author I know, he captures wonderfully what it is like to be a child...the fears, the excitement, the angst of being an adolescent. By the time the book ends (all too quickly I might add) the main character has become your friend. Maybe we need to learn even more about him in future books. You don't have to love baseball to enjoy this book...you just have to love good books.

"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 is the "easiest way out." Identifying with people and understanding their side is much more desirable, although much more difficult. Also, I thank John for giving my fellow war protestors a memorial too.