Last Days of Summer: A Novel

A contemporary American classic—a poignant and hilarious tale of baseball, hero worship, eccentric behavior, and unlikely friendship

Last Days of Summer is the story of Joey Margolis, neighborhood punching bag, growing up goofy and mostly fatherless in Brooklyn in the early 1940s. A boy looking for a hero, Joey decides to latch on to Charlie Banks, the all-star third basemen for the New York Giants. But Joey's chosen champion doesn't exactly welcome the extreme attention of a persistent young fan with an overactive imagination. Then again, this strange, needy kid might be exactly what Banks needs.

Last Days of Summer is the story of Joey Margolis, neighborhood punching bag, growing up goofy and mostly fatherless in Brooklyn in the early 1940s. A boy looking for a hero, Joey decides to latch on to Charlie Banks, the all-star third baseman for the New York Giants. But Joey's chosen champion doesn't exactly welcome the extreme attention of a persistent young fan with an overactive imagination. Then again, this strange, needy kid might be exactly what Banks needs.

“Funny and poignant.” - USA Today

“You’ll fly through Last Days of Summer. It is compelling, irreverent, and will break your heart.” - Dallas Morning News

“Hilarious . . . if you need to really laugh, to root for a kid who smart-mouths his way through what could have been a truly crummy childhood, read this book. If you need to remember what it’s like to idolize someone and not be disappointed, read this book . . . don’t blame me if, in the end, you’re wiping away a few tears, and wishing these guys (and their gals) were real.” - Detroit News