Home › Kids Books › At the Heart of the Game
  • At the Heart of the Game by Paula Benge book cover
  • At the Heart of the Game by Paula Benge book cover
1 2

At the Heart of the Game

by Paula Benge

Softball, college, and a complicated first season

$17.71 USD
$22.14 USD $17.71 USD
Save 20%

Paperback New

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.
Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

AlbakiReads Editorial

Softball, college, and a complicated first season

Seventeen-year-old River Harte arrives at college on a softball scholarship, intent on proving herself as a pitcher while managing academic pressure and tension with a rival. Her math tutor is also someone she kissed over the summer, adding a romantic complication to a story that connects life on the field with questions of family, independence, and belonging. When tragedy and an undeserved suspension disrupt the team, River’s path back to the mound becomes bound up with a secret she uncovers. The novel brings together young-adult coming-of-age themes, college softball competition, and romance.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teens and young adults interested in coming-of-age fiction.
  • Readers who enjoy softball and other sports-centered stories.
  • Those looking for a young-adult story that includes romance and family themes.

Themes

Coming of age and independenceSoftball competitionFamily relationshipsRomanceAcademic pressure

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

With everything she loves on the line, she faces the ultimate challenge...

Haunted by her missing father and wishing her family would treat her like an adult, seventeen-year-old softball pitcher River Harte is most alive when she's zipping the ball past opposing batters. She's thrilled when she earns a scholarship to play for her dream coach, but after arriving at college, she's flustered when her math tutor turns out to be the hot guy she kissed over the summer.

Battling to keep her grades up and deal with a jealous rival pitcher, River has to dig deep to excel against the elite-level competition. But when tragedy strikes, and a suspension she doesn't deserve fractures the squad, she turns to her enigmatic tutor and discovers a secret that might be exactly what she needs to get back on the mound.

At the Heart of the Game is an uplifting young adult coming-of-age novel. If you like well-developed characters, beating the odds, and a touch of romance, then you'll love this inspiring home run.

Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews

You may also like

View all
Grim by Arden, Joe book cover

Grim

by Arden, Joe

Paperback

$17.70 USD $29.50 USD