Kristy's on deck for the most exciting spring break ever: a father-daughter week at Bill Bain's Dream Camp, a baseball program run by famous major leaguers. Together with her stepdad, Watson, Kristy will be playing nonstop baseball with some of her favorite stars!
There's just one problem — right before camp, Kristy learns she's been demoted to second string on the SMS softball team. Now she's not sure she wants to have anything to do with baseball. Is Dream Camp going to turn into a nightmare?
Main Plot[]
Subplot[]
David Michael trades baseball cards with local kids. Abby shows him that it's not the cards value that is important but rather what's special about it.
Johnny Carson, Willie Mays, Michael Jordan (real people)
Dodgers, White Sox, Georgie Peaches (baseball teams)
Nerf balls
Shea Stadium
Joe DiMaggio
Eric Carle, Katherine Paterson
Continuity and Inconsistencies[]
Continuity
On page 32 Stacey recalls what happened with Robert quitting the basketball team from Stacey and the Cheerleaders.
Inconsistencies
On page 13 Anna's hair is described as longer then Abby's when it should be the other way around.
Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader Letter[]
Dear Reader,
In Kristy at Bat, Kristy feels insecure about sports for the first time in her life. She’s used to being the best on any team, and now she finds that she has to work harder to excel.
I’m afraid I can’t sympathize with Kristy at all. I’ve never been interested in sports, and I don’t enjoy playing any sport. Like Mallory, gym class was the bane of my existence. I dreaded each new unit we began. I was happy when I woke up on the days when I didn’t have gym class, and heaved a great sigh of relief each time another class ended. Needless to say, I never went out for after-school sports, although I did enjoy going to an occasional high school football game.
This doesn’t mean that exercise isn’t important to me. It’s actually one of the more important parts of my life, and I find that if I don’t exercise every day, I don’t feel very healthy. My favorite way to exercise is to take a two-mile walk with my dog, Sadie. While we walk, I listen to books on tape, and Sadie chases squirrels.
However, even though I don’t enjoy playing sports, I think they’re a great way to get involved, to exercise, to spend time with friends, and to challenge yourself. The most important thing to keep in mind about sports is that they should be fun, which is what Kristy realizes by the end of Kristy at Bat. So whether you enjoy softball, soccer, football, or just taking a walk, take the time to get out there, exercise, and have fun!
Trivia[]
Krity is placed in the second string of the SMS Girls Softball Team. Kristy also realizes that she loves coaching more then she likes playing.
David Michael and Kristy look a lot alike.
Watson's not that much older then Elizabeth.
Emily Michelle has a play date with a co-worker of Elizabeth's son.