Michael Chabon’s Summerland is a whimsical yet profound fantasy novel that blends American folklore, baseball mythology, and coming-of-age adventure into a modern fairy tale. The story follows Ethan Feld, a shy and unathletic boy living on Clam Island, Washington, who is unexpectedly recruited by a mystical scout to be a hero in the Summerlands—a magical realm where the fate of worlds hinges on a baseball tournament.
As Ethan navigates this strange, patchwork world (populated by talking animals, ferish giants, and trickster figures like Coyote), he leads a ragtag team of players—including a werefox girl and a sasquatch—against the sinister Coyote and his minions, who aim to unravel the fabric of reality by poisoning the World Tree. Chabon weaves in elements of Native American legend, Norse mythology, and American tall tales, creating a narrative that’s as much about the magic of storytelling as it is about saving the universe.
At its heart, Summerland is a love letter to childhood resilience, the bonds of friendship, and the timeless allure of baseball as a metaphor for life’s unpredictable triumphs and losses.
“A sandlot game where the stakes are the cosmos—and the real victory is finding your place in it.”
In this cherished modern classic, the New York Times best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author brings his masterful storytelling, dexterous plotting, and singularly envisioned characters to a coming-of-age novel for listeners of all ages.
