Christmas Gift Alert: Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger

Posted December 2, 2007 by Holly in Miscellaneous | 0 Comments

May 15, 1940

Charlie Banks

New York Giants

Polo Grounds, New York

Dear Mr. Banks:

I am a 12-year-old boy and I am dying from malaria. Please hit a home run for me because I don’t think I will be around much longer.

Your friend,

Joey Margolis

Dear Kid:

Last week it was the plague. Now it’s malaria. What do I look – stupid to you? You’re lucky I don’t send somebody over there to tap you on the conk. I am enclosing 1 last picture. Do not write to me again.

Chase. Banks

3d Base

Dear Charlie:

Nobody asked for your damn picture. I never even heard of you before. And you can forget about the home run too. The only reason I needed one was because the bullies who keep beating me up somehow thought you were my best friend and the homer was supposed to keep them from slugging me anymore. Thanks for nothing.

Can I go on a road trip with you?

Your arch enemy,

Joey Margolis

Dear Joey:

“Somehow” they thought I was your best friend? Where did they hear that from? A Nazi spy? J. Herbert Hoover? Franklin Delano Biscuithead? And didn’t I tell you not to write to me anymore? Go bug DiMaggio.

Charlie

P.S. And just because there’s a spot open for a bat boy this summer doesn’t mean your going to get it. Even if we ARE chips off the same block. May 15, 1940

I don’t think I’ve ever read a funnier book. Seriously. At least once a page I laughed out loud.

Last Days of Summer is the story of a young Jewish boy’s journey to manhood, with the help of a rookie baseball player in the early 1940’s, told in the form of letters the pair sent back and forth with each other and various other characters. You might think this wouldn’t work, but on the contrary, I flew through it, totally engrossed.

If you know a baseball fan, or someone who enjoys engaging, heartwarming stories, this is the perfect gift for you. It was at times equal parts funny, poignant and sweet. Seeing the story unfold through notes and letters was interesting and made for a light, quick reading experience. Highly recommend this.

I’m giving it a full 5 out of 5.

I’d say this is a wonderful gift for an uncle, grandfather, grandmother, aunt, mother, father, friend, niece, nephew…well, basically this is the perfect gift for anyone, no matter their age.

Buy it here or here. Read more about it here, on the authors website.