The Rule of Three

When the rules no longer apply, how do you keep your head in the game? Wyatt has a three-part Plan for Life, and it starts now, at the beginning of seventh grade, with tryouts for his local travel baseball team. A biracial kid in a mostly white town, he’s always felt like a bit of an outsider. The baseball field is the only place where he feels like he truly belongs. If he can just make the team, everything else will fall into place: school, friends, even his relationship with his often-distant dad. But after upsetting incidents at tryouts, something inexplicable happens: wisps of smoke form around Wyatt. As Wyatt tries to figure out what’s causing this mysterious smoke and how to control it, he discovers it’s connected to a painful family history. The more he learns, the more Wyatt begins to question the rules he’s always followed to fit in. With tensions rising at school and on the field, can he face the injustices of the past while keeping his cool in the present?

About the Author :
Heather Murphy Capps grew up in a small Minnesota town where the motto is "Cows, Colleges, and Contentment." She spent fifteen years as a television news journalist before deciding to focus on her favorite kind of writing: books for kids involving history, social justice, science, mystery, and a touch of magic. A mixed-race author committed to diversity in publishing, she lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, two kids, two cats, and yes, even some cows, colleges, and contentment.

Review :
"The author's willingness to tackle difficult topics with thoughtfulness and compassion makes this compelling novel a must-read. Readers will connect to Wyatt's strife and journey of self-discovery. This book belongs in all middle school libraries; it deftly discusses important histories and hot topics facing young readers today."—starred, School Library Journal "This book deals with heavy topics incredibly well. Children deal with microaggressions and systemic racism regularly. The author brings these up naturally in the story and purposefully shows their impact. . . The book would be excellent in schools to stimulate conversation with students and teachers regarding cultural responsiveness. Reviewer Rating: 5"—Children's Literature "Wyatt's voice is authentic and nuanced; his frustrations will resonate with middle grade readers who see the injustices around them and struggle to control their own emotions. A good SEL angle within a prose novel featuring social justice and sports appeal for readers who enjoy Mike Lupica, Kwame Mbalia, and B.B. Alston."—Booklist "Capps incorporates real-life events—as discussed in an author's note—to tell an illuminating tale that utilizes a physical manifestation of trauma to effectively demonstrate the compounding results of racism across generations."—Publishers Weekly "Heather Murphy Capps has written another powerful, well-researched, insightful book, and Wyatt's authentic voice shines through as a hero you can't help but cheer on."—Isi Hendrix, Author of Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans