Ace on the Hill

By: JC Wesslen

Narrated by: Luke Welland

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Ace on the Hill tells the story of Jayson (“Jay”) Zimmerman, an imaginative yet impressionable young man who's more familiar with moving trucks and boxes than the confines of any home he's lived in. The stakes are even higher when his family relocates to suburban Boston in the spring of 1975: Jay is about to become a teenager.

Despite the awkwardness of adolescence, Jay settles into his new environment on Moss Hill Road, hanging out with new pals at their makeshift ball field. He forms a brotherly bond with the group’s ringleader, Paul, in particular, and vows allegiance to all things Boston…especially the surging Red Sox. Soon, however, life throws Jay one curveball after another--his first crush, peer pressure, family secrets, and loss. Instead of being sustained by the cornerstones of family and faith, Jay becomes cynical as he witnesses the darker side of human nature time and again.

As he wonders how he fits in and where he’s headed, a familiar face sparks his passion. The budding romance gives Jay clarity and purpose. Most importantly, it reconnects him with his first love: baseball. A young adult at last—he realizes his future is in his own hands—and he makes a stand for all that matters to him. In the game of his life, even before he takes the mound (“hill”) Jay has found home.

©2023 Jon C Wesslen (P)2023 Jon C Wesslen

Great Book about Growing Up!

“Ace on the Hill” is a book that really gets what it feels like to grow up. It took me back to my own childhood, even though the story happens before I was born. It’s all about those big moments when you start to see your parents differently, realizing they have their own problems too. And it doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff, like how hard it is to fit in with friends or how confusing it can be to have a crush for the first time.

Reading this book and listening to the audiobook made the story even more special. The person who reads the book out loud does an amazing job, making the characters and their feelings seem real. It’s like you’re right there with them, going through it all.

I’d definitely tell anyone to check out “Ace on the Hill.” It’s a story that feels true to life and really shows what it’s like to grow up. Whether you read it or listen to it, it’s a story that sticks with you because it’s so real and touching.