MrsK Books: Playing By Heart by Anne Mateer

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Playing By Heart by Anne Mateer

ISBN: 9780764210655

Publisher Synopsis:

With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Lula doesn’t even consider those real subjects!

Determined to prove herself, Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys’ coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She’s returning to college and her scholarship as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.
However, the more time she spends around Jewel’s family, the girls’ basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula comes to realize what she’s given up in her single-minded pursuit of degree after degree. God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look a lot different than she’d expected.
- See more at: http://www.annemateer.com/books/playing-by-heart/#sthash.ZhJ8qfvM.dpuf

Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But then a shocking phone call from her sister, Jewel, changes everything.

With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Lula doesn't even consider those real subjects!

Determined to prove herself, Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She's returning to college and her scholarship as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.

However, the more time she spends around Jewel's family, the girls' basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula comes to realize what she's given up in her single-minded pursuit of degree after degree. God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look a lot different than she'd expected.

MrsK's Review:

As an educator, I knew I had to take this journey with Lula:

"I sucked in a breath, my back snapping as straight as a lob-lolly pine,

my cheeks stinging hot.

Not a new slur, to be sure,

but no student had yet dared be insolent to my face."

Meet Lula a newly hired Mathematician for an Oklahoma university. Her hopes were high, her frustrations with certain students would not stand in her way. She was planted firm in her position and faith, that is until the untimely death of her brother in law. What she thought would be a trip home unfolds into a new path. Does God really want her to leave her college position, her father's joy in one child becoming a professor? Just as her goals were in sight... her family would challenge her determination.

Just because Lula is the youngest, unmarried, and "free" to move home to help her older sister Jewel raise her children... does that mean it is what she should do? Why would God request her to become the organist at their church? Why would the local high school be in need of a music teacher? All Lula knows is that she must follow God's lead, especially when:

"Her heart felt shredded, like a piece of silk beneath unwieldy scissors... I knew I'd chosen correctly."

As Lula chooses to walk through the opened doors of the high school, she has hopes that maybe she could switch job positions with the math instructor:

"Principal Gray, perhaps you have a more qualified music teacher already on staff? I'd be happy to switch places..."

"I have no other options for a music teacher, Miss Bowman. God obviously sent you to fill this spot...

Actually, the position does come with another responsibility..."

Never did Lula expect that she would be teaching music let alone be the girl's basketball coach. She knew nothing about sports, would a manual really help give her enough insight for these girls? Will she need someone to help her make sense of the game?

Meet Chet, a man who has stayed at home instead of enlisting in the service. With one son already shipped out, he knew his place was in taking care of his mother. As a high school math teacher and boy's basketball coach he has the perfect plan for getting a gymnasium built for their school, their students, and their community. What he could use is a bit of help for a few of his players.

"A bell clanged inside the building... I charged inside, determined to reach my classroom before the final student did.

I glanced over at Giles. his eyes went wide. 'Look out!' I slammed into something. Someone."

Once Lula begins her music position, she realizes that "teaching students to recognize the arrangement of notes on the page was similar to teaching mathematical formulas." What would prove beyond her grasp would be guiding the girl's passion for the game on the floor. For that Lula will need to make a deal with Chet. A deal that is only about basketball moves and math tutoring... or is it?

"I've often had to stand on the firm ground of my convictions when others thought I ought to be doing differently."

Can Lula open her heart and learn about the true treasures that are being offered or will her convictions keep God's offerings out of her grasp? With a storyline that is meshed between two characters, you will find a delightful glimpse into this couple's world. Their community is filled with endearing characters both young and old. The setting is at a time when such hardships of war caused so many to feel that hope would never return. Each and every detail is completely crafted to ensure a joyful excursion beyond your daily hustle and bustle.

If you are ready for a quiet retreat, don't overlook this journey with Lula,

MrsK

A journey's break worth taking. Lula's story will delight the Book To Dine book Club!

Anne Mateer is a three-time Genesis Contest finalist who has long had a passion for history and historical fiction. She and her husband live near Dallas, Texas, and are the parents of three young adults.

"I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review."

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/miracle-in-a-dry-season/349651

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)