logo

52 pages 1 hour read

Carl Deuker

Heart of a Champion

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1994

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Originally published in 1993, Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker follows the California boy, Seth, whose father died prematurely, leaving a huge void. Seth befriends Jimmy, whose love of baseball becomes Seth’s passion as well. After Jimmy's death in an alcohol-induced car crash, Seth writes the narrative as a way of coping. The novel addresses serious issues including teenage drinking, alcoholism, domestic abuse, and death.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker captures the essence of friendship and determination in the world of high school baseball. Readers praise its realistic portrayal of teenage struggles and the strong character development. However, some note that the plot can be predictable at times. Overall, it's a compelling read for sports enthusiasts and fans of coming-of-age stories.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Heart of a Champion?

Readers who enjoy Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker will likely appreciate sports dramas and coming-of-age stories. Fans of novels such as Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher, which blend athletics with deep emotional themes, would find this book engaging.

Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Seattle, Washington • 1980s

Publication Year

1994

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

650L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.