Former award-winning school principal Pete Hallâs debut novel follows the ups and downs of 18-year-old Anthony Sumnerâs quest of becoming a professional athlete. Heâs driven, talented, confidentâŚand faces a future full of unknowns.
âOne hundred forty-six!â
Anthony Sumner bursts into Mrs. Andrewsâ government classroom, interrupting the activity and announcing his presence with his usual flair. Arms raised exuberantly, he marches directly to the white board in the front of the room, erases the â149,â and scribbles â146â in red ink. âHappy Monday!â He winks at his teacher, high-fiving a classmate at a nearby table as he sits proudly at his seat.
âThank you, Mr. Sumner, for again gracing us with your presence and your countdown. How in the world would we survive without you?â Mrs. Andrews has paused her discussion about the limits of the executive branch to entertain the daily disruption. âIf you must share with us the number of days until baseball season starts, could you at least arrive to class on time, so you donât mess with our mojo? Keep this up, and Iâll start keeping track of the number of days until you graduate.â
Muffled laughter around the room. Anthony is undeterred. âDonât you already?â he asks, cocking an eyebrow at his teacher.
âNot publicly,â she retorts. âNow get caught up. We have learning to do. And stop with the eyebrow.â
With authentic characters, well-paced storytelling, and some raw insights into the mind of a young adult convinced of a single path to success, this book is an enjoyable and (in the authorâs words) helpful listen.
For young adult listeners, itâs relatable. The dream, the relationships, the successes, the failuresâŚall part of the messy reality of growing up. The fun, the awkwardness, the uncertaintyâŚitâs all there.
For grown-up listeners, the author brings his educational background to use by weaving in discussions and interactions with educators, coaches, parents, and Anthonyâs peers to help him navigate his path, to embrace a plan B, and to better understand himself.
As an added bonus, Chasing the Show comes with a link to free online discussion guidesâone for young adult listeners, one for not-so-young adult listenersâto facilitate the communication, dialogue, and reflection needed to take the many lessons life teaches us and put them to use. No matter what your entry point is, this story is sure to leave you entertained and equip you for the journey ahead.
Former award-winning school principal Pete Hallâs debut novel follows the ups and downs of 18-year-old Anthony Sumnerâs quest of becoming a professional athlete. Heâs driven, talented, confidentâŚand faces a future full of unknowns.
âOne hundred forty-six!â
Anthony Sumner bursts into Mrs. Andrewsâ government classroom, interrupting the activity and announcing his presence with his usual flair. Arms raised exuberantly, he marches directly to the white board in the front of the room, erases the â149,â and scribbles â146â in red ink. âHappy Monday!â He winks at his teacher, high-fiving a classmate at a nearby table as he sits proudly at his seat.
âThank you, Mr. Sumner, for again gracing us with your presence and your countdown. How in the world would we survive without you?â Mrs. Andrews has paused her discussion about the limits of the executive branch to entertain the daily disruption. âIf you must share with us the number of days until baseball season starts, could you at least arrive to class on time, so you donât mess with our mojo? Keep this up, and Iâll start keeping track of the number of days until you graduate.â
Muffled laughter around the room. Anthony is undeterred. âDonât you already?â he asks, cocking an eyebrow at his teacher.
âNot publicly,â she retorts. âNow get caught up. We have learning to do. And stop with the eyebrow.â
With authentic characters, well-paced storytelling, and some raw insights into the mind of a young adult convinced of a single path to success, this book is an enjoyable and (in the authorâs words) helpful listen.
For young adult listeners, itâs relatable. The dream, the relationships, the successes, the failuresâŚall part of the messy reality of growing up. The fun, the awkwardness, the uncertaintyâŚitâs all there.
For grown-up listeners, the author brings his educational background to use by weaving in discussions and interactions with educators, coaches, parents, and Anthonyâs peers to help him navigate his path, to embrace a plan B, and to better understand himself.
As an added bonus, Chasing the Show comes with a link to free online discussion guidesâone for young adult listeners, one for not-so-young adult listenersâto facilitate the communication, dialogue, and reflection needed to take the many lessons life teaches us and put them to use. No matter what your entry point is, this story is sure to leave you entertained and equip you for the journey ahead.