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Ken White is a designer, writer, and producer of interactive and entertainment projects, print, television commercials, corporate communications, and new media for companies in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan, including Sony Corporation, Lucasfilm Ltd., Levi Strauss & Co., the E & J Gallo Winery, ABC Sports, KQED of San Francisco, Robert Mondavi Winery, and the Walt Disney Company.
He received his A.A. degree at Modesto Junior College, his B.A. and teaching credential at UC Davis, and his M.A. at San Francisco State University. He has taught mass communications and film appreciation at Modesto Junior College.
Born in Lathrop and raised in Modesto, California, he continues to live in his home town. He is married to Robin and has two adult step-sons, Tyler and Eric. He is the author of two novels, fourteen screenplays, one sitcom pilot, and one stage play. Most of his stories are about his home town and the Central Valley heartland.
Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite
Mikey Wright is obsessed with baseball. And he comes by it honestly. His father loves Mickey Mantle with such a passion that when he is diagnosed with cancer, Mikey is convinced that an afternoon of playing catch with his hero will cure the disease and bring his father back to him and his family. With this seed of an idea, Mikey devotes his time to making this happen. He writes letters to Mickey Mantle, tracks the baseball legend's whereabouts and schemes to put himself in the same place at the same time as his father’s hero. Even with this prominent theme, Ken White’s Getaway Day still manages to cover a fairly realistic story line that follows the life of a young teenager. Mikey is often the favorite victim of spoiled rich brat/bully, Teddy, who leads a group of ruffians known at school as the Elite Eight. As Michael and his friend Gary do their best to avoid any dealings with Teddy, Mikey’s resolve to ignore the hurtful effects of the school bully is chipped away daily, and their animosity finally comes to a heated climax with a surprising conclusion for Teddy.
I really enjoyed this story. Although written as a piece of fiction geared toward a younger reading audience, the author’s many references to historical landmark events kept the story line realistic without dragging down the action. My only negative criticism would have to be in regard to a paranormal-type episode that occurs during a road trip taken by Mikey, his aunt, and an elderly gentleman who encourages Mikey to never give up on his dream of delivering Mickey Mantle to his father.
