The Legend of Mickey Tussler

Mickey Tussler #1

by Frank Nappi

Seventeen-year-old Mickey Tussler is recruited to play for a minor league affiliate of the Boston Braves. Arthur Murphy swears Mickey has the greatest arm he has ever seen, that anybody has ever seen. And it might be true. But Mickey's autism is prohibitive. It keeps him sealed off from a world he scarcely understands. Lost both in the memory of his former life with an abusive father and the challenges of a new world filled with heckling teammates, opponents and fans, there's no way Mickey can succeed. But his inimitable talent -- one of the most gifted arms in the history of baseball -- gives him a chance. Can he survive a real life dream? Or are the harsh realities of life too much for him? This is the powerful underdog story of how a young man with an extraordinary gift comes of age in a harsh and competitive world.

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Fiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2008

About the author

Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, ECHOES FROM THE INFANTRY, received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story "A Mile in His Shoes" starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Nappi continues to produce quality work, including SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. The third installment of Nappi's Mickey Tussler series, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, was released in April 2016. Nappi's first memoir I BECAME AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OUTLAW, was released in June of 2019. Nappi makes his home on Long Island where he has lived his entire life.

Reviews

[Scott Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this student a few years ago, we’ll call him Johnny, and he was autistic. Johnny stumbled around human relationships; emotions and humor and all the things that separate us from automatons meant little to him. Johnny; however, was a history buff, a factual savant, especially with World War 2. He’d roll off the names of admirals and ship captains of the Pacific Fleet like they were his uncles. He’d rattle on about detailed conversations of Colonels and Privates as if he’d squatted with them in the foxholes in Europe. Like so many with autism, Johnny showed exceptional abilities in specific areas but often left those around him bewildered and frustrated.
Frank Nappi’s book, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, tells the story of down-and-out minor league manager, Arthur Murphy, and his stumbling upon a young pitching phenom, Michael “Mickey” Tussler. Mickey can throw an aspirin tablet-like fastball over and over again with pinpoint accuracy. Mickey; however, is autistic and living in the 1940’s, when folks dismissed someone like him as a useless “retard.” Murphy takes Tussler away from his abusive home into the hardly improved locker room of a minor league ballclub. Despite the team’s struggle with Mickey’s social awkwardness and his slow start in learning baseball, Mickey becomes the epicenter of their success. However, like anyone successful, he will draw both fan and enemy from every corner of his world, climaxing in a plot twist so unexpected I’m still shaking my head in disbelief.
Having a special needs sister, this book really touched my heart. Nappi captured not only the awkward feelings of people around Mickey, but also the dark recesses of a young man simultaneously trying to understand the strange folks around him. You don’t have to be a baseball lover to enjoy this story, but if you are, it will be one of the best baseball novels you’ve read.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Launched with an intriguing premise (an autistic savant becomes a minor-league baseball pitching phenomenon), I wanted to like this book more, particularly given the many favorable reviews. But – in light of its execution – it could not rise above "OK to good" for me. I feel like I am being unduly harsh, because I liked the book. What I found most frustrating was that my list of gripes (some fair, some individualized, and down right quirky) drowned out what, otherwise, was a pretty fast, entertaining read. So take all of this with a grain of (grumpy) salt. First (and this is in no way fair to the author), I bought (and read) the book hoping that I could recommend it to my younger son (an avid baseball reader). [You would be stunned how hard it is to find engaging, youth-friendly sports literature.] It became immediately clear – between the language, sex, violence (OK, that's enough), this was not appropriate for the Little League and Babe Ruth reading group. Turning to the story, as for the non-protagonist central character, it seemed like overkill that the autistic savant - as if he did not face enough challenges in life or in becoming a professional baseball player – had to be abused (by family, teammates, opponents, and even the police – and not just some police, but all police he meets). I thought I'd picked up the latest volume of A Series of Unfortunate Events, but this book was not intended to be funny. My list of unanswered questions is endless, beginning with: OK, the story explains why the boy could throw, but how/when/where did he learn to catch a baseball? [Plenty of kids throw rocks, but they don't have to catch them!] Next, my sense was that a better editor could have tightened up the text, eliminating a couple thousand adjectives and adverbs, as well as dozens of extraneous and distracting paragraphs that a coach might suggest violate the basic rule that it is better to show than tell. Finally, I know that series writing increasingly plays a critical role in the publishing market, but, after 300 pages, is it asking too much for more of an ending than "to be continued"? Sorry, but the line: "as this most troubling chapter closed behind him" just doesn't do it for me. Still, I am glad I read it, but I don't see myself rushing back for the sequel (even though I'm intensely curious to learn what happens next).

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: I really enjoyed this book. I read it every free chance I had. It was endearing, sweet, and totally engrossing.

The scene was set beautifully by Mr. Nappi. I was there...I could smell the dirt of the infield. I could smell the grass of the outfield. I could smell the summer breeze. I could see the crowd and the players. I was there. It was a reading experience that I rarely have, but Mr. Nappi put me in the game.

Mickey is such an amazing individual as is Arthur Murphy for taking a chance on such an exceptional person. I loved Mickey. But I think I loved Arthur more. He took a big chance and I admire him for that. Arthur also helped Mickey's mother, Molly, come out of her shell and begin to rediscover herself despite her overbearing husband, Clarence.

My other favorite character was Boxcar. He was like the big brother/father-figure on the team. He was there for his fellow Brewers. Boxcar cared and kept everyone in line. The way he accepted Mickey and helped him was wonderful. PeeWee was another teammate that accepted Mickey completely and watched out for him.

All of the characters that Mr. Nappi wrote were fantastic. You really got to know each of them. You rooted for some, you were happy with others, and there were a few you just could not get behind.

Bottom line: I loved this book.

Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book to anyone...especially baseball fans and those who love the feel good books about people dealing with or overcoming adversity.

Will I read it again: I just might.

http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...

[Paige Bradish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received The Legend of Mickey Tussler from the author for my honest review.

When I was first asked to read and review I was a little skeptical because although I do love baseball it’s not my favorite topic to read about all the time. But after reading the synopsis and learning about the main character Mickey who has autism but still wants to be a baseball store. His story is very inspiring.

We meet Mickey while he is still living on his farm with his mother and his abusive father. Immediately I felt sorry for him because people didn’t really understand autism back then so basically anyone that had it was just labeled a retard. This Is exactly what poor Mickey had to deal with everywhere even from his own father. But luckily coach for the Milwaukee Brewers Arthur Murphy comes along and gives Mickey the chance of a lifetime.

I ended up really enjoying this story. I loved Mickey’s character a lot. He was entertaining, always had something positive to say no matter what was going on. He was a very talkative person and I loved that, so it annoyed me when the people he was babbling to would get annoyed because he was just talking I mean he can’t really help it. But I think I got over that quickly because Mickey didn’t seem to mind much when people told him to shut up.

His mom, Molly is another person I felt bad for because she was stuck in a nightmare that she couldn’t get out of. She hated the fact that her husband abused her and Mickey both verbally and physically. She really needed a way out and thankfully baseball was her savior as well.

I was a little afraid that because this book is about baseball that some of the game scenes would bore me but they didn’t at all. Every time there was a game in the book I actually felt like I was watching one and I was on the edge of my chair every time there was a stressful game!

I very much enjoyed this book which I gave a 4 out of 5 stars, and I can’t wait to check out what happens next in the companion novel Sophomore Campaign.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter Murphy was out scouting for a baseball player the war didn't take. Unfortunately he is stuck driving long hours because no one else wants to do it. Walter Dennison, the owner of the minor-league-affiliate Brewers, was putting this responsibility on him. His days of being a top player had long since past. During a drive on a lonely dirt road Walter crashes his car. When he stumbles across a farm he witnesses a perfect throw. The young man throwing apples into a basket is Mickey Tussler. He had been diagnosed as autistic and a disappointment to his father. Walter opens up the opportunity for Mickey to become a member of a baseball team. Unfortunately, Mickey is not a favored player because of his autism. In time, a few team members except him and he makes a few friends. But like any good player there will always be an enemy. Mickey's nemesis is Lefty, the team pitcher. Its up to Mickey to keep himself on the team and Lefty off of his back. It's also up to Mickey to get past all of the hatred and prejudice that has disrupted his once somewhat peaceful life. This is an excellent heart warming story of a young man coming of age after the war and also dealing with his disability. For young readers who are baseball fans this story will provide encouragement and inspiration. For those who love a good story based on a persons life, will also enjoy this book.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both of these novels are incredibly impressive and moving. Mickey Tussler is an icon for autism, people with disabilities, and baseball fans. Frank Nappi created a story so incredibly believable, I still think the character is a real baseball pitcher for the Brewers in 1948 and 49. (I actually looked it up to make sure he wasn't.) Frank created settings that were very controversial from the late '40s - in book 1, people who didn't understand an autistic man; in book 2 - integrating baseball teams. He approached both subjects with ease and strength - showing the good and bad sides of it and how people really do act in these types of situations.

I'm very impressed with these novels. They are very well written and touching. The novels will warm your heart, make you fall in-love with the characters (and hate others), realize how far society has come, and how much baseball is still one of the most iconic sports in the US. Baseball fans will absolutely love these novels. Frank taught me so much about baseball all the while teaching me even more about autism. These beautiful novels are going to make an amazing movie, that I can't wait to see!

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

fine story, disappointing ending, but horrible writing. this dude apparently thinks that if he busts out his thesaurus four times per sentence it will make his writing good. it does not.

[Dottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good baseball fiction book. Full review can be found here:

http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...

[Louise Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://louiser89.com/2015/01/19/revie...

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Michael, goes by Mickey, Tussler was discovered by happenstance on a farm in Nowheresville, America post-WWII when you could sign young men up to professional contracts on the spot. No league draft meant finder’s keeper’s. Mickey was a strapping hulk, a chiseled young man but a battered one. Raised by a waif of a mom bullied into a marriage she did not want and a miserable excuse for a father violating the rules of humanity at every turn, it should have been a slam dunk rooting for Mickey. Though it wasn’t explicitly stated, Mickey was by definition, also autistic. It was apparent from the first meeting with his manager, Arthur Murphy. The conversation awkward, the way he referred to himself in the third person, Mickey often didn’t respond to questions and appeared clouded or staring off into some unknown distance. His teammates, much older and game worn, viewed him as a sideshow, a freak, they hazed him mercilessly on and off to his bewilderment. He had never played baseball, probably never attended school, never had many social contacts, and something struck me as annoyingly askew. Mickey had been discovered buzzing apples into a barrel and was magically transformed into a professional baseball player, a pitcher that requires a mechanical skill needing monotonous repetition and other-worldly pinpoint accuracy to be highly successful with just ONE pitch. This is what made Mickey legendary, and I grant that. He threw harder than anyone had ever seen. It is a marvel to watch the fastest of the fastballs: Walter Johnson, Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden, Randy Johnson, Kerry Wood—they ARE legendary and generational. But they all had more than one pitch. No mention was made of Mickey throwing anything other than fastballs and for me, it tarnished the legacy, as a baseball lifer. Whatever your feeling on baseball, the story of Mickey was packed to the brim with euphemism, colloquialisms and slang: Baltimore Chop, dying quail, suicide squeeze, baseball gods, Uncle Charlie/yellow hammer, etc. The story of a mildly dysfunctional baseball team that gets a jolt of spirited untested youth should be a magnanimous one, but through all of Mickey’s successes in the story, it takes too much of a dark turn, he is oft called a retard, a word I loathe, and it leaves a bad tobacco tinged taste in my mouth, the juice I am interminably unable to spit. Decidedly unlegendary.

[Peyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart warming story about baseball


“A compelling tale that will touch the hearts of fans of the game everywhere.” - Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame Pitcher. Also another quote that represents this book well is “The Legend of Mickey Tussler reaches the heart the way Alex Rodriguez reaches the bleachers.” - Bill Madden, New York Daily. You have kind of have to be a baseball fan to understand this quote from Bill Madden.
Arthur Murphy, an ex MLB player who played for the Braves, is the current manager for the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers owner threatens his job if he doesn’t go and find some better prospects to improve the “sorry lot that he calls a team.” After discovering the breathtaking talent of Mickey Tussler, a very desperate Arthur Murphy puts his faith and maybe his job into the hands of an autistic 17 year old who has never played baseball before.
This story takes place in Indiana, Tussler’s Farm, Milwaukee, Borchert Field which is the Brewers Stadium, and it also takes place all across the country in cities and at baseball stadiums. The protagonist of the story is Mickey Tussler and the antagonist is Mickey Tussler’s as well because of his autism. The book demonstrates that you can do anything you set your mind to no matter what and don’t let anyone hold you back. The Legend of Mickey Tussler is a very good book that teaches you life goals that you can do anything no matter your background or where you are from, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. I liked the book and it is definitely worth reading.

[Brett Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book The Legend of Mickey Tussler is about an autistic kid who is discovered on a farm by a Milwaukee Brewers scout. The Milwaukee Brewers were a struggling team that was always last in the standings and they needed good players as soon as possible. The Milwaukee Brewers scout came across a kid that was throwing apples against a barrel at a farm and he wanted him to be on the team. He recruited this kid whose name was Mickey Tussler. Mickey Tussler goes and tries out for the Brewers and he signs a minor league deal. The reason why I like this book is because I am a big fan of baseball. I like all the baseball books that I read and this particular story involves the Milwaukee Brewers, who are my favorite major league baseball team. This book has a nice twist to it involving a pitcher who is autistic that is given a chance to use his talent to help his poor family get money. There was not really any reason why I did not like this book because it is a baseball book and I think that all baseball related stories are perfect. The author did a perfect job bringing the story to life and using a kid with special needs as being the main character. It is inspiring to anyone who has a dream of playing professional baseball. I would rate this book 10/10 and recommend it to anyone who likes to read books about sports.

[Tyler Torkelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi. This book is about a manager for the Milwaukee Brewers named Arthur Murphy and his search for finding new and better players. His car was having problems and he finds himself stopping at a farm to use their phone. While he was at the farm he saw the farmers son Mickey throwing apples into a bucket and is impressed with how the kid is throwing. There is only one twist Mickey has Autism so his dad does not like the idea of him going to try out for the baseball team. But he ends up going anyway and is very nervous at first but then shows them what he’s really got and performs well. My favorite character was Murphy because he treated Mickey so good and gave him the chance of a lifetime. Also my favorite part of the book was when Murphy saw Mickey throwing apples and thought that he would be a good pitcher. Also the author made the book feel so real in every way possible. Another thing the author did very well is the way the story was told made you never want to put the book down because you wanted to figure out what was going to happen next. I personally liked mostly everything about this book but there was one thing that I did not like was that Mickeys dad was so mean to him at first. I would recommend this book and give it a ten out of ten to anyone who likes baseball and for people who like to read about Autism.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought (a signed copy of) this book at the baseball Hall of Fame two years ago. My only regret is that I didn't wait until the off-season when I'm craving baseball to read it! I never write reviews, but this is a book created for the baseball fan. It's a great story in general, but it was the baseball that had me hooked.

If you're not in love with the game of baseball, you might lose interest quickly. But I strongly feel that it was written for the diehard baseball fan, even if the story itself is powerful.

I was surprised by the ending, but I didn't dislike it. I also know there is a follow-up... I'm interested in reading more, but the story stands pretty well on its own. There are a handful of typos, but not enough to alter my five star review.

Easily the best book I've read so far this year.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book took me back to my childhood, to when I would discover boxes of my dad’s books from the 30s and 40s, and spend days curled up reading them. There were many similarities—the straightforward plots, the clear demarcation between good and bad, the florid and overblown descriptions of every event—and it brought back many pleasant memories. (And as an aside, I certainly wish I had hung onto those first-run Horatio Alger books. $$$)

But alas, the style of pulp novels doesnt translate very well to the 21st century. The introduction of the autism theme was interesting, and made me think about what it would have been like in that era. I like baseball, so no way to mess that up. But the flowery prose and slow moving plot mire than balanced that out. I would probably read the sequel, but I wont be breathlessly awaiting it.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of the Mickey Tussler trilogy.

I love baseball, and the author does a great job of showing the ups and downs that each season brings. The time is 1948, and we get a glimpse of the minor league Milwaukee Brewers, who are the farm team of the Boston Braves. Warren Spahn makes an appearance,e visiting the boys down on the farm.

One of the players on the team is autistic, Mickey Tussler. Autism isn't understood well today, but in 1948, the author shows it was even worse than today. We don't get a glimpse of Mickey hitting, which was required of the pitcher who batted in 1948.

My only other criticism is that the Brewers seemed oddly reliant on Mickey, who was a starting pitcher who would only throw once every four days back then.

The ending was a big of a let down also. Very disjointed, with a character changing the future of Mickey. What?!?!

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Legend of Mickey Tussler is a must read book for any young sports enthusiast. This novel is about a seventeen year old boy named Mickey who in his free time, enjoys launching apples in his back yard at an old wine barrel. He has accuracy mixed with power in the arm from the heavens as some people call it. This book is taking place in the 1940's, around this same time the Triple A team for the Milwaukee Brewers were in dire need of a pitcher because they were struggling with it. The team manager Arthur noticed Mickey throwing the apples and thought that it wouldn't hurt to try. So they signed him a deal and Arthur took a chance, will they hit the jackpot with him or will they find themselves in more trouble then they started with?

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Equal parts "The Natural" and Clare Bee's Chip Hilton series, "Mickey Tessler" is the story of a 17 year old autistic savant who (somehow) learned to pitch by throwing apples on the farm. The book is set in the late 1940s and does a wonderful job of evoking that era. But for the same reason, I would hesitate to recommend it as a YA book, due to the slow pace and the unlikely plot. I found several errors, both grammatical and spelling, and a good editor would have been very useful in tightening up the many overdone passages. But all in all a sweet book, which apparently has at least one sequel to follow.

[Jim Krotzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi was not as predictable as I first thought. The story of a baseball pitcher who also is autistic could have had more and different examples of autism. The similes seemed stale although the dialogue seemed real enough. One pet peeve of mine is the spelling of the past tense of to lead. The author committed this error several times. The past tense of to lead is "led," not lead.

[Jonathan Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful baseball scenes sprinkled between truly compelling drama. Mickey's character is truly memorable. This one has a lot to offer. Finished it in two nights. The ending was not what I expected, which is why I liked it so much. I will be reading the next two books in the series for sure, as I am now a big Mickey fan.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book for someone who loves a good sports story. It really does inspire other athletes to go out and always fight through tough times to be the best version of themselves. I really did connect with the story from the relationship Mickey had with his manager. In past/current years I have always established a good relationship with my coaches, and in some way they have taken me under their wing, just like Arthur Murphy did with Mickey. I loved how Murphy did not let negativity of others cloud his judgement of Mickey. Murphy had fans and even other teammates heckling him over bringing up a kid with aspergers to the minor leagues. However, he saw that Mickey had true raw talent and stuck to his gut, and turned out to be the best decision he had made.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

If not for a really unsatisfying ending, I'd have given this book a 4. But it was a decent read.

[Jeff Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable sports fiction with meaningful story about autism and the underdog. The movie (A Mile in His Shoes) setting is changed from 1940’s to 2000’s, and is streaming and on dvd.

[Mj Weisenburger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book…an young autistic boy who plays baseball.
True depiction of a person with Asperger’s

[Harold Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

What elevates “The Legend of Mickey Tussler” by Frank Nappi from the status of good baseball story to excellent work of fiction is the author’s use of baseball as a metaphor for human aspirations and relationships. Mr. Nappi’s story has its villains and its beloved, vulnerable characters and an assortment of individuals capable to displaying varied degrees of empathy when their individual needs and ambitions are not interfered with. Failure is determined sometimes -- like a broken-bat single or a homerun hooked suddenly foul -- by chance but more often by selfish, powerful people. Epitomized by baseball manager Arthur Murphy, an aspiring person struggles against adversity and endures setbacks but does not give up. He must find like-minded souls (Molly, Mickey Tussler’s mother) to sustain him and, possessing empathy, he looks beyond himself to shield the vulnerable (the Asperger’s Syndrome farm boy Mickey).

The baseball aspect of Mr. Nappi’s story is excellent. The lingo is familiar; the characters are believable; the pennant race is exciting; the author’s knowledge of the game is clear-cut. Readers are rewarded for this reason alone.

However, it is the author’s writing skills that mostly make this book special. Mr. Nappi has done everything I hope to see a talented writer utilize.

Sharp sensory detail that establishes character presence: “Clarence [Mickey’s abusive father] stood leaning against a gray stone mantel, adorned with a yellowing lace doily held in place by an old brass lantern. Next to that was a family portrait in a tarnished frame and a dusty clarinet. Arthur’s eyes hurt, as if something acerbic were in the air. It smelled like cat urine or perhaps it was just mold spores. Either way, he could not stop rubbing his eyes.”

Visual detail interspersed with economical, purposeful dialogue: “‘Baseball?’ he mocked. ‘You want Mickey to play baseball? Now, what in tarnation is a baseball team gonna do with a retard? Huh?’

‘I don’t understand.’

The farmer was scratching his head. His amusement brought forth a smile, foul and yellow.

‘What my husband meant to say, Mr. Murphy, is that Mickey is a little –‘

‘I said exactly what I meant to say, woman,’ Clarence barked, raising his hand in mock attack. ‘Don’t you be correcting me. He’s a retard.’”

Concise expressiveness: “Mickey glared at Lefty, his feelings sharp and bent in the intruder’s direction. He sat still now, Oscar [Mickey’s pet pig] by his side, left alone to face the wickedness of a world of which he understood so little.”

Back stories to add dimension to secondary characters: “McGinty [the shortstop] was definitely the best fit for Mickey. His dad had died when Elliot was just eleven years old. Consequently, young Elliot became responsible for looking out for his mom and his younger sister, Emily, who was born with a degenerative hearing condition that had rendered her deaf by age four. The little girl struggled, drifting through life diffidently, unable to keep pace in a world that moved too swiftly and carelessly to allow for her needs.”

Subjective narration that communicates abstractions: “She [Molly] had survived all these years by not focusing on the vast parameters of the world at large but on what was immediately around her. It usually worked. She could lose herself in the mixing of animal feed or the husking of corn. … But occasionally, this vapid existence preyed upon her more tender sensibilities, awakened now and again by glimpses of what could have been, and she cried out in painful protest for the life she really desired but had yet to cultivate.”

Theme: “‘And there’s always another at bat. A chance to redeem yourself. You could be washed-up one day, and a hero the next. Truly. Nobody is tied to their fate.’ … Once again, it appeared, time and events had conspired against him. He was being played with, manipulated by a capricious wind blowing him everywhere. … Murph shrugged his shoulders, as if to suggest that it didn’t really matter. But in the darkest, most remote corner of his soul, hanging restlessly from a single strand of sticky filament like an anxious spider, was the unmitigated, undeniable truth.”

Story, depth of character, social commentary, and writer skill justify this five-star rating.

[Nicole Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Nappi's The Legend of Mickey Tussler discusses the adversities faced by Mickey Tussler with his life at home in Indiana and with a minor league baseball team, The Brewers. Since Mickey Tussler has a type of autism called Aspergers characters throughout the book believe that Mickey is not capable of doing things other kids his age can.
Some things you have to know before reading the book are about Aspergers and the effects of Aspergers. Asperger's is a form of autism which usually makes children who have it struggle in social situations. Life in Indiana was not the easiest for Mickey, along with his parents Clarence and Molly. Clarence, throughout the book, is very condescending and rude to both Mickey and Molly. Clarence believes Mickey cannot play baseball and calls Mickey a "retard" and other ruthless names. Molly is a very sweet amicable person who questions her relationship with Clarence periodically.
Mickey's life drastically changes when Arthur Murphy comes to Milwaukee looking for new players for his minor league baseball team, The Brewers. Once Murphy scrutinizes Mickey throwing apples Murphy is eager to have Mickey be a pitcher on the Brewers. Clarence automatically thinks Mickey can't play baseball but after talking and giving the Tusslers money, Clarence agrees to let Mickey play in Milwaukee.
When Mickey arrives in Milwaukee many players on the team and the owner of the team Dennison question Murphy's motives. Since Mickey has Aspergers and nobody knows except Murphy, everyone believes Mickey is alien. A few characters try and help and some hurt Mickey. First there is Pee Wee. Pee Wee is the shortstop on the Brewers and has suffered many adversities like Mickey. This made Mickey and Pee Wee become very close. Pee Wee always sticks up for Mickey and always encourages him. At one point when Mickey was playing the Brewers were doing an amazing job. However Lefty was not doing a good job. Lefty is another pitcher on the team who gets less appreciated when Mickey comes to the team. However, when Mickey has to sit out for a while, Lefty improves his game drastically and tries to make Mickey worse for his good. This ends up working to benefit him only really. Lefty was very pompous and believed the whole team was centered around him.
The novel had a potent effect on me. Primarily it shows how when you have a disability you can still do what others can do but you might have to try harder and practice more. Also, it affected me in the sense that when I see people with disabilities I now have a more of an open outlook to try and help them and I am less inclined to doubt them. The novel also makes you more sympathetic and makes you feel more empathetic to children with disabilities because you don't know what their life is like but in the novel you see a tiny way how their life is difficult. The Legend of Mickey Tussler also affected me because it made me see how lucky and how grateful I am to not have the family struggles Mickey has at home like an abusive father and a mother and father that do not get along that much.
When reading The Legend of Mickey Tussler there are many parts of the novel I enjoyed and many parts I wished were a little different. Some parts I enjoyed were the imagery shown and that you did not expect what was going to happen to happen. Some things that were challenging to me were the very rich and complex vocabulary and it is a little difficult to understand if you are not familiar with this vocabulary. Another thing I wish was changed was not so much baseball terminology because it is harder to understand if you are not familiar with it. Overall, this is an amazing book that makes you appreciative for what you have and how luck you are not to have a disability and have a rough home life.

[Samantha Goldberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Legend of Mickey Tussler.Frank Nappi. New York, NY: Sky Pony Press, 2008. 292 pp.

The Legend of Mickey Tusslerby Frank Nappi was recently assigned to my high school English class. The main character is a nineteen year old boy with Asperger's named Mickey. Asperger's is a high-functioning form of autism. A common misperception about Asperger's is that those with it are completely disabled. This popular opinion is proven false in Frank Nappi's novel. Mickey overcomes adversity and makes for an interesting character.

The Legend of Mickey Tusslerby Frank Nappiis set in 1948 Milwaukee. Mickey lives on a farm with his truculent father and compassionate mother. He soon leaves the farm when he is scouted by a minor league coach. Mickey then becomes a phenom on the mound and teen protégé around town. However, due to his Asperger's, Mickey has a difficult time interacting with the guys on the team. The novel explores the challenges one must endure with this disorder, as well as the challenges of an abusive relationship. There is also a great deal of baseball terminology in this novel due to the fact that Mickey plays baseball. Therefore, the audience can range from supporters of Autism to baseball fanatics.

During the time period of the novel, many people did not understand the challenges that come with Asperger's. This can explain the grueling relationship that Mickey has with his father and some of his teammates. Because they do not understand the disorder, they do not know how to react to him. The novel has somewhat of a good guy-bad guy plot as well. Mickey is deceived and becomes the center of controversy in the novel because he is vulnerable.

The novel definitely achieves its goal, if indeed its goal is to teach about the challenges Mickey encounters. The portrayal of Mickey is realistic and endearing. Also, the novel depicts real attitudes of the general public in the late 1940's. The novel suggests that anyone, no matter the disability or hardship, can do the unimaginable. In my opinion, however, the novel is very predictable. Although the characters are fresh and different, the plot is somewhat cliché. The fact that this novel has underlying conflicts besides Mickey's Asperger's is refreshing. Other novels focus on the autism, but not the possibilities that can be achieved with it. Mickey's Autism is convincing in the novel due to his mannerisms, but other characters are not as convincing. McNally and Quinton, two of the "bad guys" in the novel seem like the cliché villains of any novel or film. However, the baseball aspects of the novel are entertaining. I am a baseball fan, so I was able to understand baseball terminology like 5-4-3. If you do not like or know about baseball, the novel can also be a way of introducing the game. I have also gained a greater understanding of the behavior of one with the syndrome. This was achieved by Nappi's immaculate descriptions and imagery throughout the book. There is advanced vocabulary, including many SAT words that give the descriptions that extra something. For that reason, this novel is great for a teen that is about to take the SAT. If you are not a teen, this novel will give you the opportunity to freshen up your vocabulary. Each character portrays a different public opinion of autistic mannerisms. The baseball team also portrays a realistic team dynamic. Overall, this novel was entertaining and a learning experience; I would most likely recommend it to a friend.

[Melissa T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was first posted on Melissa's Midnight Musings. I'm also hosting a giveaway on my blog right now for a set of the two books in this series. You can enter for your chance to win here: http://midnight-orchids.blogspot.com/...

The Legend of Mickey Tussler has a little bit of everything for everyone, which makes it enjoyable for a broad range of people. There's a little bit of romance, jealousy, rivalry, sportsmanship, friendship and the list could go on.

My experience with stories rooted in baseball has been more of a historical, fact based relationship rather than a fictional one. I like both styles, but reading The Legend of Mickey Tussler was more enjoyable because I got to experience so many different elements. The book really explores the inner workings of a baseball team and how the different personalities can come together to make the team work, (and how they clash.) The code of baseball was something new, or at least something that I noticed more in reading this novel. There are certain things you just don't do to your teammates, and if you do, expect consequences.

This book was thoroughly enjoyable. The flow of the story is absolutely perfect. To me, it was a perfect mimic of the flow of a baseball game. There were moments of suspense, when you'd be reading with bated breath to find out what the character's next move would be. This was particularly poignant in terms of Molly and Murphy's relationship. It's obvious right off the bat that they have feelings for one another. Nappi does an excellent job of building up their relationship slowly, making it so that you want to root for them, and you want them to be together, but it's not overdone. In fact, there were times when I wished the story would get back to focusing on them because I was so eager to see what would happen between them.

I also really appreciated Nappi's portrayal of Mickey. I have never read a portrayal of someone with autism that is quite so honest, and, I'm not quite sure how to say this, flows so easily and doesn't seem stiff or straightforward like they're just portraying the symptoms of autism based on the textbook definitions. I've also never read a historical fiction piece that portrays someone with autism, all the fictional accounts of characters with Autism that I've read have been contemporary pieces.
I could clearly see the story from Mickey's perspective, he was what pulled me into the story. He's such a good person, who wants to be part of something, and wants to help. He's a very strong character, especially for the fact of how his father treats him. It's horrible treatment, to say the very least, but Mickey tries not to dwell on it, he mainly focuses on the positive things in his life, which is a good thing for anyone who's experienced abuse like he has.

There was only one part of this book that I was left wondering about in particular and that has to do with the fact that there wasn't a lot of detail given about what happened to Mickey after a particularly important event (don't want to spoil it for anyone). I would have liked to see more of an explanation of that part of the story.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Susan Ashcraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1948, Arthur Murphy, manager of the minor league baseball team the Milwaukee Brewers, has been sent out on the road to find some new talent. When he comes across 17 year old Mickey Tussler throwing crab-apples into a barrel with fantastic speed and accuracy, he believes he has found the man. He quickly realizes that while Mickey might have the best arm he has seen in all his years of baseball, Mickey's not quite like everyone else. Murph's not worried though. He thinks that Mickey's ability with pitching will overcome any obstacles that will be put in the way.

Mickey Tussler has not had an easy life. Mildly autistic, Mickey has always been a bitter disappointment to his father. His ability to throw has opened up an incredible opportunity for Mickey with the farm team. He's unease around the other players is slowly overcome as most members of the team slowly accept him. Pee Wee, a teammate of Mickey, befriends Mickey. He understands the hardships of beings different as his sister is deaf and has always faced challenges and prejudices due to her inability to hear and speak.

As the season progresses the team slowly comes together. Most of the players realize that Mickey is a main part of why they are winning and are coming to accept his oddities. One man on the team though is angry. Angry and jealous. Lefty thinks of himself first, last and always. A good pitcher in his own right, Lefty believes he is better than Mickey and the rest of the team. He thinks Mickey shouldn't be playing and is willing to do whatever it takes to get him off the team.
This is a moving account of life in the late 1940's after the war, a boy's coming of age, a boy overcoming tremendous obstacles to become accepted in the everyday world and a well written account of the hardships and joys of baseball.

A wonderful cast of characters which include Mickey, pitcher extraordinaire but due to his autism an odd duck; Pee Wee, fellow baseball player, a caring and accepting man; Lefty, unable to see anything or anyone but himself; and several other interesting people.

The story has a nice even tempo. It starts to pick up pace as the Brewers get closer and closer to the end of the season and a chance at the playoffs. The baseball scenes are well written and give you the feeling of being there in the stands, in the dugout and on the pitching mound. Touches of humor, conflict and friendship keep the story from being flat.

The ending however fell flat for me. I just didn't feel it was keeping with the rest of the book. It almost felt like it was tacked on simply to end the story.

All in all, a great story that will appeal to many people. This isn't just for baseball fans, it would also appeal to anyone who likes a great people story or for anyone who likes to see the underdog come out ahead. I do look forward to reading Sophomore Campaign which is the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler.