"Wonderful . . . A modern-day Catcher in the Rye " —a poignant and hilarious tale of baseball, hero worship, eccentric behavior, and unlikely friendship ( Portland Press Herald ).

Last Days of Summer is the story of Joey Margolis, neighborhood punching bag, growing up goofy and mostly fatherless in Brooklyn in the early 1940s. A boy looking for a hero, Joey decides to latch on to Charlie Banks, the all-star third basemen for the New York Giants. But Joey's chosen champion doesn't exactly welcome the extreme attention of a persistent young fan with an overactive imagination. Then again, this strange, needy kid might be exactly what Banks needs.

" Last Days of Summer isn't about baseball. It's about a boy struggling to grow up without a father and a young man's acceptance of that role. This is a story worth reading." — Los Angeles Times

"It is compelling, irreverent, and will break your heart." — The Dallas Morning News

"A winner all the way." — Parade

"Funny and poignant." — USA Today

"Buy it, read it, give it to a friend." —CNN.com

"Shameless entertainment." — Kansas City Star

"New contender for mythical 'Great American Novel.'" — Southern Pines Pilot (North Carolina)

Steve Kluger