Product Description
"In this wise, witty story set in West St. Paul in the '60s, a kid named Harlan navigates life by focusing on the Twins baseball team, a comic metaphor for hope. Sport is fat with small pleasures. It is a homer and a gift to all of us grownup knothole-game kids. There's a lot to love in this quiet little book, most of all its subtle wisdom about establishing individuality and finding joy amid chaos-in short, about growing up. " -Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Short and sweet, though not too sweet, and blessedly free of sentimentality. Mick Cochrane's intuitive, easygoing style finds a perfect balance mediating between the child and adult points of view." -Boston Globe

"With beautifully clean prose, Mick Cochrane has given us a novel evocative of everything from Emerson to Kerouac-nothing could be more American." -Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

"Cochrane writes convincingly about troubled families without descending into the catch phrases of pop psychology. An appealing read." -Buffalo News

Mick Cochrane is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota. His first novel, Flesh Wounds, was named a finalist in Barnes and Noble's Discover Great New Writers Competition. He teaches at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Be a sport- check this out
While there are some things I particularlly liked about this book, like the ending based on the choices "Sport" makes for his future, which I grappled with over and over,overall this book just didn't move me like Mick Cochrane's debut novel Flesh Wounds did. While the writing is still crafted with beautiful descriptive phrases which give me an incredible visual image of the characters and setting, it took me a while to really get into this story.I do admire Cochrane's masterful character development and artful use of dialogue. This is a nice coming of age story reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird as it raises larger societal issues within the seemingly mundane events of the smaller unit (in this case the one home, whereas in Harper Lee's novel, the town), however the issues are here so very subtle that I think they get lost. The loss of childhood is a great theme well done here but for me the story line itself was not a compelling read. Maybe its a gender thing??? Or a sports lover thing? I've never been either a participant nor very interested in watching sports.I think that without those experiences as a point of reference, much of the enjoyment of this novel is lost.It took me a while to get into the story as I think it has a slow beginning, but it did get more enticing as the story moved on. If you can read through the first few chapters with interest then buy this book as it gets better from there on.

No Joy in Mudville
In the premier story in "Hearts in Atlantis," Stephen King has a wise old character say that some books have a great story and some books have great writing: "read sometimes for the story, Bobby.Don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that.Read sometimes for the words - the language.Don't be like the play-it-safers that won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book."

Mick Cochrane's book, Sport, does not knock it out of the park. It has good writing and a story that I wanted to like. The writing was taut and initially moved right along, but ended up "all dressed up with no place to go."This is not really a book about St. Paul - but rather St. Paul is a backdrop for this mostly tragic with only a glimmer of comic story.The older brother reminds me of the older brother on the television series "The Wonder Years."Other than St. Paul street names, the major local tie-in is the Minnesota Twins, which, in a bizarre quirk of fate subsequent to the publication of this bleak novel, are probably doomed as well (if Bud Seilig has his way and his "contraction" is allowed to erase the Twins from existence.)

Mr. Walker, the most "adult" member of this cast, proposes a toast to "Joy in Mudville" with his empty Coke can in hand.That's as good as this book gets.Better bet: "Until They Bring the Streetcars Back" by Stanley Gordon West.

Strength from the Heart
In the character Sport, Mick Cochrane gives us a boy who not only endures but learns to celebrate his endurance. While others might fret over misfortune and dysfunction, Harlan Hawkins, Jr., aka Sport, accepts the hand that life has dealt him -- an abusive, obese brother; a tough, bitter but scattershot mother suffering from MS; a brilliant, abusive drunken attorney father; a broken home impoverished by his father's refusal to pay support; and a kind teacher who sees his potential.No matter what befalls him, Sport moves ahead with his life. He is most alive when thinking about baseball or likening events in his life to baseball. In that sense he is like all children, learning to make sense of the world as he grows into it. In this age of the abuse excuse and the twisted psychopathy that passes for characterization, it's nice to encounter a normal character who, like most of us, deals with life as effectively as possible because there is no alternative. By loving his family despite their painfully apparent weaknesses, Sport proves himself the strongest of them all. Quiet strength is the stuff of which true heroes are made. Bravo!

Funny and poignant
As good as Cochrane's first book was, Sport is even better. Like Frank McCourt, he adds a unique blend of humour to atragic life.You instantly feel for the well-developed characters he creates and want to know more about their lives. It is definately a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
When the police come to arrest Minneapolis salesman Hal Lamm for molesting histhirteen-year-old granddaughter, his whole family is compelled to face its secrets and unhealed wounds. His wife, Phyllis, after decades of denial and emotional estrangement, draws closer to her children and finds the strength to confront her husband. His daughter, Ellie, had relished her distance from her parents, but now discovers strength in the midst of her troubled family. Calis an attorney whose first instinct is to defend Hal--until he becomes a father himself. Most poignant of all is the story of Becky, Hal's granddaughter: unconsoled by the parties and presents her parents give her, and suspicious of the therapist she is required to visit, she keeps her rage hidden--and nearly tears herself apart. Written with genuine empathy, Flesh Wounds grips the reader and doesn't let go until its climax of hard-earned reconciliation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Movie Material
I couldn't help but visualize this book as a movie. Perhaps because the dialogue is so masterfully written, it read to me like a script with beautifully descriptive passages rounding out the setting as a backdrop to the words of the characters. Yet it is what mostly remains unspoken that is so dramatically conveyed as Cochrane bravely addresses the issue of abuse which though not often talked about is so intregal to the lives of the characters. The story itself seems to be a microcosm of society in which abuse is so often dimissed rather than analyzed.This book captures humanity like a Graham Greene novel,one in which we see the power of forgiveness and are left with a hope of redemption really being a possibility alongside the brokeness of people whose lives still remain shattered.The real victims appear to be those who are not yet able to forgive- whether themselves or others.I highly recommend this book as one which will move you and provoke thought while entertaining with it's intriguing story.

Elegant Writing
A novel of pain and regeneration, of characters surviving life's large garbage days. Cochrane peoples this story of child abuse that spawns child abuse with a style notable for its directness. Namely, he doesn't feel the need to show off. Flaws and all, these characters speak on their own. The dialogue is also relentlessly accurate, a rarity in a time when our fictional conversations rarely sound right.

This novel has its taproot in honesty, and while the plot summary you'll see above might read like an episode of a horrid talk show, Cochrane instead renders a family torn by abuse with elegance and caring. This is a fine book by a fine writer, one who will no doubt present an equally well-done but richer novel his next time out. Buy the book, remember his name

Elegant writing
A novel of pain and regeneration, of characters surviving life's large garbage days.Cochrane peoples this story of child abuse that spawns child abuse with a style notable for its directness.Namely, he doesn't feel theneed to show off.Flaws and all, these characters speak on their own.Thedialogue is also relentlessly accurate, a rarity in a time when ourfictional conversations rarely sound right.This novel has its taproot inhonesty, and while the plot summary you'll see above might read like anepisode of a horrid talk show, Cochrane instead renders a family torn byabuse with elegance and caring.This is a fine book by a fine writer, onewho will no doubt present a equally well-done but richer novel his nexttime out.Buy the book, remember his name. ... Read more

Product Description
For an eighth grader, Molly Williams has more than her fair share of problems. Her father has just died in a car accident, and her mother has become a withdrawn, quiet version of herself.

Molly doesn’t want to be seen as “Miss Difficulty Overcome”; she wants to make herself known to the kids at school for something other than her father’s death. So she decides to join the baseball team. The boys’ baseball team. Her father taught her how to throw a knuckleball, and Molly hopes it’s enough to impress her coaches as well as her new teammates.

Over the course of one baseball season, Molly must figure out how to redefine her relationships to things she loves, loved, and might love: her mother; her brilliant best friend, Celia; her father; her enigmatic and artistic teammate, Lonnie; and of course, baseball.

Mick Cochrane is a professor of English and the Lowery Writer-in-Residence at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where he lives with his wife and two sons.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great YA Read
Molly Williams has made the baseball team. The boys baseball team.She has mastered a unique pitching style that her late father had taught her.Throughout the story, Molly overcomes adversity from her teammates, and her mother, as well as the confusion and grief she has about her father's death.

This story rejuvenated my love for YA Fiction! It holds great messages for young girls about being themselves, respecting parents the don't always agree with, and letting go. I feel like the ending came rather abruptly though, and I didn't feel satisfied with the way some of the conflicts were "solved," but a good read nevertheless.

Cochrane Hits It Out Of The Park With New Release
Mick Cochrane has given readers young and old a book that will transcend all backgrounds and interests. THE GIRL WHO THREW BUTTERFLIES gives us a story that shows how important it is to follow your heart and fulfil your dreams, inspite of the odds against you. Cochrane also gives us a look at a world that many can relate to: a family coping with death, self-discovery and the true meaning of life. This is a book that will resonate with sports lovers and non-sports lovers alike. A real triumph.

Butterflies and Moths
The Girl Who Threw Butterflies Excellent book for almost any reader - outstanding for young girls.

From Butterflies to Knuckleballs
//The Girl Who Threw Butterflies/ is a charming story about an eighth-grade girl who attempts to find her own way after losing her dad in a car accident six months earlier. Her mom is despondent, her teachers treat her differently, and her best friend Celia is right there by her side. She misses her dad who taught her everything about baseball, even how to throw knuckleballs; theirs was a mutual love of the game. Molly soon joins the school's baseball team, quitting girl's softball because she wants to play the real game of baseball.

This story demonstrates the true human spirit when desire overcomes trepidation. The author, Mick Cochrane exemplified his devotion and understanding of baseball in this account of Molly's world, bringing tragedy to victory. He deftly draws the characters in our imaginations with vivid descriptions and crisp detail, and allows the story to predictably, yet eagerly, unfold. A good read for someone coming into their own, or about to!

Reviewed by M. Chris Johnson

A Girl on the Boys' Baseball Team, and a Whole Lot More
I'm not a big baseball fan, but I was drawn in to this book and the story of both a girl's decision to go out for the boys baseball team, and the bond between her and her deceased father. What could have been way too much of a "message" book was actually quite touching as Molly makes the decision completely on her own (her mother doesn't find out until much later), though she does get a little Zen coaching from her quirky best friend.

Cochrane includes bits of baseball history and trivia, such as that female baseball player Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth, which will appeal to baseball fans, male and female. Molly's relationship with her mom, like many girls her age, is tumultuous, yet grows so by the end of the book each of them understand each other a little better. Molly's a curious, dedicated young woman, and Cochrane lets her story, and her interest in baseball, unfold gradually. She shows a true love of and interest in the game; there were times when I wondered whether she was simply pursuing it to maintain a connection with her father, but she goes beyond what they had, while still channeling him. A moving, at times bittersweet book that will have you cheering on Molly and her knuckleballs. ... Read more