Gary Soto. Baseball in April and Other Stories. New York: Harcourt, 1990. Print.

I have read a few short pieces by Gary Soto. His short stories and anecdotal memoirs appear in various anthologies. Baseball in April is an anthology entirely of stories written by Soto.

Though Soto is presented in most “politically correct” anthologies as a hyphenated American—in his case Mexican-American—his stories are simply American. The characters in these stories are kids, mostly from fourth to eighth grade. The last story features a tenth grader. And they do things other American children do—play baseball, ride bikes, flirt, play with Barbie dolls, try to cover up wrongdoings.

The lectures from parents are lectures that many Americans have heard. No, my grandfather was not a miner in Mexico, but my ancestors have similar stories. They, too, ended up in the United States and made a better life for themselves. Behind all the little dramas in Baseball in April is the hope and promise of America.

Some of the stories are upbeat like “The Marble Champ” where brainy Lupe wants to find a sport she can win. Some have disappointments like the title story “Baseball in April.” Some like “La Bamba” are funny. Some like “Growing Up” are bittersweet. But behind each story some things stand out like family, friends, and hope. Gary Soto the Garrison Keillor of Fresno. Not all the children are above average, but the children, through the author, see the joy in the little things in life.