Characters
Who is the main character of Hard Ball?
Who is Ben?
What challenge does Ben face at the start of the book?
What is being cut from the baseball team?
What is a major theme of Hard Ball?
What is perseverance?
Where does Hard Ball take place?
Where is rural Minnesota?
What does "perseverance" mean?
What is continuing to try despite difficulties?
What sport does Ben Play?
What is Baseball?
How does Ben’s attitude toward baseball change during the story?
How he becomes more confident and dedicated.
How is friendship portrayed in the story?
As a source of support and loyalty.
What time of year is most important in the book?
What is baseball season?
Define "teamwork."
What is working together to achieve a goal?
Which character is Ben’s coach?
Who is Coach Hattala?
What important event happens during the big game?
What is Ben’s key performance or turning point?
What does the story suggest about winning and losing?
That character and effort matter more than winning.
How does the setting affect Ben’s baseball experience?
The small-town environment influences community support and challenges.
What does "coach" mean in the context of the book?
Who is the person who trains and leads the team?
Who is Ben’s best friend?
Who is Ed?
How does Ben deal with peer pressure?
By staying true to himself and his values.
How does the book explore the idea of family?
Through Ben’s relationship with his father and his home life.
What role does the baseball field play in the story?
It’s a place of learning and rivalry.
What does "peer pressure" mean?
What is feeling influenced by friends to do something?
What role does Ben’s father play in the story?
Who is a supportive father struggling with personal issues?
What lesson does Ben learn by the end of the book?
The importance of teamwork and believing in himself
What does Hard Ball say about growing up?
It’s about facing challenges and learning from them.
How does the setting reflect the themes of the book?
It shows simplicity, hard work, and close community ties.
Define "resilience" as shown by Ben.
What is the ability to recover from setbacks?