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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSBaseball in April and Other Stories is a collection of eleven short stories about Mexican-American kids growing up in Fresno, California, who deal with the same everyday pressures that young people everywhere know: wanting to impress someone you like, trying to fit in, working hard for something and not knowing if it will pay off. In "Broken Chain," a seventh-grader scrambles to not ruin a first date after a last-minute disaster with his bike. In "The Marble Champ," a girl who has never been good at sports secretly trains to compete against the whole school. In "La Bamba," a boy who volunteers for the school talent show gets more attention than he bargained for when everything goes sideways on stage. Gary Soto writes with warmth and humor about kids who want things badly and sometimes get them, sometimes don't, and sometimes end up somewhere unexpected along the way.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Baseball in April and Other Stories
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Baseball in April and Other Stories. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a boy break a bike chain when he tries to wipe off its gritty oil?
✓ Answer
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
While cleaning his bike for his first date, Alfonso unhooks the chain from the back sprocket and it snaps in his hand like a dead snake. The disaster gives the opening story Broken Chain its title.
- First half
In what book does an uncle give a girl an imitation doll with a flat, common nose?
✓ Answer
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
Veronica unwraps her Christmas gift from Uncle Rudy hoping for the real thing and finds a black-haired imitation instead. The disappointment makes her cry alone in her bedroom.
- First half
In what book does a boy guilty about lying drop his entire reward into the church collection basket?
✓ Answer
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
At Saint Theresa's eight o'clock mass, Fausto irons the twenty-dollar bill between his palms and lets it drop into the wicker basket. The grown-ups around him stare because they only gave a few dollars.
- Second half
In what book does a boy bluff with fake French phrases to impress a girl in class?
✓ Answer
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
Victor raises his hand when Mr. Bueller asks if anyone knows French. He blurts out nonsense like Frenchie oh wewe gee in September to bluff his way through.
- Second half
In what book does black dye drip from a dyed dress onto a school restroom floor?
✓ Answer
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
When rain soaks through Yollie's dyed dress at the eighth-grade dance, black puddles form at her feet in the restroom. Mortified, she runs home through the storm.
- Near the end
In what book does a father rig backyard lights so his daughter can practice marbles at night?
✓ Answer
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
Mr. Medrano wants to encourage Lupe, so he sets up lights in the yard. He squats and watches her practice beating her brother.
