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Book Review - Catch
Reprinted from August 2006 Issue

-by MARSHA BATES
Written by Will Leitch, ©2005, RazorBill, an imprint of Penguin Books, NY, 286 pages.

Tim Temples plans to enjoy his last summer before college starts. He’s a star athlete, younger brother of a star athlete, son of a professional ball player. He’s a babe magnet, but can’t commit to one relationship. He’s got a mindless summer job at the local bagel factory and everyone in town knows his family. Life is good.

When Doug, Tim’s adored older brother arrives home from college, his attitude toward the family is sarcastic and cool. Doug still resents the fact that his parents insisted he accept a college scholarship to play baseball instead of signing with a professional ball club. College was too tough and now Doug is home after four years without a sports contract or a degree.

Tim has premonitions of failing at college. Life in his small town has spoiled him. His childhood friend Jessica can’t understand why he’s not excited to leave. Even though her dad will be alone when she’s gone, Jessica can’t wait to dive into freshman year. Tim’s guy friends, most not college material, face the endless drudgery of working at the bagel plant.

When Tim meets Helena, a co-worker at the plant, he’s astonished by her endless bad humor. He makes it a goal to charm her the way he’s charmed every other girl he’s met. Eventually he and Helena fall into a clandestine relationship. For the first time in his life, Tim falls hard for a girl. But what will happen at the end of the summer when he heads off to college?

Author Will Leitch has written a coming of age story about the pampered, popular golden boy from a small town. He fears leaving his exalted status behind, fears failure like his older brother, fears heartbreak when he must decide between his future and his first serious girlfriend. This book is recommended for older teens in grades 10-12 and adults.

Reviewed by Marsha Bates, employee of the Kennewick Branch of the Mid-Columbia Library System.