Jack Runchey, author of Asparagus! Robbie’s Quest to Make the Team was featured in the official highlight video of the LA Times Festival of Books, showcasing authors from Reading Glass Books. The video captures the heart of the event, authentic stories, emotional moments, and the shared love of literature. 

His novel follows Robbie, a ninth-grader chasing his dream of making the school baseball team while living with a disability. Set during the lead-up to the 2005 All-Star Game in Detroit, Robbie’s journey includes challenges with bullies, family tensions, and the struggle to fit in. His story takes a deeper turn when his grandmother shares a powerful family secret about a historic integrated baseball game held on their farm during segregation. Through setbacks and self-discovery, Robbie learns that baseball and life are about more than just winning. 

Jack Runchey is a retired high school English teacher with over four decades of experience. He’s also a Hall of Fame football coach and serves on the board of Eagle-Orzel Educational and Cultural Exchange, where he teaches summer literature and sports programs in Poland. Asparagus! is his first novel. 

Watch the full LA Times Festival of Books video here