Paul Volponi's Blog
April 28, 2023
A behind the scenes glimpse at my newly co-authored-- The 32 Principles: Harnessing the Power of Jiu-jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships and Life.
The Chameleon-like Power of the Writer
Ever want to grapple alongside one of the Gracies? That’s right, the family who invented the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is an incredible sport, an essential part of today’s mixed martial arts (MMA), and a superb self-defense system. Well, that’s the interesting thing about being a writer: You never know exactly which literary door is going to open next or where you’ll suddenly find yourself.
As a journalist and author, I’ve picked up my pen alongside jockeys who’ve won the Kentucky Derby, taking the ride with them as they motivate a 1,500-pound Thoroughbred to reach for the wire through the final furlong beneath the twin spires of Churchill Downs. I’ve recounted the experiences of people who rode out Hurricane Katrina through the darkness and mayhem of the Superdome. And I’ve walked the dangerous and overcrowded halls of Rikers Island, the world’s largest jail, transcribing that too-often-told story about one regretful moment forever impacting someone’s life. So when I signed with BenBella Books to co-author a book with famed jiu-jitsu instructor Rener Gracie on bringing the immense positives of jiu-jitsu into the daily lives of non-martial artists, I understood that once again I needed to morph into the type of experience-sharing chameleon that only a writer can seemingly become.
Before the project became a reality at BenBella, I had bumped into Rener Gracie on-line and asked about writing something specifically on him and the Gracie lineage. Rener, however, had a different idea in mind. He was intently focused on turning his bestselling video series The 32 Principles, which he developed with his brother, Ryron, into a book. He sent me a link, and I sat down to watch it. I understood that this would be a supreme challenge for me as a writer. Though I had diligently studied martial arts for more than a decade, I had never taken a single lesson in jiu-jitsu. Despite the video series being aimed at jiu-jitsu practitioners, the principles therein were incredibly universal, lending themselves to nearly every aspect of daily life. I felt completely comfortable with them, and I sensed that Rener and I could eventually create that same feeling for readers, no matter their martial arts IQ.
I sat down to interview Rener a total of 32 times, and he didn’t disappoint. He dug exceptionally deeply into his personal life to communicate a relevant story for each of the principles covered in the book, which would eventually be titled The 32 Principles: Harnessing the Power of Jiu-jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships and Life. Rener was a touchingly open book about the passing of his beloved mother, explaining how the Detachment Principle allowed his closest circle of family to let her go in peace. He spoke about how the Clock Principle allowed him to connect with a young student who suffered from severe anxiety issues, and sat in the backseat of his mom’s car with the teen, waiting as long as was necessary for the moment of calm in an emotional storm, in order to escort him into Rener’s jiu-jitsu school for the first time. The instructor also recounted the stories of several middle school and high school students across the country who had been the victims of senseless, unprovoked violence, sharing how he and his brother brought many of those students and their families to California for a week to learn jiu-jitsu, leaning on the Momentum Principle that the events in your life, even traumatic ones, can lead you to a new and positive open door.
During the course of the writing, it became my passion to make this burgeoning book even more inclusive by gaining outside perspectives. So I set out to find contributors—some famous, some not, but all extraordinary—who had used these same principles to scale the mountains in their own lives. I was extremely thankful to interview 2x-Olympic Gold Medal winner Kayla Harrison, who as a teen suffered sexual abuse by a former coach and formed a foundation to help others who have been victimized. That was followed by an interview with blind Paralympian Maria Liana Mutia, whose use of the arts helped her to define the boundaries of her constantly changing surroundings, and pro bowler Anthony Pepe, who had recently made the decision to publicly acknowledge his sexuality.
In all, over 40 incredible individuals agreed to illustrate their use of these principles. They include Seinfeld actor Larry Thomas (a.k.a. The Soup Nazi), legendary pool player Allison Fisher, poker star Maria Ho, champion jockey Julie Krone, jazz drummer Peter Erskine, famed martial artist Ron Van Clief, twin sisters and Iditarod competitors Anna and Kristy Berington, glass ceiling-breaking athlete and scholar Dr. AnnaMaria DeMars (Rhonda Rousey’s mom), and youth counselor Shel Simon, who demonstrated the Ratchet Principle by gaining credits for his degree one night class at a time while working 10-hour days as a single parent, and ultimately securing his dream job of helping struggling teens on the streets of Baltimore.
In fact, the jiu-jitsu principles that Rener and his brother identified were so classical in nature, being long recognized as the building blocks of a balanced life, that historical parallels found their way into our project.
That process began with Thurgood Marshall’s associative use of the Posture Principle in upsetting the opposing side’s foundational theory in Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka. As a lawyer arguing in front of the Supreme Court, a body on which Marshall would later serve himself, Marshall argued that the notion of “separate but equal” was inherently unequal, exposing a fragile fault-line that eventually brought down segregated schooling.
Michael J. Fox’s reflective words, “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations,” clearly illustrated the Acceptance Principle. A decade into battling Parkinson’s and serving as a beacon in shining a light on that debilitating disease, Fox appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, handing Larry David an exploding can of soda that had been shaken by his tremors, and sharing a hearty laugh with us all.
Many other luminaries including Henry Matisse, Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Helen Keller, Frank Lloyd Wright and Bruce Lee also found their way into the text, as well as pieces and sidebars on the etymology of martial arts, the dualism of Yin and Yang, and the evolution of the colored belt system from white to black.
As a total differentiator, Rener and his brother created a short video for each chapter (accessed with a QR code via a cellphone camera) demonstrating how these synergistic principles are actually used in self-defense scenarios.
This is how a journey worth experiencing comes together. The creative doors are flung open without fear, with any trace of self-doubt being (for the most part) swallowed up by a belief in the literary/journalistic tenant that writers possess the chameleon-like ability to perfectly blend, morph and immerse themselves into their ever-changing surroundings.
Several days after Rener Gracie and I completed the jiu-jitsu manuscript, I learned that I’d be writing the biography (excuse me, fun-ography) of SpongeBob SquarePants, and sitting down for an extended interview with the voice of that happy, yellow, porous protagonist, Tom Kenny. As I watched a myriad of SpongeBob episodes to ready myself for the new journey, the writer in me, waiting to suddenly shape-shift again, began chanting the iconic character’s catchphrase, I’m ready! I’m ready!
The 32 Principles: Harnessing The Power of Jiu-jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships, and Life. Rener Gracie (Author) Paul Volponi (Author) Foreword by Jocko Willink will be published by BenBella Books in August of 2023.
Ever want to grapple alongside one of the Gracies? That’s right, the family who invented the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is an incredible sport, an essential part of today’s mixed martial arts (MMA), and a superb self-defense system. Well, that’s the interesting thing about being a writer: You never know exactly which literary door is going to open next or where you’ll suddenly find yourself.
As a journalist and author, I’ve picked up my pen alongside jockeys who’ve won the Kentucky Derby, taking the ride with them as they motivate a 1,500-pound Thoroughbred to reach for the wire through the final furlong beneath the twin spires of Churchill Downs. I’ve recounted the experiences of people who rode out Hurricane Katrina through the darkness and mayhem of the Superdome. And I’ve walked the dangerous and overcrowded halls of Rikers Island, the world’s largest jail, transcribing that too-often-told story about one regretful moment forever impacting someone’s life. So when I signed with BenBella Books to co-author a book with famed jiu-jitsu instructor Rener Gracie on bringing the immense positives of jiu-jitsu into the daily lives of non-martial artists, I understood that once again I needed to morph into the type of experience-sharing chameleon that only a writer can seemingly become.
Before the project became a reality at BenBella, I had bumped into Rener Gracie on-line and asked about writing something specifically on him and the Gracie lineage. Rener, however, had a different idea in mind. He was intently focused on turning his bestselling video series The 32 Principles, which he developed with his brother, Ryron, into a book. He sent me a link, and I sat down to watch it. I understood that this would be a supreme challenge for me as a writer. Though I had diligently studied martial arts for more than a decade, I had never taken a single lesson in jiu-jitsu. Despite the video series being aimed at jiu-jitsu practitioners, the principles therein were incredibly universal, lending themselves to nearly every aspect of daily life. I felt completely comfortable with them, and I sensed that Rener and I could eventually create that same feeling for readers, no matter their martial arts IQ.
I sat down to interview Rener a total of 32 times, and he didn’t disappoint. He dug exceptionally deeply into his personal life to communicate a relevant story for each of the principles covered in the book, which would eventually be titled The 32 Principles: Harnessing the Power of Jiu-jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships and Life. Rener was a touchingly open book about the passing of his beloved mother, explaining how the Detachment Principle allowed his closest circle of family to let her go in peace. He spoke about how the Clock Principle allowed him to connect with a young student who suffered from severe anxiety issues, and sat in the backseat of his mom’s car with the teen, waiting as long as was necessary for the moment of calm in an emotional storm, in order to escort him into Rener’s jiu-jitsu school for the first time. The instructor also recounted the stories of several middle school and high school students across the country who had been the victims of senseless, unprovoked violence, sharing how he and his brother brought many of those students and their families to California for a week to learn jiu-jitsu, leaning on the Momentum Principle that the events in your life, even traumatic ones, can lead you to a new and positive open door.
During the course of the writing, it became my passion to make this burgeoning book even more inclusive by gaining outside perspectives. So I set out to find contributors—some famous, some not, but all extraordinary—who had used these same principles to scale the mountains in their own lives. I was extremely thankful to interview 2x-Olympic Gold Medal winner Kayla Harrison, who as a teen suffered sexual abuse by a former coach and formed a foundation to help others who have been victimized. That was followed by an interview with blind Paralympian Maria Liana Mutia, whose use of the arts helped her to define the boundaries of her constantly changing surroundings, and pro bowler Anthony Pepe, who had recently made the decision to publicly acknowledge his sexuality.
In all, over 40 incredible individuals agreed to illustrate their use of these principles. They include Seinfeld actor Larry Thomas (a.k.a. The Soup Nazi), legendary pool player Allison Fisher, poker star Maria Ho, champion jockey Julie Krone, jazz drummer Peter Erskine, famed martial artist Ron Van Clief, twin sisters and Iditarod competitors Anna and Kristy Berington, glass ceiling-breaking athlete and scholar Dr. AnnaMaria DeMars (Rhonda Rousey’s mom), and youth counselor Shel Simon, who demonstrated the Ratchet Principle by gaining credits for his degree one night class at a time while working 10-hour days as a single parent, and ultimately securing his dream job of helping struggling teens on the streets of Baltimore.
In fact, the jiu-jitsu principles that Rener and his brother identified were so classical in nature, being long recognized as the building blocks of a balanced life, that historical parallels found their way into our project.
That process began with Thurgood Marshall’s associative use of the Posture Principle in upsetting the opposing side’s foundational theory in Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka. As a lawyer arguing in front of the Supreme Court, a body on which Marshall would later serve himself, Marshall argued that the notion of “separate but equal” was inherently unequal, exposing a fragile fault-line that eventually brought down segregated schooling.
Michael J. Fox’s reflective words, “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations,” clearly illustrated the Acceptance Principle. A decade into battling Parkinson’s and serving as a beacon in shining a light on that debilitating disease, Fox appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, handing Larry David an exploding can of soda that had been shaken by his tremors, and sharing a hearty laugh with us all.
Many other luminaries including Henry Matisse, Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Helen Keller, Frank Lloyd Wright and Bruce Lee also found their way into the text, as well as pieces and sidebars on the etymology of martial arts, the dualism of Yin and Yang, and the evolution of the colored belt system from white to black.
As a total differentiator, Rener and his brother created a short video for each chapter (accessed with a QR code via a cellphone camera) demonstrating how these synergistic principles are actually used in self-defense scenarios.
This is how a journey worth experiencing comes together. The creative doors are flung open without fear, with any trace of self-doubt being (for the most part) swallowed up by a belief in the literary/journalistic tenant that writers possess the chameleon-like ability to perfectly blend, morph and immerse themselves into their ever-changing surroundings.
Several days after Rener Gracie and I completed the jiu-jitsu manuscript, I learned that I’d be writing the biography (excuse me, fun-ography) of SpongeBob SquarePants, and sitting down for an extended interview with the voice of that happy, yellow, porous protagonist, Tom Kenny. As I watched a myriad of SpongeBob episodes to ready myself for the new journey, the writer in me, waiting to suddenly shape-shift again, began chanting the iconic character’s catchphrase, I’m ready! I’m ready!
The 32 Principles: Harnessing The Power of Jiu-jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships, and Life. Rener Gracie (Author) Paul Volponi (Author) Foreword by Jocko Willink will be published by BenBella Books in August of 2023.
October 22, 2022
A Ceiling-Shattering Woman
I'm incredibly pleased to have co-authored a biography, along with famed Kentucky reporter Lenny Shulman, on the dynamic Phyllis George. It's entitled Phyllis George: Shattering the Ceiling (published by the Press of the University of Kentucky).
After winning the Miss America title in 1970, Phyllis became the subject of social scorn by the Woman's Lib Movement. Several years later, however, she became their unexpected heroine when she shattered the glass ceiling to become the first woman network sportscaster on CBS' The NFL Today.
We spoke to over 75 friends and co-workers of Phyllis to draw an amazing picture of her life--triumphs and tragedies. We believe the book is a revealing reflection of our society from the 1970's to today. And we're thankful that in just a few weeks since its publication, the narrative text is already in nearly 200 college libraries, including Princeton, Yale, Cornell and McGill (in Canada).
I hope you'll have the chance to read it and gives us feedback on our presentation of Phyllis' extraordinary life.
After winning the Miss America title in 1970, Phyllis became the subject of social scorn by the Woman's Lib Movement. Several years later, however, she became their unexpected heroine when she shattered the glass ceiling to become the first woman network sportscaster on CBS' The NFL Today.
We spoke to over 75 friends and co-workers of Phyllis to draw an amazing picture of her life--triumphs and tragedies. We believe the book is a revealing reflection of our society from the 1970's to today. And we're thankful that in just a few weeks since its publication, the narrative text is already in nearly 200 college libraries, including Princeton, Yale, Cornell and McGill (in Canada).
I hope you'll have the chance to read it and gives us feedback on our presentation of Phyllis' extraordinary life.
October 4, 2020
New Book--Streetball is Life
I'm really pleased to have this memoir of my summer as a 17-year-old, committed to becoming a NYC streetballer. besides the non-fiction narrative, it teaches athletes that all they learn from playing any sport will help them later on in life. I look back at the skills I honed on a basketball court--communication, independence, conflict-resolution and I know every second spent on the asphalt was worth it. Here's a summary of the book. I believe your reluctant readers will especially be glued to its pages. --Paul
From award-winning young adult author Paul Volponi comes the true story of his unforgettable summer spent proving himself as a legitimate New York City streetballer, only later discovering that he had gained a set of skills that would enhance his life off the court, as well.
During the sweltering summer of seventeen-year-old Paul Volponi’s life, he had only one goal—he wanted, no, needed to become a legitimate and respected New York City street basketball player. It was a passion that consumed him night and day, and at times even isolated him from his friends and family. So he entered through the gates of the Proving Ground, the roughest streetball yard in the city. It was a place where the fouls resembled felonies, and the atmosphere mirrored that of the Roman Coliseum more than Madison Square Garden. It was where teens and adults contested pickup games with a ferocity seemingly greater than that of the NBA Finals. The Proving Ground was a difficult place to cultivate friendships and an easy environment to make enemies.
This is the story of Paul’s summer-long initiation at the Proving Ground. It is truly a streetball testament of a teenager who wanted more than anything else to earn his stripes in streetball society. Only what he didn’t understand at the time was that this experience would deliver to him, as it does today for so many young adults, a set of skills that would enhance his life far beyond the boundaries of a basketball court.
From award-winning young adult author Paul Volponi comes the true story of his unforgettable summer spent proving himself as a legitimate New York City streetballer, only later discovering that he had gained a set of skills that would enhance his life off the court, as well.
During the sweltering summer of seventeen-year-old Paul Volponi’s life, he had only one goal—he wanted, no, needed to become a legitimate and respected New York City street basketball player. It was a passion that consumed him night and day, and at times even isolated him from his friends and family. So he entered through the gates of the Proving Ground, the roughest streetball yard in the city. It was a place where the fouls resembled felonies, and the atmosphere mirrored that of the Roman Coliseum more than Madison Square Garden. It was where teens and adults contested pickup games with a ferocity seemingly greater than that of the NBA Finals. The Proving Ground was a difficult place to cultivate friendships and an easy environment to make enemies.
This is the story of Paul’s summer-long initiation at the Proving Ground. It is truly a streetball testament of a teenager who wanted more than anything else to earn his stripes in streetball society. Only what he didn’t understand at the time was that this experience would deliver to him, as it does today for so many young adults, a set of skills that would enhance his life far beyond the boundaries of a basketball court.
July 8, 2019
Totally proud of my new book. After 12 novels, it's my first non-fiction title.
It took my nearly 15 years to write That's My Team: The History, Science and Fun behind Sports Teams' Names. This totally original idea for a text is finally here, and for me, it was worth the wait and research that went into it.
That's My Team will be published in mid-August (Rowman and Littlefield). I believe readers from 6th to 12th grade will devour its pages. The book tells you how all of our sports teams--pro and college, in every sport--received their nicknames. In doing so, the text teaches a wide range of subjects such as literature, history, science and other cultures. The August Issue of VOYA Magazine will feature a 3,500 word article about the book and its genesis.
Below is a synopsis from the book jacket (And I was so pleased to get Chris Cruther, Hall of Fame basketball player Ann Myers, ESPN's Bob Ryan and author Paul Griffin to supply testimonial blurbs for it).
How did author Edgar Allen Poe influence the naming of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens? What major historical events inspired the naming of the Philadelphia 76ers, San Francisco 49ers, and Oklahoma Sooners? And what caused the NBA's Washington Bullets to change their name to the Wizards? In That's My Team! The History, Science, and Fun behind Sports Teams' Names, Paul Volponi shares the answers to these questions and more. Leading readers on a fast-paced journey through different parts of the United States and the world, Volponi reveals fascinating pieces of information on pop culture, history, science, literature, and a slew of other subjects through the lens of sports. While examining how teams from a variety of sports received their names, he also includes segments on Native Americans, minorities overcoming prejudice, and the growth of women's sports. That's My Team! features fifteen challenges that test the knowledge readers have gained through the chapters, while three "timeouts" provide readers with opportunities to create meaningful names for their own brand new sports teams. Both reluctant and sports-crazed readers, teens and preteens alike, will find this book an exciting way to learn about a variety of subjects through their favorite sports teams.
I hope you will take the time to read it and share it with your teens and pre-teens. It will also be a great addition to any school or public library.--Paul
That's My Team will be published in mid-August (Rowman and Littlefield). I believe readers from 6th to 12th grade will devour its pages. The book tells you how all of our sports teams--pro and college, in every sport--received their nicknames. In doing so, the text teaches a wide range of subjects such as literature, history, science and other cultures. The August Issue of VOYA Magazine will feature a 3,500 word article about the book and its genesis.
Below is a synopsis from the book jacket (And I was so pleased to get Chris Cruther, Hall of Fame basketball player Ann Myers, ESPN's Bob Ryan and author Paul Griffin to supply testimonial blurbs for it).
How did author Edgar Allen Poe influence the naming of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens? What major historical events inspired the naming of the Philadelphia 76ers, San Francisco 49ers, and Oklahoma Sooners? And what caused the NBA's Washington Bullets to change their name to the Wizards? In That's My Team! The History, Science, and Fun behind Sports Teams' Names, Paul Volponi shares the answers to these questions and more. Leading readers on a fast-paced journey through different parts of the United States and the world, Volponi reveals fascinating pieces of information on pop culture, history, science, literature, and a slew of other subjects through the lens of sports. While examining how teams from a variety of sports received their names, he also includes segments on Native Americans, minorities overcoming prejudice, and the growth of women's sports. That's My Team! features fifteen challenges that test the knowledge readers have gained through the chapters, while three "timeouts" provide readers with opportunities to create meaningful names for their own brand new sports teams. Both reluctant and sports-crazed readers, teens and preteens alike, will find this book an exciting way to learn about a variety of subjects through their favorite sports teams.
I hope you will take the time to read it and share it with your teens and pre-teens. It will also be a great addition to any school or public library.--Paul
June 19, 2015
My podcsat appearance on Let's Get Busy
Matthew Winner (he really is) is a great librarian who likes to share conversations. I was recently his guest on his 161st episode of his podcast Let's Get Busy (about books and other things). Here's the link to my episode if you'd like to hear it, as well as all of the other great conversations Matthew has had with authors and illustrators.
http://lgbpodcast.blogspot.com/…/06/p...
Great job, Matthew. Thanks --Paul
http://lgbpodcast.blogspot.com/…/06/p...
Great job, Matthew. Thanks --Paul
April 9, 2015
New YA Novel "Game Seven" by Paul Volponi
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Paul Volponi added 2 new photos.
March 10 at 9:22pm ·
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Okay, here's how my new novel Game Seven (about baseball, naturally) was born. Thanks to everyone for all the texts and e-mails expressing congrats on it's publication today--Paul
Some photographs are electrifying. Viewing one that particularly touches you can be like getting hit with a bolt of creative lightning, stirring feelings deep inside a writer’s heart and imagination. That’s how my latest young adult novel, Game Seven, was inspired. I saw a photo of a green 1959 Buick floating into Key West, Florida. It had been transformed into a car/boat by Cuban refugees who were willing to risk their lives on a 90-mile journey to freedom on the open sea. The vision of the young men sitting on the car’s roof completely captivated me. I wanted to write the story of how they’d arrived at that moment, or at least my vision of how it happened.
I had long been moved by the flight of Cuban baseball players defecting to the US to play in our Major Leagues. A handful of them, such as Yasiel Puig (LA Dodgers), Yoenis Cespedes (Detroit Tigers), and Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox), sign lucrative contracts and become big-leaguers. But all of them, all-stars or not, leave behind loved ones in less desirable circumstances. And those loved ones often pay the price for that defection, being mistreated by an angered and embarrassed Cuban government. Game Seven is about someone who was left behind—a son now grown-up and escaping to the US to find his famous baseball-playing father.
Julio Ramirez Jr. was 10 years old when his father, Cuba’s great pitcher, defected while playing for the Cuban National team during an exhibition in the States. Now, 16, Julio Jr. is considered Cuba’s best young shortstop. However, he’s been told by baseball officials there that he’ll never receive a chance to play at the highest level, on Cuba’s National traveling team (The Nacionales), because of his father’s actions.
Was Julio’s Papi being a hero when he defected for freedom and baseball? Or was Papi being selfish, leaving Julio, his mother and younger sister in poverty, as he signed a multi-million dollar deal to pitch for the Miami Marlins?
"Back then, every kid I knew was jealous of me. That’s because baseball is practically a religion in my country. And Papi walked through the streets of our hometown, Matanzas, like a god, with me trailing behind him…Fans called him El Fuego—for his blazing fastball which no batter could touch. The only way Papi could have been more respected was if he’d been a general in the military or a high-ranking government official. But most of that respect would have come out of fear."
Set against the backdrop of the World Series, as the Marlins take on the Yankees, Julio must consider the same decision as Papi when a chance arises for him, along with his uncle and cousin, to defect in the transformed Buick.
I interviewed many native Cubans and researched the details of ocean defections to make Game Seven as realistic as possible. And I’m pleased to have this novel published at a time when the question of our relationship with Cuba is once again swirling in the winds of debate. --Paul Volponi
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Paul Volponi added 2 new photos.
March 10 at 9:22pm ·
.
Okay, here's how my new novel Game Seven (about baseball, naturally) was born. Thanks to everyone for all the texts and e-mails expressing congrats on it's publication today--Paul
Some photographs are electrifying. Viewing one that particularly touches you can be like getting hit with a bolt of creative lightning, stirring feelings deep inside a writer’s heart and imagination. That’s how my latest young adult novel, Game Seven, was inspired. I saw a photo of a green 1959 Buick floating into Key West, Florida. It had been transformed into a car/boat by Cuban refugees who were willing to risk their lives on a 90-mile journey to freedom on the open sea. The vision of the young men sitting on the car’s roof completely captivated me. I wanted to write the story of how they’d arrived at that moment, or at least my vision of how it happened.
I had long been moved by the flight of Cuban baseball players defecting to the US to play in our Major Leagues. A handful of them, such as Yasiel Puig (LA Dodgers), Yoenis Cespedes (Detroit Tigers), and Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox), sign lucrative contracts and become big-leaguers. But all of them, all-stars or not, leave behind loved ones in less desirable circumstances. And those loved ones often pay the price for that defection, being mistreated by an angered and embarrassed Cuban government. Game Seven is about someone who was left behind—a son now grown-up and escaping to the US to find his famous baseball-playing father.
Julio Ramirez Jr. was 10 years old when his father, Cuba’s great pitcher, defected while playing for the Cuban National team during an exhibition in the States. Now, 16, Julio Jr. is considered Cuba’s best young shortstop. However, he’s been told by baseball officials there that he’ll never receive a chance to play at the highest level, on Cuba’s National traveling team (The Nacionales), because of his father’s actions.
Was Julio’s Papi being a hero when he defected for freedom and baseball? Or was Papi being selfish, leaving Julio, his mother and younger sister in poverty, as he signed a multi-million dollar deal to pitch for the Miami Marlins?
"Back then, every kid I knew was jealous of me. That’s because baseball is practically a religion in my country. And Papi walked through the streets of our hometown, Matanzas, like a god, with me trailing behind him…Fans called him El Fuego—for his blazing fastball which no batter could touch. The only way Papi could have been more respected was if he’d been a general in the military or a high-ranking government official. But most of that respect would have come out of fear."
Set against the backdrop of the World Series, as the Marlins take on the Yankees, Julio must consider the same decision as Papi when a chance arises for him, along with his uncle and cousin, to defect in the transformed Buick.
I interviewed many native Cubans and researched the details of ocean defections to make Game Seven as realistic as possible. And I’m pleased to have this novel published at a time when the question of our relationship with Cuba is once again swirling in the winds of debate. --Paul Volponi
January 18, 2015
Riker High (Novel)
Yes, it’s absolutely true (as seen in my novel Rikers High), while teaching on Rikers Island I once handed a student there a Get Out of Jail Free card from a Monopoly game. We all smiled and laughed about it, until that student took the card to the captain on duty and presented it to him. In response, that captain literally kicked the student’s behind all the way back to his living quarters.
Over the last few months, with so many high schools and middle schools teaching Rikers High, I’ve received a lot of inquiries from teachers and students who’ve seen the articles in several New York newspapers questioning whether teenagers awaiting trial there are physically abused by correction officers.
Well, I was there almost every day from 1992 to 1998 teaching teens to read and write, go for high school credits, or study for the GED. I wrote the book Rikers High to give readers a look at what really happens to teens behind bars inside the world’s largest and most violent jail. Because I want you to believe this, and it’s an absolute fact—if you were to take your students on a tour of the jail, or if a political figure or advocacy group went through the place, they’d never see what really happens there day-to-day—they wouldn’t let you see it. They’d clean it up and sanitize it for you. The only way you can really see what happens to teens on Rikers is to work there, at which point you become a part of the scenery, and officers act in front of you as they normally would.
Now, am I contending that all COs are physically out-of-control with teens? No, I am not. I’ve probably seen an equal number of positive circumstances (CO’s getting a kid an old coat for the winter, or giving a heart-felt speech about what education means, or speaking to students about not spending their lives being incarcerated). But violence was a prominent means to control the kids there. Imagine having a CO open the door to your classroom and shove in a student who has just been slapped around. As a teacher, you’re expected to just ignore that and continue teaching (but that rarely happens). Remember, you can have a school inside of a jail. But you can’t make the jail part of the equation just disappear.
Here’s a real-life incident: a student who was angry about his report card grade from a teacher who didn’t even know his name (yes, there are report cards in jail and the students are mostly excited to receive them), balled up his fist to the teacher while standing about 15 feet away. As soon as the student did that, a CO punched him in the head for threatening a staff member. Unfortunately, the student hit his head on the door frame and cut himself. So now he had to go to the clinic for stitches. There was going to be paperwork and the officer couldn’t pretend that it never happened. What was the CO’s immediate problem? There was a mark on the student but no mark on that officer to justify the punch. So what happened? Well, the CO disappeared into a little room by himself, and then came back out with a swollen eye. He wrote a bogus report about how the student attacked him, and recruited a number of the students to sign it in return for extra phone time that night (the entire incident is detailed in the novel).
If you want to experience what life on Rikers Island is really like for teens, read Rikers High. I am very proud of it and the recognition it has received from the American Library Association (Quick Pick Top Ten, inspiring non-readers to read). The book is available in most public libraries around the US—Paul Volponi.
Check out author K.M Weiland talking about the novel on YouTube. She has an interesting take on it- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVmal...
Over the last few months, with so many high schools and middle schools teaching Rikers High, I’ve received a lot of inquiries from teachers and students who’ve seen the articles in several New York newspapers questioning whether teenagers awaiting trial there are physically abused by correction officers.
Well, I was there almost every day from 1992 to 1998 teaching teens to read and write, go for high school credits, or study for the GED. I wrote the book Rikers High to give readers a look at what really happens to teens behind bars inside the world’s largest and most violent jail. Because I want you to believe this, and it’s an absolute fact—if you were to take your students on a tour of the jail, or if a political figure or advocacy group went through the place, they’d never see what really happens there day-to-day—they wouldn’t let you see it. They’d clean it up and sanitize it for you. The only way you can really see what happens to teens on Rikers is to work there, at which point you become a part of the scenery, and officers act in front of you as they normally would.
Now, am I contending that all COs are physically out-of-control with teens? No, I am not. I’ve probably seen an equal number of positive circumstances (CO’s getting a kid an old coat for the winter, or giving a heart-felt speech about what education means, or speaking to students about not spending their lives being incarcerated). But violence was a prominent means to control the kids there. Imagine having a CO open the door to your classroom and shove in a student who has just been slapped around. As a teacher, you’re expected to just ignore that and continue teaching (but that rarely happens). Remember, you can have a school inside of a jail. But you can’t make the jail part of the equation just disappear.
Here’s a real-life incident: a student who was angry about his report card grade from a teacher who didn’t even know his name (yes, there are report cards in jail and the students are mostly excited to receive them), balled up his fist to the teacher while standing about 15 feet away. As soon as the student did that, a CO punched him in the head for threatening a staff member. Unfortunately, the student hit his head on the door frame and cut himself. So now he had to go to the clinic for stitches. There was going to be paperwork and the officer couldn’t pretend that it never happened. What was the CO’s immediate problem? There was a mark on the student but no mark on that officer to justify the punch. So what happened? Well, the CO disappeared into a little room by himself, and then came back out with a swollen eye. He wrote a bogus report about how the student attacked him, and recruited a number of the students to sign it in return for extra phone time that night (the entire incident is detailed in the novel).
If you want to experience what life on Rikers Island is really like for teens, read Rikers High. I am very proud of it and the recognition it has received from the American Library Association (Quick Pick Top Ten, inspiring non-readers to read). The book is available in most public libraries around the US—Paul Volponi.
Check out author K.M Weiland talking about the novel on YouTube. She has an interesting take on it- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVmal...
December 4, 2014
First getting published/school visit
Lots of high school librarians around the country have been asking me how students can begin to look at getting their work published. One way is a book called Writer’s Market, which gives the e-mail addresses of both agents and publishers, detailing the kind of work they represent and publish. The book also teaches how to write a short one-page query letter, introducing the writer and giving a short synopsis of the work. My main focus is YA novels, but I believe books such as Writer's Market (and there are many others on the shelves at bookstores) have editions for poets and songwriters as well. I’ve worked with lots of creative writing classes where the librarian brings in such a book, and several of the more ambitious student writers have fun sending out queries and waiting for a response. It could be an interesting learning experience for a class. And of course, aspiring adult writers can follow this model as well. Using a book like this is how I got the first of my 12 novels published.
In the classroom recently—I met an amazing group of young writers at Keene High School (home of the Blackbirds) in NH, thanks to the LMS there, Kelly Budd. They’re writing Sci-fi, realistic inner-city, teen love stories, and pieces bubbling with lots of societal issues. Just to name a few students among the many—Hannah, Megan, Emma, Lucas, James, Cooper, and Abbey really shined.
In the classroom recently—I met an amazing group of young writers at Keene High School (home of the Blackbirds) in NH, thanks to the LMS there, Kelly Budd. They’re writing Sci-fi, realistic inner-city, teen love stories, and pieces bubbling with lots of societal issues. Just to name a few students among the many—Hannah, Megan, Emma, Lucas, James, Cooper, and Abbey really shined.
December 1, 2014
Join me on Facebook as well--Paul
Hey Guys, be sure to join me on Facebook for lots of fun quizzes, questions, and comments relating to YA Lit, sports and other things, especially updates on the students, teachers, and librarians I visit around the country, both Via Skype and in-person--Paul Volponi
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-V...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-V...
June 7, 2011
Crossing Lines
I'm very proud of my new novel, Crossing Lines, which I believe makes a great anti-bullying statement. You can read the opening chapters at paulvolponibooks.com. And below is the review by Booklist--
"Told from the vantage point of the complicit bystander, Volponi’s latest novel is a moving story of bullying and courage. Adonis relishes his spot on the varsity football team and plays along with his teammates’ aggressive posturing. Alan, who is working through identity questions, comes to school in lipstick and dresses and soon finds himself in the team’s crosshairs. Escalating bullying culminates in a premeditated, violent public attack. Adonis’ intervention is too little, too late, and he tries to work his way through guilt and remorse to extend friendship and a genuine apology to Alan. Volponi’s characterizations verge on the stereotypical: Adonis’ father is a firefighter who reinforces his son’s macho contempt, and Alan’s father, an army recruiter, calls his son a disgrace. Yet by reinforcing many teens’ preconceptions about how the adults in their lives, and society in general, perceive and respond to questions of sexual identity, the author makes Adonis’ growth and breakthrough both plausible and powerful. This quickreading, tightly constructed novel will provoke substantive questions, making it a great choice for group discussion."
"Told from the vantage point of the complicit bystander, Volponi’s latest novel is a moving story of bullying and courage. Adonis relishes his spot on the varsity football team and plays along with his teammates’ aggressive posturing. Alan, who is working through identity questions, comes to school in lipstick and dresses and soon finds himself in the team’s crosshairs. Escalating bullying culminates in a premeditated, violent public attack. Adonis’ intervention is too little, too late, and he tries to work his way through guilt and remorse to extend friendship and a genuine apology to Alan. Volponi’s characterizations verge on the stereotypical: Adonis’ father is a firefighter who reinforces his son’s macho contempt, and Alan’s father, an army recruiter, calls his son a disgrace. Yet by reinforcing many teens’ preconceptions about how the adults in their lives, and society in general, perceive and respond to questions of sexual identity, the author makes Adonis’ growth and breakthrough both plausible and powerful. This quickreading, tightly constructed novel will provoke substantive questions, making it a great choice for group discussion."
