At the beginning of Never Blame the Umpire (Zonderkidz, Spring 2010), eleven-year-old Kate is having the best summer a kid could have: playing baseball, trying tennis, and exploring a brand new love – poetry. But when her mother is suddenly diagnosed with cancer, where can she turn? Do sports or poetry matter when tragedy strikes? In Kate's darkest hour, her mother's faith shines its brightest, helping Kate to see that life is still beautiful and God is still good.