Free Baseball
by Sue Corbett
About the book:
Felix knows a lot of baseball players, but not the one he
wants to know most: his father. His dad, a baseball star in Cuba, risked
everything to send Felix to America. His mom won’t reveal anything else. When a
team with a few Cuban players comes to town, Felix sneaks into the locker room
to talk to them. That’s when the players mistake him for their new batboy.
Determined to uncover the truth about his mysterious father, Felix plays along.
Just for a few days, he thinks- long enough to find out about his dad. But does
he really want to know?
About the guide:
This guide includes discussion questions and projects
appropriate for children’s book clubs, literature circles, and classroom
discussions.
Comprehension Check:
- Why doesn’t Felix live with his father?
- How does Felix become a batboy?
- Who is Vic? How does he help?
- What does a batboy do?
- In the end, what does Felix learn about his father and
himself?
Discussion guide:
- How does Felix get tickets to the Egret’s opening game?
Why does he end up with a babysitter? Would you still want to go with a
sitter? Why or why not?
- How does Felix think his life would be different if he
could be with his father? Do you think he’s right about this? Why or why not?
- Describe what happens during the Egret’s game? Do you
blame the babysitter or her friends? Why? What would you have done in the same
situation?
- Why does Felix think he may die at one point? How
dangerous a move was this? What do you think his mother will say if she finds
out? What does it remind him of?
- Describe how many Cubans get to America. Why are they
willing to risk their lives for this 90 mile journey across the sea? Would
you? What is the policy of America? Do they allow immigrants to come in? Why
or why not?
- Felix complains about his baseball team, The Tigers. He
says they are “really about fun first, baseball second.” (p.58) Is this a good
way for kids’ teams to be? Why is Felix so serious about baseball?
- Why does Felix wonder, “How long would I have to be away
to get her [his mothers] attention… One day wouldn’t do it. How about one
week?” (p. 66) Why is she so busy?
- How does Felix end up the temporary batboy for The
Miracles? What small lies does he have to tell for this to work? Do small lies
add up to big ones as Felix is afraid of? To whom does he lie?
- What prank do the players play on Felix? How does he
turn it around on them? What does this tell you about him? Have you ever had
this kind of prank done to you?
- Who is Don? What is his job? Why is this so unusual? Don
tells Felix, “The way I think is, you can’t miss something you’ve never had.”
(p.104) Felix disagrees though. Why? What does he miss?
- Who is Vic? How does he help Felix during his time
there? What does he learn about Vic’s life? How did Vic figure out that Felix
was not from West Lauderdale?
- In the end, what does Felix learn about his father? What
happens to the batboy position? Do you consider it a happy ending? Why or why
not?
Projects:
Language Arts:
Write at least four letters from Felix and his father.
Describe everything the other should know about each other.
Math:
Play baseball math at this website: (use with caution,
content not guaranteed)
http://www.funbrain.com/math/
Art:
Create a memory box for Felix. Create and/or collect items
that you think Felix would keep and find important. On the lid of the box
explain why you included the items you did.
Music:
Listen to some contemporary Cuban music that Felix’s mother
may be playing in the kitchen:
http://www.timba.com/music/songs.asp?x=13&y=11
(use with caution, all lyrics and content not guaranteed
appropriate)
History:
In small groups research one of the following topics and
give a short report about what you learned. Use visual aids.
Timeline of Cuba
Fidel Castro
Immigration from Cuba
Cuba and baseball
Cuban refugees
How to become a US Citizen
Wet foot, dry foot policy
Elian Gonzalez
What is daily life like in Cuba?
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