Rooting for Rafael Rosales

Rafael Rosales is an 11-year-old aspiring baseball player from the Dominican Republic, whose dedication to the sport and dream of playing for an American team occupy his every moment. Nine years later, 12-year-old Maya, a passionate environmentalist, sees Rafael playing (badly) as a prospect for the Minnesota Twins and quickly declares him her favorite player. She’s drawn to the tenacious underdog, believing that, if he can succeed, anyone can. Bijou, a Dominican girl with connections to both Rafael and Maya, provides a thread that ties their stories together, through correspondence, allowing Maya to see her own privilege and better understand Rafael’s roots. Moving between Rafael’s childhood and Maya’s present, Scaletta (The Winter of the Robots) weaves a powerful story of two children whose realities seem entirely dissimilar but, in truth, converge in significant ways, namely in their desire to excel and make a difference. The character of Rafael feels somewhat underdeveloped compared to that of Maya, but his persistence and work ethic make it easy to understand why she rallies behind him. Readers will, too. Ages 9–12. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. (Apr.)