Over the Wall | 
 enlarge | Author: John H. Ritter
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy Used: $0.89
You Save: $6.10 (87%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 84614
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.1 x 1
ISBN: 0698119312
EAN: 9780698119314
ASIN: 0698119312
Publication Date: February 18, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Cover wear and may contain some marks or writing. Keen Northwest ships in 2 business days or less. Refunds for any reason if item returned within 30 days of shipment.
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Product Description
Tyler's temper is out of control. If he isn't careful, he'll blow his chances of making the All-Star team and being noticed by a scout. But Tyler's coach, a Vietnam War veteran, has seen anger destroy enough people. He knows that if Tyler is ever going to fulfill his dreams, he'll have to learn to fight his battles with his glove, his bat, and his love for the game. Not with his fists. But it all comes down to Tyler. Does he care enough about his future to work through the past?
"A grand slam." (The ALAN Review)
"An ambitious mark that predents a compelling, multilayered story." (School Library Journal)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Sports and War July 5, 2007
Tyler is incredibly focused. He is determined to make baseball his life. Even though he is only thirteen, he already has a plan to get noticed at home in his California high school during the school year, but then to also make a name for himself during the summers playing in a New York City league with his cousin. He is certain this summer he will make the New York all-star team and begin getting noticed.
Right away, though, there is a problem. Tyler has a terrible temper that causes him to get into fights with other players, on the other teams as well as his own. When something gets to him or he feels he's been treated unfairly, he simply explodes. He thought his abilities on the field would get him onto the all-star team, but the coach almost immediately pulls him aside and tells him that unless he can show a little maturity, he has no chance.
At first Tyler is even more furious at the coach for telling him he's not in control. But then he decides to do something to change the coach's opinion of him. It's not easy to reign in his temper, and a lot of the time he's just acting relaxed instead of really feeling it. But then he begins to reflect more on his life and the lives of his family members and their connections to violence and war. Eventually he begins to view himself and those around him in entirely new ways.
I liked the connection to the Vietnam War, although at times I thought the book lost its focus and the author couldn't decide between a story about baseball and a story about the effects of the war.
Unfortunately, I really didn't like the character of Tyler. I found him irritating and wasn't really rooting for him to be successful.
"Over the Wall," a baseball story that really hits home December 11, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I started reading "Over the Wall" on a Saturday, and could hardly put it down until I finished it on Monday.
Like John Ritter's other books, "Choosing up Sides" and "The Boy Who Saved Baseball," this is a well written and very entertaining story. I especially identify with Tyler's struggle to replace anger with empathy, despite what other people might think about him. I tend to react with anger, at least at first. Anger is the "easiest way out." Identifying with people and understanding their side is much more difficult
Tyler strives to become a better baseball player to compensate for his parents' mental absence and to rekindle their interest in his life. Tyler's strenuous quest is expressed with foreshadowing. This occurs early on when he disputes the umpire's bad call when he knows he was safe.
All of these writer's craft techniques: foreshadowing, comparing and contrasting between characters, and having the minor characters take control of the greatest part of the plot, are brilliantly expressed. "Over the Wall" by John H. Ritter was one of the greatest books I have ever read. Now I can't wait to read "Under the Baseball Moon" next.
 Over The Wall November 14, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Tyler is a great shortstop and a terrific all around baseball player. He only has one flaw, he has anger issues. After every bad call he gets angry and is involved in a fight. Sometimes he gets in fights because people make fun of his bright orange hair. Tyler's coach, Coach Trioli, tries to help him by showing what happened in the Vietnam war. Now Tyler knows his coaches secret past and why he is so nice, but will Tyler get over his anger problems or will he be kicked of the and kicked off the league forever.
GOOD BOOK October 30, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Hi, my name is A.C. Murphy and I thought that "Over The Wall" by John H. Ritter was a good book. My Favorite character would have to be Tyler's cousin Louis. Louis is my favorite character beacuse he plays 2nd base just like I do. In the beginning of the book, Tyler comes from San Diego and goes all the way to New York City. While Tyler is in New York City, his cousin asks him if he wants to play on his baseball team. So Tyler decides to play. They have a really good team. But in one game, Tyler gets in a fight and is kicked off of the team and reuins his chance on making the all star team. Towards the end of the book, Tyler apologizes to his coach and his coach gives him a spot on the all star team. If I were to rate this book on a scale from 1-10, I'd rate it a 10 because baseball is my favorite sport, and I've playing since I was three years old.
Good Book October 30, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I think that John H. Ritter is one of the best authors and I really liked Over The Wall. The reason why I liked the book was because it's about baseball, and it's my favorite sport to play. I think that my favorite character would have to be Tyler's cousin Louis because he was tough and he played 2nd base. I play 2nd base also. If I were to rate this book from a scale of 1-10, I'd rate it a 10 because it was a really good book.
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