Set in a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood in 1947, this poignant tale revolves around two of the most endearing characters in recent fiction: an eleven-year-old Irish Catholic boy named Michael Devlin and Rabbi Judah Hirsch, a refugee from Prague. From their initial chance encounter in a swirling blizzard one Saturday morning to the mute awe they share at first setting eyes on the hallowed grounds of Ebbets Field, Hamill brings to life the richness and complexity of this most remarkable friendship. For Michael, the rabbi's stories of ancient magic and wisdom captivate his imagination and transport him to times and places even his beloved comic book heroes have never visited. For the rabbi, Michael's patient instruction on the language of baseball and American culture opens up an equally strange and magical world. Read Less