Middle grade star author Chris Rylander brings his signature sense of humor, a compelling and original baseball story, and tons of heart to the story of the Hurricanes of Weakerville.

All his life, Alex Weakerman has had one passion: baseball. Specifically, the Hurricanes of Weakerville, Iowa—the scrappy independent-league team owned by his Grandpa Ira.

In this heartfelt coming-of-age story, even as the team and the town have fallen on tough times, there’s no place Alex would rather be than at the ballpark—a hot dog in one hand, a pencil and scorebook in the other, keeping track of each and every statistic. Alex has never been all that great at playing baseball, but that doesn’t matter. For someone as painfully awkward as Alex, being a fan—and a wiz with baseball stats—is all he needs.

When Grandpa Ira passes away, though, Alex is crushed. He’s lost his best friend, and he doesn’t see any way that the team will survive. But Ira, it seems, has one last trick up his sleeve: his will names Alex the new manager of the Hurricanes, putting the family legacy in his hands.

Alex is as excited as he is terrified at the chance to finally put some of his fantasy baseball genius to use. But as he sets to work trying to win over the players, he soon learns that leading them to victory is about more than just stats. Will he be able to save his team, his hometown, and his family legacy?

From the author of The Fourth Stall, a SCBWI Sid Fleischman Humor Award winner and multiple state-award favorite, The Hurricanes of Weakerville is sure to appeal to middle grade readers looking for a funny underdog story about real kids.

• A Middle Grade Baseball Story: Thirteen-year-old Alex Weakerman is a wiz with baseball stats, but can he manage a whole team of professionals when he can barely play the game himself?
• Heartfelt Story of Friendship: With his hilarious best friend by his side, Alex has to navigate the tricky world of the locker room and win over players who don’t want a kid for a boss.
• Dealing with Grief and Loss: After losing his Grandpa Ira, Alex must step up to protect the one thing they both loved—the scrappy Hurricanes of Weakerville.
• Humor and Heart: Perfect for young readers who love funny, heartfelt books about sports, family, and finding the courage to step up to the plate.