The Card: A Van Stone Novel

by Jim Devitt

Van Stone has it all, the perfect family, great friends and the best job in the world. Then, his life falls apart. Thrust into a deadly plot masterminded by unknown enemies, Van is in a race against time to save those closest to him. When Van wins an essay contest to become the new batboy for a Major League baseball team, he finds himself in a foreign world of million dollar athletes and fame. Forced into the spotlight, Van is uncomfortable in his new role. His instant fame at South Seattle High School has turned all eyes toward him, including unknown adversaries that want something he has. Jack Stone works for Biotrust, a large and secretive biotechnology company. Van’s father is on the verge of making one of the most stunning discoveries in over a century, a technology that could change the world forever. While finishing the project, Biotrust forces Van’s father into a leave of absence. In an effort to protect his secrets, Jack may have endangered his family. As The Card barrels forward, Van slams headfirst into a plot that threatens the people near to him. Working through adversity, Van finds an inner strength. He draws on his deductive powers and an unstoppable attitude, to battle the corrupt forces. Not knowing who to trust, Van sets out with his two best friends to solve the secrets behind an innocent gift, a Moe Berg baseball card. Set in Seattle, Washington, this fast-paced mystery takes you behind the scenes in professional baseball and into a world of cutting edge science and technology. Full of unexpected twists and high stakes drama, this first in a series adventure will keep you guessing until the final scene. As fresh as today’s headlines, Jim Devitt, in his debut novel, weaves a suspenseful ride that blows the lid off scientific advancement, in a story of breathtaking action and suspense.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Sports, Baseball, Fiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2011

About the author

Jim Devitt spent eight years working behind the scenes in a Major League clubhouse. After his time in professional baseball, Jim graduated from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology, and then continued on to complete his Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed research papers and presented at conferences throughout the country. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife Melissa and their son, Gavin.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I'm partial, I wrote it.

[Book Gremlin Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Stone works at a big time biotechnology company, Biotrust. While working on a very sensitive project that could change the world as people know it, he is forced to take a leave of absence in the middle of the project. In the efforts to safe guard his work he unknowingly sets off a series of events that he could have never predicted.

Van Stone, Jack's son, is floating high as he goes to his first day as a batboy for a major league baseball team. His life is going smooth, new popularity at his high school, his two best friends in the world by his side and his family's loving support. What more could a teenager ask for?

Then the unthinkable happens and his life is turned into a whirlwind of action, confusion, and mystery as unknown assailants makes themselves known. They want something from Van and they aren't about to give up.

Forced to make decisions that put not only him but his family and two best friends in danger as well. Van sets out with his two best friends, Zoe and Fred, to discover the mystery to the card his father gave him.

I loved this book it pulled me in from the very first page and wouldn't let go! It doesn't really have much to do with baseball, yes, that topic is there and in the background but we are mostly centered on Van, his two friends and the mystery that surround the gift from his father Jack, a Moe Berg baseball card.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who is looking for some mystery, suspense and a good one-day read.

*I received an Ebook copy of this book for free to review from the author.

[Moira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, I'd say it's a four and a half stars but I'm rounding it up because it takes place in Seattle and has to do (kind of) with my Mariners. It's one of those where the more I process it the more I like it. I got pulled in by the Safeco Field and baseball aspects (of course) which were cool, but there's a lot more to this book. The story is fascinating, the characters are compelling and easy to relate to, and there's an underlying message here than I was really impressed by. Besides just out-maneuvering the bad guys, our hero is forced to create strength and positivity out of some really devastating circumstances, and he proves to himself that he can do it. By the time I put this book down I was feeling optimistic and strong myself. I'm looking forward to more from this author. I'm also looking forward to recommending this to some of my kids at the library once school starts up again!

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult, I don't often read novels written for young adults (YA), but I thoroughly enjoyed the story of "The Card." The writing style was easy to zoom through to the next exciting page. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants action, devastation of the heart, recovery, strength, and memories of being a curious teenager. Good going Author Jim Devitt! Bravo!!

[L.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Article first published as Book Review:The Card: A Van Stone Novel by Jim Devitt on Blogcritics.



Winning the essay and becoming a batboy for the Seattle Mariners, was more than Van Stone had ever wanted. Even at 13, he was much larger than many of his friends, looking more like one of the players in uniform than what he really was. In The Card:A Van Stone Novel by Jim Devitt, Van’s life has just taken on a darker and deeper twist.

Receiving a gift from his father for the hard work going into the essay was unexpected and (according to his Dad) just a bit special. It was a baseball card from the early 30’s and 40’s of a relative unknown baseball player, Moe Berg. It was certainly unusual, and yet his father seemed to be deep in thought when he again mentioned that it could be very special to him someday. Trying to get Van to relax for his first big day his Dad changes the topic, and as Van tucked the card in his backpack, the subject did not come up again. His Dad dropped him off at Safeco field to begin his dream.

Receiving a gift from his father for the hard work going into the essay was unexpected and (according to his Dad) just a bit special. It was a baseball card from the early 30’s and 40’s of a relative unknown baseball player, Moe Berg. It was certainly unusual, and yet his father seemed to be deep in thought when he again mentioned that it could be very special to him someday. Trying to get Van to relax for his first big day his Dad changes the topic, and as Van tucked the card in his backpack, the subject did not come up again. His Dad dropped him off at Safeco field to begin his dream.


Learning the ropes and finding his way, gives him a better understanding of the players. Thomson, an unknown player is aloof, and Ron Cantos, the best player on the team is one of the meanest. Getting advice from the other batboy, Van tries to stay out of Cantos way. Part of the job involves cleaning up after the team and cleaning out the lockers for the next team. While checking to see that the lockers are clean and empty Van finds an odd double baseball cardholder in the very top of Thompson’s locker. He can throw it away, since that is their instruction, but Van decides to use it for the Moe Berg card he received from his Dad. Putting it in his backpack to use later, he completes his work.

Life begins to settle, and finally even Cantos starts to treat him better, making life at the clubhouse just short of perfect.

When his Dad is unexpectedly killed in a car accident while on leave from the research facility where he works, Vans world changes. His friends are his comfort, and they become even closer than before. While he and his mom will be all right, his entire life has changed in an instant. The funeral is sobering, and sadness permeates even those things that are good in life.

Looking back and reflecting on his time with his Dad, Van holds his Moe Berg card remembering one of his last conversations with his father. He decides to put the card in the holder he found at the clubhouse to give it a place of honor in his room. When the card warms up, he is a bit surprised. Trying other cards from his collection, he finds the phenomenon only occurs with the Moe Berg card from his father. Is this the real reason for his Dad’s gift?

Suddenly he begins receiving threating phone calls demanding he turn over the card, his gift from his father. He is warned that if he does not comply he will be putting his friends and his mother at risk. Is there something about the card that makes it valuable? Is his Dad’s research the reason for the danger or is there more about the Moe Berg card that Van does not know? Van is unwilling to give up the card. However, when the guard at the Safeco field gate is shot, Van realizes just how much danger is involved. Who can he turn to? Will giving up the card protect his friends and family?

Van is a strong and intelligent young man and Devitt does an exceptional job drawing characters you can relate too. Van and his friends are much like most children their age. Not understanding the danger, they try to come up with plans to hold on to his Moe Berg card. When challenged, Van is afraid and yet he refuses to give in. In the face of the danger that follows, Van and his friends put together plans to elude the perpetrator and try to trap him into revealing himself. This only puts them in further danger, but Van stands his ground. Even with the possible tragedies that could befall, Van is strong and motivated. Keeping track of his mom to keep her out of danger and keeping up with his friends to make sure they are all right, he puts himself in danger to draw the perpetrator to him.

Jim Devitt draws the ballpark as only an insider can. You can hear the crack of the bat and smell the popcorn; he is so in tune with the inner workings. The locker room smells of both sweat and excitement, and he builds the suspense with the images of his words.

I would recommend this book for the Young Adult reader; it is fun and eventful, with suspense and action. Van Stone is a strong character, and has an amazing way of dealing with life. Devitt provides some great ballpark background as he delivers the goods.

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

[Tony Valente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wonder what a book by Clive Cussler would be like if Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino were teen-agers? Well I now know the answer, Van Stone and his side-kicks will take you on the same kind of ride I have only found in a Cussler novel.

I was originally looking for a book for my sons to read when I stumbled onto The Card. The cover intrigued me, and after reading the synopsis, I purchased it for myself. What seems to start out as a book about a batboy for the Seattle Mariners quickly turns into a mystery-adventure. (I have to admit, I pride myself on being able to figure out who-done-it, and potential plot twists. The ending on this one caught me completely by surprise!)

I think one most impressed me about this book was that it is completely believable. The characters, Van, Fred and Zoe can be found in any high school. I particularly like how strong a character Zoe is, a great role model for any young lady. More importantly though, everything they do is feasible. There is no magic, no strange coincidences, or anything that would make you say "yeah right!" (Though I must say Fred's use of bacon grease was brilliant!) The kids even use the metro-bus to travel through Seattle to avoid problems with parking. I've always disliked novels that have people pull up to some place downtown and always seem to find a spot to park.

The novel is well researched, I've been to Safeco field many times, and knew very little about the roof. Better yet, Jim Devitt weaves the facts into the story so well; you don't know you are learning.

As I said, I bought the book for my sons to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I sincerely hope there will be more to come.

[Rebecca Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

**Book Copy Courtesy of Author

After winning an essay competition, Van Stone is the new batboy in town. His life is great until a death rocks his world. Then there’s the whole ordeal with the baseball card his father gave him that everyone’s after. What’s so special about this card? It’s just a baseball player who hardly made it to the big time, so it’s nothing of value.

Except Van’s wrong—it’s highly valuable.

Men who wear black suits (or “Suits,” as they’re called in the book) are after Van and he has to figure out why. All Van knows is that it’s related to his father, who happens to work for a very secretive company called Biotrust. When Van begins to receive threatening text messages and notes in his backpack, he realizes they want the card. But is he willing to give it up?


Not my usual read, but it was a quick one for me. It started a little slow, but picked up pace about 75-100 pages in. From then on, it was nonstop. There were times that the dialogue was a little stiff, and I didn’t really get a feel for Van like I thought I would (I actually think Fred and Zoe were fleshed out more than Van), but I would recommend this book for all ages. I especially like that this book was about baseball, as I think it would encourage a lot of younger boys to read.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winning an essay contest definitely turned out to be excellent for Van or so he thought. His prize was the opportunity to be a bat boy in the dugout of a major league baseball team and rub shoulders with all the big names. His dad was thrilled, and so was he. On his first day with the team, his dad gave him a special baseball card that he described as magic. But.....was the card really magic or was it bad news?

Bad news happened not too long after the card appeared, and what was to be magic turned out to be something Van wished he had not even heard of. What would have been the reason he won the contest in the first place, and what was so important about a Moe Berg baseball card to cause all this trouble? Did either have anything to do with the things starting to happen in his life?

Baseball fans will definitely enjoy the book because of the details about the behind-the-scenes activities that happen in a locker room of a baseball team. Mystery fans will enjoy the book as well....the ending was filled with action. :)

I enjoyed the book....it is a Young Adult read. It is fast moving, and the added interest of the mysterious men in black suits keeps you going. The author had good development of the plot and the characters and definitely had you guessing until the end. 5/5

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave The Card three stars because I found it was an enjoyable read, and had some nice character development. This book should be considered a sports mystery. I think it would appeal to a wide audience of young people. I would suggest it for seventh grade and up. I wouldn't normally choose to read a book that from its cover looks like its about baseball, so I was suprised when it wasn't really about baseball, and I enjoyed it!

The main character Van Stone wins an essay contest among high school students in the bay area and as a result takes the job as bat boy for the Oakland Athletics. He is pretty typical 16 year old young man. He has a crush on his long time friend Zoe, of which she knows nothing of. He isn't' particulary popular at school until he is lavished with attention for being awarded such a cool gig as bat boy. He gets to know all the players, but one player Roberts is never warm to him. He keeps to himself and acts very mysteriously. Then tragedy hits Van's family and he finds out how his families' tragedy is linked to his new job and the mysterious player Roberts.

[Courtney Vail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Van Stone wins a spot as a batboy for the Oakland A's through an essay contest and gets a front-row pass to the behind-the-scenes action of major league baseball. This book never opens readers up to field action, it's strictly within the clubhouse and locker room. Although THE CARD starts off slow, showing Van as he's starting off on his new job and interacting with his dad, it was cool to have a YA book in a different environment from the norm. Van's dad, who works on classified inventions, dies in an accident, and not long after, Van and his friends find themselves being tracked and attacked by goons. The tension revolves around this special Moe Berg baseball card Van got from his dad and the mystery surrounding it is pretty cool and the story becomes action-packed near the end. This book is clean and definitely leans young YA, but it would please those younger readers, I'd say 11-15, who are looking for fun, suspenseful "boy" books. I would've liked more development with the characters which is why I knocked off a star, but overall, it was a good book.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but the story telling felt a little weak.

However, I believe this will be a great novel for my nephew, a sixth grader and big baseball fan. I'll update this after he's had a chance to read it with an opinion from the author's more likely targeted audience.

[Krista]

Fast-paced, high stakes spy novel for teens, set behind the scenes of major league baseball. (As an aside, if I had known that bat boys could make a few hundred dollars in tips, I might have paid attention in farm league rather than doing cartwheels in the outfield.)

[Alice Yeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Van Stone, newest bat boy for the Seattle Mariners, has it made. He's quickly learning the ropes at work, enjoying an improved social status, and may even be allowed to purchase a car. Then tragedy strikes, and he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous mystery involving a recent gift: a baseball card for a mediocre player from the 1920s. Between suspicious men in suits, threatening letters, and gunfire, he and his friends need to piece together the puzzle before time runs out.

This novel takes us inside the world of baseball, or specifically, that of bat boys, with the introduction of Van's new job. For young sports fans, this may present a point of interest, especially as it is told through the eyes of a neophyte who is both awed and enthralled by each new experience. This "insider look" is one of the high points of the novel and encompasses a good portion of the beginning. The tragic beginning of the mystery is when the novel completely shifts gears.

The episodic nature of Van's detective work caters to younger readers and their reduced attention span. Still, it felt a little disjointed, even if it did come together at the end. As a healthcare professional, I was particularly bothered by the cavalier attitude that the book took towards unnecessary use of an x-ray device, especially when healthcare costs are ballooning. But I digress. As a whole, the story did well to avoid extraneous interactions and while a few more red herrings would have added more intrigue to the tale, its few plot twists were conducted rather nicely.

The Card is written in simple enough language that I would recommend it to middle grade readers and above. At times, the language became a bit awkward. Tthe sentences often contained too much information without the lyrical flow to make them feel natural. The tone of voice also sounded like that of a much younger character, which is why I felt somewhat confused when Van first mentioned being able to drive a car.

On the whole, The Card is a quick read and light entertainment for a younger set, particularly for those interested in baseball.

Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author)

[Rich Perrotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book intrigued me; a young adult novel about a guy and his two best friends (a pretty girl and a geeky guy) plus he's a ballboy for the Seattle Mariners. A tragedy hits his loving family and a gift from his dad of an old baseball card leads to mystery, dangers and attempted murder. Throw in a definite science/high tech element to boot!

You would think that a mix like this would have a significant blending issue but Jim Devitt pulls it off brilliantly and in a fairly compelling fashion! Once I discovered that he worked in MLB himself before gaining multiple advanced degrees in science, I understood why.

I enjoyed it thoroughly and imagined while reading the exciting climax that it might make a pretty decent movie as well.

[Rebecca Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery with lots of questions that keep you wanting more.

I enjoyed this story as it was enjoyable and full of mystery. The characters were fun. I could easily see this on the screen as a movie. What was really good was that I didn’t figure out did it because I was so caught up in it that I didn’t think on it much. I just kept reading.

If you want a good mystery with teens that isn’t full of sex and stuff, this is a good one for you. I love how the author has this as a young adult book with the type of action you see in the adult spy thrillers.

Note: I purchased this book with my own funds with no expectation of a positive review.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

For ENG 540.
Sports novel meets spy thriller. Entertaining, with some fun action sequences, but not particularly memorable. If I had this in paper copy, I'd put it on my shelf for the younger boys.
Free eBook from Amazon, read on my Kindle.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA for boys- but had a nice little mystery involved that I didn't figure out till the end. I liked reading the 'behind the scenes' at the ballfield side. more like 3.5 stars I'd say, just since it wasn't really my kind of book but was enjoyable- could see my nephew liking it now at age 11.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time putting this book down. The author did a great job of keeping the story flowing and added some suspense and excitement to it. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Todd Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gives us an inside look into the daily life of professional sports. He adds excitement to the story without trying to make it a sports biography. This is truly an exciting book to read if you love the world of sports.

[Ellison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Seattle high school student is selected to be a bat boy at the ball park. His dad gives him a baseball card of Moe Berg. The boy discovers that when he inserts the card into a certain card holder it heats up. Thus begins his quest to figure out what is going on.

[Brenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

It pwns so bad! its like Gary paulson and david lubar put together! sequel! sequel!

[Margaret Boehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best mysteries I have every read.

[Ryan]

very good

[Rachel's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I think it'll be the May book of the month. Fantastic, I highly recommend it.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big baseball fan and I enjoy a good mystery. This book brings those two together.

Van Stone is a 16-year-old kid living in Seattle. He gets a summer job as a bat boy for the visiting team at Safeco Field in Seattle. On his first day at the new job, Van's father gives him a Moe Berg baseball card. Van looks up the value of the card and realizes it is really worthless. Moe Berg was a thrid-string catcher in the 1940s.

Van's father, who has a job working at Biotrust, which he can't talk about, is killed in a car accident. After the accident, everyone seems to be after the card Van was given by his father. Men in suits, suspicious people, and others are all interested in Van and the card.

Van has two good friends who participate in this adventure-Fred and Zoe. Van also has a job that any baseball-loving kid would love to have. I would love to have it now.

Fun, quick read. I was hoping to see more Van Stone books by Devitt but this appears to be it.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Devitt's The Card is a wonderful young adult action/mystery, though it can easily be enjoyed by adults as well(attested by my own enjoyment of the book).

The story follows high school student Van Stone who wins an essay contest to become a batboy for the Seattle Mariners. Shortly after landing his dream job, Van's father gives him what seems to be an innocuous baseball card for his collection. The card turns out to be something much more and plunges Van into a mystery adventure in which he finds himself, his family, and his friends in danger because of the card and its connection to his father's research. If he cannot figure out the mystery of the card, he may end up losing his life, or of those he cares about.

The Card is full of action, suspense, and mystery. Though at first, I had a little trouble getting into the book with its young adult slant, once the mystery-laden plot took off, I found it hard to put down. The story takes several twists and turns and has an ending you won't see coming. The characters are fun, Van representing a maturity beyond his years, his friend Fred being the cut-up, and Zoe bringing a balance to the group.

Jim Devitt displays a strong behind-the-scenes knowledge of a major league baseball clubhouse, though the focus of the story goes far beyond these inner workings. The book is a quick read and has enough suspense to make it difficult to put down.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a great book for young adults, and for adults once the mystery and action really take hold.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Card" is written for young readers (13 and older), but I enjoyed the mystery and the experiences of Van Stone, who gets a job as a batboy in the visiting clubhouse of Safeco Field, where the Seattle Mariners play. Van and his friends, Fred and Zoe, join forces when a baseball card that Van receives early in the book becomes the center of a set of puzzling occurrences. It took a few chapters for the story to get moving, but the writing was good, and the conclusion was surprising. Good choice if you want a quick read and like mysteries. I expect baseball fans will enjoy this more than others, since the early chapters give a lot of detail about the activities in a major league clubhouse. Enjoyable read.

[Dave Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first reviewed this book, I did not give it a real high rating, but my 13-year old son is reading it and likes it a great deal. I enjoyed it fine, but taken as a young adult book, it is a sold effort.

[Julie]

I'm not going to rate this book. I didn't realize when I bought it that it's for children/teenagers. It reads like it (i.e., juvenile) and I just couldn't keep reading.

[Julie]

I didn't realize when I bought this book that it's for young adults. I couldn't finish it but I'm not going to rate it.