{"product_id":"rick-kotanis-400-million-dollar-summer-waka-t-brown-hardcover","title":"Rick Kotani's 400 Million Dollar Summer -- Waka T. Brown, Hardcover","description":"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGolden Kite Award Finalist \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOregon Book Award Finalist \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOregon Book Award-winning author Waka T. Brown hits a home run in this middle grade novel about a baseball-obsessed twelve-year-old who moves to Oregon to help his grandfather--an elusive old man with a shrouded past--but ends up learning unexpected truths about his family and how they mysteriously parallel the Japanese folktale of Urashima Taro. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRick Kotani is looking forward to spending the entire summer playing baseball. Sure, his team never wins, but he's been practicing a special pitch he \u003ci\u003eknows \u003c\/i\u003eis going to land him a 400-million-dollar major-league contract . . . someday. That all changes when his mother throws a curveball of her own: Instead of playing ball in California, Rick will be heading to Oregon to help keep an eye on Grandpa Hiroshi while they move him to a retirement home. Trading no-hitters to be a babysitter? Rick is beyond bummed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut once there, Rick discovers Grandpa is actually pretty cool, and the two bond over a Japanese folktale about a fisherman, Urashima Taro, who trades his life on earth for the riches of an underwater kingdom. And like the fisherman, Rick soon forgets about his team back home when he joins a supercompetitive local league that only cares about being the best--at any cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the team racks up the wins and Grandpa makes his final move, Rick must decide which ending he wants for his story: Will he fall in line with his ruthless teammates and their victory-obsessed coach in his own \"underwater kingdom,\" or will family, true friendship, and integrity lead him back to shore?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Waka T. Brown\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Quill Tree Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2\/18\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.71 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8.53\" H x 5.85\" L x 0.97\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9780063230811\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Flowerburst LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46697800401050,"sku":"9780063230811","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/3015\/4138\/files\/9780063230811_702e372a-0253-4b9f-a991-794567eb6d55.jpg?v=1774804004","url":"https:\/\/unclejonsbookfactory.com\/products\/rick-kotanis-400-million-dollar-summer-waka-t-brown-hardcover","provider":"Uncle Jon's Book Factory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}