Fatherhood is one of the most important roles given to men by God. While physical fatherhood is very important, spiritual fatherhood is equally important. This second type of fatherhood is the kind that builds character, confidence and self-acceptance in children. This is why it is appropriate to call a priest by the name of father. When fathers are absent or unconcerned with their children, problems develop that are very hard to overcome. In this compelling novel, John Grisham addresses these issues through the life of a fading major league pitcher and his 11-year-old son. The name of this fascinating story is "Calico Joe."
Warren Tracey is a 34-year-old major league pitcher pitching for the New York Mets. He is a hard-living, bean-ball throwing, mean-spirited man. He occasionally uses salty and profane language when trying to teach his son the unwritten "code" of baseball. One of the first rules is to deliberately hit batters after they have homered. Warren is known as a "head hunter" capable of throwing a fastball 95 mph at the heads of hitters. He enjoys hitting batters.
His sensitive son Paul pitches in Little League and has become an All-Star but Warren despises Paul’s generous nature as a sign of weakness. As his big league career is in decline, a brilliant rookie, Joe Castle, arrives in the majors to play for the Chicago Cubs.
In a matter of weeks, Joe sets the baseball world on fire with his sensational home runs and stolen bases. Since he is from Calico, Ark., the press dub the young man Calico Joe. Castle’s first 38 games are so remarkable that he singlehandedly propels the hapless Chicago Cubs into play-off contention. Paul begins collecting every article on the young phenom and he and his friends want to become the fabulous Arkansas player.
Luckily, the Mets are playing the Cubs soon in New York. Paul and his mother go to the first game of the series in which his father is the starting pitcher. Calico Joe hits a homerun in his first at bat against Tracey. The next time Joe comes up to bat, Paul knows that his father is going to hit the batter. Warren winds up and sends a brutal fastball at the rookie’s head and afterwards smiles. But the miserable consequences are just beginning for everyone. Paul is frightened, Warren is released and Joe is badly injured.
The author then flashes forward 30 years and we see Warren and Paul struggling with the old man’s recent diagnosis of cancer. Though Paul has little reason to love his father, he reaches out to him. He proposes that they go to Calico, Ark. and visit Joe Castle.
In denial, Warren defends his actions as being part of the "code." Paul will have none of this lying and confronts his father on his deception. When they arrive in Calico, Warren meets Joe face to face. All the ghosts of the past are there to be seen.
What happens? Does Joe curse Warren for the bean-ball? Does Warren ask forgiveness for his terrible act? How does honesty and forgiveness triumph over spitefulness and cowardice?
Finally, how do we learn how men show true courage and manliness? To find out read this exciting novel, "Calico Joe," by John Grisham.
John Grisham is an outstanding writer of thrilling adult mystery, detective and legal novels. This book can be read and appreciated by high school students. The book includes occasional profanity, but is written in a compassionate style. The story is beautiful and is a testimony that love can conquer evil. My wife and I both read the book in one day. I hope you get a chance to read this excellent novel.
