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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) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Sports and War
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
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
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
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
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. ... Read more

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Chapters: Wil Wheaton, Tim Burton, Sean Penn, Debbie Reynolds, Bonnie Raitt, James J. Jeffries, Dick Clark, John Ritter, Clarence Johnson, Angie Dickinson, Randy Rhoads, Mark Harmon, Patton Oswalt, Tyler Newton, Jeffrey Steele, Rod Beck, Wesley Pomeroy, Juliet Anderson, Eddie Cibrian, Clint Howard, Rene Russo, Adam Schiff, Mara Wilson, Doug Blasdell, Andrew Gold, Eve Plumb, Wiley Miller, Brad Johnson, Stefanie Schaeffer, Beverly Adams, Royce Clayton, Vanessa Lee Evigan, Doug Savant, Erin Moran, Hugh Reilly, Orfeo Angelucci, Rob Zabrecky, Beth Sullivan, Debbe Dunning, Gustin Nash, Dave Markey, Paul Barrere, Marla Pennington, Manny Ayulo, Jerry Yester, Pete Lacock, Bruce Reitherman, Wally Albright, Mikayla Mendez, Brian Reardon, Michael G. Richards, Tim Friday, Fred Harman, Jennifer Grant, Lily Jackson, Chris Thomas, Sydney S. Reynolds, Roger Salkeld, Ryan Tucker, Roxanne Blaze, Samuel Joseph Aquila, Wayne Edwards, Jay Benedict, Fred Meyers, Joe Rosselli, Laura Johnson, Ken Stanton, Kate Hansen. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 329. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Timothy William "Tim" Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for his dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and for blockbusters such as Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Batman, Batman Returns, Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland, his most recent film, that is currently the highest grossing film of 2010 as well as the sixth highest-grossing film of all time. Among Burton's many collaborators are his friend Johnny Depp, musician Danny Elfman (who has compose...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=31501 ... Read more

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Chapters: Gary Hart, Christine Scanlan, Gene Nichol, Michael Bennet, Mark Udall, Bill Ritter, John Hickenlooper, Betsy Markey, Debbie Marquez, Roy Romer, Ed Perlmutter, Pat Waak, Andrew Romanoff, Tom Strickland, Federico Peña, Ramona Martinez, Sal Pace, Arn Menconi, Joe Miklosi, Evie Hudak, Su Ryden, Jerry Frangas, Thomas M. Patterson, Brandon Shaffer, Byron L. Johnson, Terrance Carroll, Wellington Webb, Charles S. Thomas, John A. Carroll, Bill Winter, Beth Mccann, Buie Seawell, Christopher T. Gates, Jim Riesberg, Stephen R. Fitzgarrald, Stan Matsunaka, Byron G. Rogers, Paula Sandoval, Rutt Bridges, David Skaggs, Bruce Whitehead, Mary Hodge, Ray Aguilera, Betty Boyd, Cary Kennedy, Floyd K. Haskell, Atterson W. Rucker, Benjamin C. Hilliard, Harry H. Seldomridge, Charles J. Hughes, Jr., Peggy Lamm, Gail Schoettler, Walter Walker. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 208. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Gary Hart (born Gary Warren Hartpence; November 28, 1936) is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He formerly served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado (19751987), and ran in the U.S. presidential elections in 1984 and again in 1988, when he was considered a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination until various news organizations reported that he was having an extramarital affair. Since retiring from the Senate, he has emerged as a consultant on national security, and continues to speak on a wide range of issues, including the environment and homeland security. In 2001, he earned a doctorate in politics from Oxford. In 2006, Hart accepted an endowed professorship at the University of Colorado at Denver. He also serves as Chairman for Council for a Livable World. He has written or co-authored numerous books and articles, including four novels, two...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=200496 ... Read more

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From Publishers Weekly: Set during Prohibition, Ritter's debut novel features a rural Kentucky dialect and a sympathetic hero "stuck smack between two worlds." Luke Bledsoe's conflicts with his father, a volatile fundamentalist preacher, take on a new dimension when the seventh-grade southpaw discovers his pitching power. Classmates who have seen Luke accidentally throw with what his father calls "the Devil's arm" urge Luke to join the local baseball team, but Luke's left-handedness is not the only trouble: participation in sports is strictly forbidden by his church. The narrator is strongly tempted to side with "wild-as-a-witch-dog" Uncle Micah, another lefty, who encourages his nephew to follow his own natural course. Luke's movement toward independence is realistically cautious but frustratingly slow?until his father's accidental death brings a quick turn of events and tidy solution to problems. Criticisms of religious taboos and narrow-mindedness are hurled as forcefully as Luke's fastball. More artful, subtle expression may be found in the author's depiction of local color and metaphors mostly having to do with fishing and hunting. Despite its somewhat didactic tone, this story offers enough curve balls to keep readers engaged. Ages 10-14. Recipient of the 1999 International Reading Association's "Children's Book Award." Named an American Library Association "Best Book for Young Adults." Named a 1999 "Blue Ribbon Book" by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. ... Read more

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Chapters: George Ii of Great Britain, John Ritter, Jonathan Larson, Mike Wieringo, Harvey Feldman, Frank Branston, John B. Harman, Richard Biggs, Judi Ann Mason, Paul O. Williams, Phillip Bartlett. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 69. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: George II (George Augustus; German: ; 10 November 1683 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. He was the last British monarch to have been born outside Great Britain, and was famous for his numerous conflicts with his father and, subsequently, with his son. As king, he exercised little control over policy in his early reign, the government instead being controlled by Great Britain's parliament. Before that, most kings possessed great power over their parliaments. He was also the last British monarch to lead an army in battle (at Dettingen, in 1743). George as a young boy, pictured with his mother, Sophia Dorothea of Celle, and his sister, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover.HH Duke Georg August of Hanover was born at Herrenhausen Palace, Hanover (Germany). He was the son of Georg Ludwig (the future King George I of Great Britain) then the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and his wife, Sophia of Celle; both George and Sophia committed adultery but Sophia's alleged abandonment of George led to their being divorced in 1694. Queen Anne, who had ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1702, made George an English citizen in 1705, a Knight of the Garter in 1706, and gave him the titles of Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Milford Haven, Viscount Northallerton and Baron Tewkesbury. In 1708 he participated in the Battle of Oudenarde and fought in the vanguard; he was thr...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=46389 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: 2006 Colorado Gubernatorial Election, Colorado Gubernatorial Election, 2006, Bill Ritter, John Hickenlooper, Bob Beauprez, Andrew Romanoff, Marc Holtzman, Dawn Winkler. Excerpt: Previous GovernorBill OwensRepublican The Colorado gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006 to determine the successor for incumbent Bill Owens, who was unable to run due to term limits. The election was won by Democratic candidate Bill Ritter. Victorious Democratic nominee Bill Ritter rallying supporters at the Colorado Democratic Convention in Greeley.Ex-Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter emerged as the lone Democratic candidate after his rival, Breckenridge state representative Gary Lindstrom, dropped out of the race on February 28, 2006. Several high-profile Democrats reportedly mulled a run, such as Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, State House Majority Leader Andrew Romanoff, and others, but they never announced their candidacy, leaving Ritter as the sole Democratic candidate. Nevertheless, Ritter's personal opposition to the practice of abortion initially led to much division within the ranks of his fellow Democrats, fears that were not allayed even when Ritter insisted that he had no agenda to change state law on the issue. Other Democrats pointed out that Ritter's moderate platform could be appealing to voters in a state that has in the past been considered right-leaning. In the end, the lack of any challenge to Ritter eventually led to the support and endorsement of most of the state's leading Democrats and progressive institutions. The Republican race was from the beginning hotly contested between House Representative Bob Beauprez, and former University of Denver President Marc Holtzman. While Holtzman, who has never before held elected... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=2130138 ... Read more

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Limited Edition Performed by John Ritter.Two timeless stories illustrate the themes of Bravery, integrity, and perserverence! ... Read more

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Chapters: Molière, Malcolm X, Sid James, Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, Tiny Tim, Owen Hart, Dimebag Darrell, Nelson Eddy, John Ritter, Mitsuharu Misawa, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Miriam Makeba, Mark Sandman, J. I. Rodale, Redd Foxx, Michael Dibiase, Leonard Warren, Irene Ryan, Right to Die?, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Dick Shawn, Eduard Van Beinum, Francesco Scoglio, Marg Osburne, Warne Marsh, Cyril Ritchard, Felix Mottl, Black Herman, David Burns, Philippé Wynne, Gordon Reid, Leslie Harvey, Machito, Harry Parke, Joseph Keilberth. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 256. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Malcolm X (pronounced ; May 19, 1925 February 21, 1965), born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Arabic: ), was an African-American Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist. To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. His detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, antisemitism, and violence. He has been described as one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska. The events of his childhood, including his father's lessons concerning black pride and self-reliance, and his own experiences concerning race, played a significant role in Malcolm X's adult life. By the time he was thirteen, his father had died and his mother had been committed to a mental hospital. After living in a series of foster homes, Malcolm X became involved in hustling and other criminal activities in Boston and New York. In 1946, Malcolm X was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison. While in prison, Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of Islam. After his parole in 1952,...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=20796 ... Read more

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Chapters: John J. Glennon, John Carberry, Joseph Ritter, John L. May, Luke E. Hart. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 28. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: John Joseph Glennon (June 14, 1862March 9, 1946) was an Irish American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of St. Louis from 1903 until his death in 1946, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946. John Glennon was born in Kinnegad, County Meath, Ireland, to Matthew and Catherine (née Rafferty) Glennon. After graduating from St. Finian's College, he entered All Hallows College near Dublin in 1878. He accepted an invitation from Bishop John Joseph Hogan in 1882 to join the newly-erected Diocese of Kansas City in the United States. Glennon, after arriving in Missouri in 1883, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Hogan on December 20, 1884. He was then assigned to St. Patrick's Church in Kansas City and, briefly returning to Europe, furthered his studies at the University of Bonn in Germany. Upon his return to Kansas City, Glennon became rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He was later made vicar general (1892) and apostolic administrator (1894) for the diocese. On March 14, 1896, Glennon was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Kansas City and Titular Bishop of Pinara by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 29 from Archbishop John Joseph Kain, with Bishops Maurice Francis Burke and John Joseph Hennessy serving as co-consecrators. At age 34, he became one of the youngest bishops in the world. Glennon was later named Coadjutor Archbishop of St. Louis on April 27, 1903. He succeeded Archbishop Kain as the fourth Archbishop of St. Louis upon the latter's death on October 13 of that year. Realizing the Cathedral of St. Louis could no longer accommodate its...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=1270564 ... Read more

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Word count: 3702. ... Read more

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You think your family’s bad? What if your dad was a preacher at the mall? What if your sister made you dress like Little Lord Fauntleroy for her wedding? What if your grandfather was wanted by the law in three states? You’d be hard pressed to be in more embarrassing, tougher situations than these kids.

Ten hilarious, poignant, thoughtful stories about how our families drive us crazy, and how we love them anyway. Featuring some of today’s most talented authors:

Joan Bauer Jack Gantos Mel Glenn Gordon Korman David Lubar Walter Dean Myers Dian Curtis Regan John H. Ritter Nancy Springer Sharon Dennis Wyeth

This is the perfect gift for that special someone who drives you crazy! ... Read more

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Saturday Nights With Daddy at the Opry is both the story of growing up with a backstage pass to the entertainment world in Nashville as well as a heartwarming tale of a beautiful father-daughter relationship.

From the time she was a baby, Les Leverett, who was the official photographer for the Grand Ole Opry took his daughter, Libby, with him each Saturday evening to witness country music's greatest entertainers. Sometimes Libby carried his equipment, sometimes she played with the other children of Opry performers, but she was always observing.

Now some 40 years later, Libby Leverett-Crew touchingly remembers those Saturday nights with Minnie Pearl, Tex Ritter, Grandpa Jones, Roy Acuff, Dolly Parton, Porter Waggoner, Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, along with a few astronauts, muppets, ballet dancers, actors and actresses, and with Andy Warhol and kd lang thrown in.

Saturday Nights with Daddy at the Opry is a celebration of music and family--incredibly well written from one lucky daughter's perspective. Includes more than 100 photographs by Les Leverett.

Customer Reviews (3)

Very dissappointing
This promises to be something of a backstage look at the Grand Ole Opry, instead it's a more of a personal memoir with comments about country stars the author has known.While she writes quite a bit about Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones, Tex Ritter (hence the foreward is written by Tom & John Ritter, shortly before John's death), Dolly Parton,Porter Wagoner, Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn, and John Hartford, and a few others are pictured and briefly commented on (Marty Stuart, Stringbean, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, etc.) there are scores of Opry stars that don't even merit a mention.And over 35 of the "over 100 photographs" in the book are exclusively of Leverett-Crew's family without a star in the picture!And that's not counting the hefty amount of pictures that are with stars that also picture family members.Too bad the author did not just make this a book a history of her father's career (Les Leverett, a famed country music photographer) instead of this effort.

Enhanced with more than a hundred photographs
Saturday Nights With Daddy at The Opry by artist, writer, and photographer Libby Leverett-Crew is the biographical story of country music photographer Les Leverett as told by his daughter. As a little girl, Libby's father would take her along with him on his job as the official photographer for the Grand Ole Opry -- a position he held for over 30 years. This is not only a tribute to her father but also to the people (ranging from Dolly Parton and Minnie Pearl to Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe) who touched the lives of her family and the powerful impact a loving father has on the formative life of his daughter. Enhanced with more than a hundred photographs from her father, Saturday Nights With Daddy At The Opry is enthusiastically recommended reading -- especially for dedicated fans of the Grand Ole Opry.

Page-Turner
I picked it up to thumb through and couldn't put it down.It's beautifully written, full of photos, and absolutely fascinating. You don't have to be a country music buff to enjoy this book.It has great stories of many others from Andy Warhol to John Ritter. I felt like the proverbial fly on the wall. It's a must have, if only for the history lesson, but it's so much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Famous Voices Tell Classic Tales
Great set for a car ride!

Information from Publsher/Packaging:
-The Princess on the Glass Hill performed by Dudley Moore - A Young Prince proves bravery has its rewards as he prevails against all odds to claim the hand of a princess and a kingdom.
-The Frog Prince performed by John Ritter
-Thumbelina , The Princess and the Pea performed by Jaclyn Smith
-General Moustache and White Storm by Annie Reiner performed by Anne Bancroft - This whimsical tale shows how the power of imagination can transform the world around us and make believers out of even the biggest skeptics.
-Just so stories: How the Leopard Got His Spots, How the Camel Got His Hump, The Sing-Song of the Old Man Kangaroo perfromed by Arte Johnson
-The Butterfly that Stamped by Arte Johnson
-The Emperor's New Clothes performed by Michael York, and
-Day at the Library by Mary Sheldon Performed by Betty White - One in a series of "Day at" stories this tale emphasizes the joys of learning and discovery.




... Read more