How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe (And Put It Back Together Again)

Gr 3–5—Oscar cheers on his baseball team, the Wildcats, but his coach never puts him in the game. When he finally has a chance at bat against their rivals, he ends up using a powerful watch to stop time and hit a homerun. Oscar soon discovers that stealing time has broken the universe. To save the world, he must hit a bona fide home run and beat the other team, fair and square. The Wildcats is made up of a diverse line-up that includes players Kamran Singh, Bobby Farouk, and Oscar's new friend Lourdes Mangubat, whose family is from the Philippines. Lourdes is brave and athletic, and is one of many strong female characters. Oscar himself is humorous, supportive, and kind: he enjoys helping his elderly neighbor, Ethel Ellington, with chores. The game scenes are suspenseful, and the time travel plot is as logical as it is inventive, making this an accessible and entertaining read. Like many middle grade books, the story contains valuable life lessons: Oscar and Lourdes not only learn how to win gracefully, but how to play without fear of losing.