Lupica, Mike. Heat

Lupica, Mike. Heat. Philomel Books, 2006 [0-399-24301-1]
Michael is the star pitcher on his Little League team. Several years ago he, his brother Carlos, and his father arrived from Cuba. Now, a few month before Carlos is 18, their father dies and they try to keep it a secret so they will not go into foster care. This 220 is a sports story along with a touching story of two brothers trying to make it alone while hiding that their father died living in the shadow of Yankee Stadium. The reader shares the boy's fear of authority, Michael's adoration of El Grande, and his sudden attraction to a mysterious girl who suddenly appears. A great multi-level story.