This was an excellent book in many ways: I loved the friendships, the baseball, the old-fashioned feel, and I really really loved the parents' good, affectionate relationship. Unfortunately, I felt that it was often overdramatic, and I couldn't understand why. A big deal was made about keeping secrets that were casually revealed a page or two later. And why would a young girl cry at the idea of throwing a knuckleball, unless there's some trauma involved? (There isn't.)
Three and a half stars.

Painting the Game by Patricia MacLachlan (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2024) is the last novel by the late great MacLachlan, who wrote my childhood favorite Sarah, Plain and Tall. In a similar understated tone, this short novel tells about a young girl, Lucy, who wants to prove her own baseball abilities as a pitcher, so she spends her summer time waking up early to practice her pitching, eager to surprise her minor-league pitcher father with her improvement. Her father is an expert at pitching the knuckleball, so Lucy is determined to follow in his footsteps and learn to do so too.

The title is related to the talents of Lucy’s mother, who is a painter. The paintings her mother creates highlight the unique perspective of the game, such as a view up to the mound from the grass. Lucy’s unique perspective as the child of a baseball player helps her see the big picture of baseball and ultimately gives her the confidence to show her dad her abilities.

Painting the Game is a subtle book. There is not much action and no antagonist other than self-confidence. I didn’t find Lucy’s struggle to improve in baseball a strong enough tension for carrying a story, even as the ending scene gave a satisfying climax and resolution. I also wish titular concept of “painting the game” was more clear. While it is a book that baseball players and fans may enjoy, Painting the Game was not a stand-out novel for me.

I love Patricia MacLachlan’s writing. It’s warm. It’s deceptively simple. And you leave her books feeling better than when you started.

That’s certainly true for Painting the Game. I’m not a fan of baseball. I don’t really care for it at all. But through Lucy’s eyes, I could understand the love and passion associated with it. And oh, what a wonderful character Lucy is. Her love for her family is undeniable, and her persistence rings true.

Painting the Game is a story about relationships, and it’s lovely to see strong grownup relationships — through marriage, and with friends and children — modeled. Those relationships, plus those with Lucy’s friends, make the book seem bigger than it first appears.

At just 144 pages, Painting the Game is an accessible read, and it offers broad appeal. It would make a great classroom read or a nice contemplative one at home.

In her final middle grade novel, the author gives us a heartwarming story of family, baseball, and friends. Lucy’s dad is a pitcher, and Lucy has decided she wants to learn how to throw a knuckleball. Her dad tells her let the ball fly so it floats, dips, and circles. Lucy’s friends help her practice the knuckleball, and when she is asked if she wants to throw the first pitch out at a special game Lucy wonders can she throw a knuckleball and impress and surprise her dad.

Patricia MacLachlan is a master at creating determined characters with grit. Lucy Chance in Painting the Game, a middle grade novel with a strong baseball theme, is determined to learn to be a pitcher and specifically to learn to pitch a knuckleball. She wants to impress and emulate her father, a professional pitcher in the minor leagues. She and her friends put in a lot of time practicing. When her father is called up to the major leagues Lucy gets throw the opening pitch. The characters are well rounded and the family is supportive of each other. This is a great story for lovers of baseball or anyone who just loves good storytelling. A lovely final book from one of the best. Strongly recommended

Lucy Chance is a young girl, whose father is a minor league pitcher working for the big league. Lucy and her 2 close friends love practicing and playing baseball together. Lucy decides to surprise her father/family by learning to pitch. Then she decides to surprise them by pitching a knuckleball. Her father is called up to pitch in the big league and Lucy get to throw out the first pitch. She surprises everyone with her knuckleball.

What a sweet book for Patricia MacLachlan's last story. Family, hard work, perserverance and baseball-what more could you want. This is just a feels good book, just in time for baseball season!

The love of the game.
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Lucy’s father is a minor league pitcher who is hoping to get called up to the big show aka the majors. Lucy loves baseball too, but she’s never played pitcher because she doesn’t think she can live up to her father’s skills. This summer Lucy gets up early everyday so she can practice not only pitching, but pitching a knuckleball like her father so she can surprise him.
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This was…okay. A short and sweet MG book about a girl who idolizes her father and wants to make him proud. Both parents are great, the extended family and friends are great. There wasn’t really much conflict or issues. The writing was a bit stilted and not my preferred method to read, but I also know Patricia MacLachlan has been around for a long time so fans of her books will love this one I’m sure. It releases April 16, just in time for baseball season!

"Painting the Game" is Patricia's MacLachlan's final middle grade book. The Newberry Medal winning author passed away in 2022. This short novel like all of her works has spare but beautiful prose with themes of family, friendship, and courage. In "Painting the Game" MacLachlan introduces a memorable protagonist in Lucy Chance, a young girl whose father's work as a minor league pitcher sometimes keeps him away from her and her mom. Lucy loves playing baseball with her friends Tex and Robin but she is frightened to learn pitching because that is her Dad's domain. The summer she turns 11 is when she decides to secretly teach herself to pitch. It's also the summer that her Dad and his best friend and catcher get their chance at the Big Leagues. Lucy decides to surprise her Dad by learning his signature pitch, the elusive knuckleball. Lucy's mom, a gifted painter, has her own surprise for the family. This novel would appeal to young fans of baseball, but also readers who appreciate a well crafted coming of age story, about a girl whose family and friends nurture her confidence.