Gold Dust

If I ran things, nobody would have names. We would just have batting averages. Then there would be no misunderstandings.

All of Boston has been waiting for the arrival of Fred Lynn and Jim Rice to the 1975 Red Sox. The papers call them the Gold Dust Twins, the best pair of rookies ever to come to one team together. It is a Sox fan's dream.

Richard Riley Moncrief is that fan. And he intends to live that dream, in the stands and on the field. All he needs is his partner. . .

Napoleon Charlie Ellis arrives from the island of Dominica--and a world Richard will never know. Napoleon plays cricket, never says ain't, and is more at home in Symphony Hall than Fenway Park.

No problem. As long as Napoleon is willing to quit reading the newspapers, listen to Richard, and make baseball his life, the two of them will go on to greatness together on the field. They will be the next Gold Dust Twins.

Simple as black and white.

Except maybe Napoleon doesn't happen to share Richard's passion. Maybe he has a dream of his own.

And maybe black and white is not that simple.

2001 Notable Children's Books (ALA), 2001 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Children's Books 2000-NY Public Lib., and Bulletin Blue Ribbon Best of 2000 Award