Tagged Out

For ages: 9-13

Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook

The inner-city Blues baseball team is having a lousy year. Shortstop Nash and the Blues can’t seem to win.
They especially hate losing to their archrivals, the rich kids of the Parkhill Pirates.

When all-star player Jock joins the team, it looks like the Blues might be able to turn the season around.
The only problem? When the Pirates find out that Jock is gay, they ambush Nash and Jock, and Nash has to decide if he wants to stand by his teammate.

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More about this book

The inner-city Blues baseball team is having a lousy year. Shortstop Nash and the Blues can’t seem to win.

They especially hate losing to their archrivals, the rich kids of the Parkhill Pirates.

When all-star player Jock joins the team, it looks like the Blues might be able to turn the season around.

The only problem? When the Pirates find out that Jock is gay, they ambush Nash and Jock, and Nash has to decide if he wants to stand by his teammate.

Published by Lorimer, Toronto, Ontario.

Commended: Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2017

Published: Feb. 12, 2016
Paperback: 128 pages
ISBN:‎ 9781459410756
Ages: 9 to 13
Lexile Reading Level: 730L
Fry Reading Level (grade): 3.6

Reviews

Well-written and full of relevant kid friendly information, Tagged Out, is an excellent read. I especially enjoyed Grant’s description of the action during the games. Reading it made me feel like I was right there watching the game and feeling what the kids feel in success and in failure. Every ball game is a combination of both success and failure and that is what makes watching and playing fun and challenging. Grant reflects the attitudes and behaviours of today’s young teens and made each of her characters real. Middle school kids will really enjoy reading this novel.

– Elaine Fuhr, CM Magazine: Canadian Review of Materials

The book is mostly about bullying. I definitely gained more compassion for Gnash when I found out about his home life… As much as I disliked him at the beginning, his jerkiness is endearing by the end. He’s still a jerk, but he asks permission before getting revenge on behalf of Jock… and doesn’t do it when Jock says no. Not a bad start.

– Alyssa Campbell, Librarian, Netgalley Reviewer

23 Upcoming YA Novels with LGBT Characters
With all-star player Jock joining the Toronto Blues, Nash and the team hope he’ll be the change they need to turn the season around. Arch-rivals Parkhill Pirates have other ideas when they find out Jock is gay, ambushing the players and forcing Nash to decide whether or not to stand by his team-mate.
-Buzzfeed
Read the full review here.

ANOTHER HOME RUN FOR LORIMER!
This is a challenging topic for the target audience, age 10 to 13. Another home run for Lorimer Sports!
—Resource Links

15 BOOKS TO READ FOR PRIDE MONTH
CCBC’s librarian Meghan Howe shares her list of recommended Canadian books for kids and teens featuring LGBTQ characters and themes.
—Canadian Children’s Book Centre

See the CCBC’s list of 15 books for pride month here.

4/4 **** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
An excellent read… Grant reflects the attitudes and behaviours of today’s young teens… Middle school kids will really enjoy reading this novel. (“Tagged Out”)
—CM (Canadian Review of Materials), Elaine Fuhr reviewer

Resources

Teaching Guide: Tagged Out

The Tagged Out teachers guide takes you through the book chapter by chapter with fun curriculum-based activities and questions as well as grammar and baseball vocabulary.

Download it now

Joyce Grant, Author & Speaker