Strike-out scare

by Carolyn Keene

The girls have joined the Mahoney Marlins junior baseball team! Nancy will pitch, Bess will catch, and George will play shortstop. The girls are excited, but Bess worries that baseball isn’t exactly her thing. However, Bess turns out to be an amazing hitter and she quickly earns the nickname “Home Run Bess.” Bess thinks her newly found talent is thanks to her lucky bat, which she calls “Magic Bill.” But one day she discovers that Magic Bill is missing! Can Nancy find Bess’s bat in time for the big game, or is Bess destined to strike out?

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?