High Heat

Like the game of baseball, life is quirky and unpredictable, as Shane Hunter discovers in the spring of his sophomore year. Suddenly and without warning his life of privilege is turned upside down. And just as suddenly, life begins to seem utterly without fairness or purpose to him.

Exciting, well-written sports scenes transport readers right into the stands while complex issues engage their hearts and minds. For here is a novel of loss, of morality, and of the rare, redemptive power of baseball. Can speaking the truth really determine lives? Just how does one accept, move on, and begin doing the right thing?

• A High School Sports Drama: Star pitcher Shane Hunter has it all—until his father is arrested in the middle of a game, shattering his world in front of everyone.
• A Powerful Father-Son Story: Forced to confront the truth about the man he idolized, Shane must navigate a new reality without the father who taught him everything he knows about the game.
• Dealing With Grief and Loss: A poignant exploration of what happens after a tragedy, as a teen grapples with his father’s suicide and the public fallout that follows.
• A Story of Redemption: On and off the diamond, Shane searches for a way to move on, do the right thing, and rediscover the purpose he lost when his perfect life fell apart.

“A story that delivers baseball action along with a rich psychological portrait, told through a compelling first–person narration.” —School Library Journal   “High Heat joins the Deuker canon with yet another fine study of a conflicted soul whose ethical salvation is determined in a sporting arena, and once more readers are left to ponder whether a tainted success loses its sweet savor.” —Bulletin “Deuker fills the page with dozens of exciting play–by–play sequences; these serve not only to move the story along chronologically, but also act as the metronome for Shane’s personal story of loss, recovery and renewal.” —Publishers Weekly   “There’s enough taut sports action here to satisfy the most avid fan.” —Booklist “[Deuker] creates another captivating story. Readers will think they are sitting in the front row with a Cracker Jack box and a Coke . . . do not let this one slip past.” —VOYA