Nomar Garciaparra High 5!

O'Connell throws one of the first pitches in the publisher's new Baseball SuperStar Series with a straightforward account of the career of this New York Yankees shortstop. Jeter was born not far from Yankee Stadium, in Pequannock, N.J., but his professional life began in 1992, when the then recent Kalamazoo, Mich., high-school graduate realized a dream: he was drafted in the first round by the Yankees. O'Connell incorporates copious statistics and many previously published or aired quotes as he offers a year-by-year chronicle of Jeter's on-field performance. Youngsters who are more comfortable holding a baseball bat than a book will appreciate the brisk pace of the writing. This brief biography offers a solid portrait of a spunky yet humble ball player (who personally responds to fan mail on a daily basis) and numerous high-quality photos of Jeter in action. Diehard fans can pore over the concluding statistics, including a game-by-game breakdown of Jeter's performance during the Yankees' World Series-winning 1998 season. On deck for release this month are Bernie Williams: Quiet Superstar; Nomar Garciaparra: High 5!; Juan Gonzalez: Juan Gone!; Ken Griffey, Jr: The Home Run Kid; Randy Johnson: Arizona Heat!; Mike Piazza: Mike and the Mets; Omar Vizquel: The Man with the Golden Glove; and Larry Walker: Colorado Hit Man! Ages 8-13. (Aug.)