Heart of the Hide

Book excerpt: Somewhere Nicky realized from the truth that telling lies was much more fun. They never ended. Nicky made them up and changed the rules as he went along. It was so much easier than dealing with the truth. On the outside, twelve-year-old Nicky Palmieri is just a little different from the average kid who loves baseball. Several surgeries on his cleft palate have left noticeable bumps and scars on his lip. He desperately wants to look like the other kids, but the doctors' empty words and promises set bad examples about lying. On the inside, Nicky dreams of reaching the major leagues. His baseball glove, an expensive professional model, is an extension of his left hand. Nicky knows where his glove is at all times. Then one day he secretly places his prized possession in an unusual place. When his family and closest friends ask him about the glove's whereabouts, Nicky follows with a long string of lies. Most are harmless fibs-but one falsehood leads to a catastrophe that changes Nicky's life. Join Nicky and the Kelsey Avenue Crew for a series of wild events that teach him about the power of the truth. -- "Elementary-school teacher and former sports reporter Petrucci weaves a poignant tale of a young boy with a cleft palate, who finds respite from the harsh realities of small-town life by playing baseball. A lengthy yet endearing treat for young sports fans." - Kirkus Review