43 pages • 1 hour read
Dan GutmanHonus and Me
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1997A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
The Role of Sports in Shaping Personal and Societal Identity
Baseball is central to the novel. Through the game, Joe grows, matures, and finds purpose. The story demonstrates how sports inspire individuals and connect people across generations and time.
For Joe, baseball is a pivotal part of his identity. He knows everything about the game’s history, and has a passion for collecting baseball cards: “I may not have been a great hitter, but I knew more about cards than any kid around” (13). Joe’s magical connection to baseball cards is not just a feeling of awe, but literally magical, as he feels a strange tingling sensation when he touches them. For Joe, who struggles with family issues, teasing, and low self-esteem, baseball offers an escape and a way to cope with life’s difficulties. Challenges, such as Miss Young tearing up the Honus Wagner card, do not derail him from his passion. As he reveals: “I got over it. Soon I was haunting the baseball-card stores again” (89). His love for baseball and baseball cards is too strong to be diminished.
Baseball is not only important to Joe for the game itself but for the mentorship it provides in the form of Honus Wagner. Wagner becomes a role model for him. Through Wagner, Joe learns lessons that go far beyond the baseball field, allowing him to grow and mature. Joe sees parallels between himself and Wagner, noting their similar physical traits, like big ears and bowed legs, and how Wagner is also mocked by other players. In spite of his appearance, Wagner is an icon and hero, which shows Joe that his own physical traits are inconsequential. Wagner’s advice helps Joe build self-confidence: “The secret to bein’ a great ballplayer […] is to trick yourself into thinkin’ you already are one” (34).
By the end of the story, Joe has grown stronger. He has learned to ignore insults and stay focused during a baseball game: “They were hollering some really rude remarks, but I felt completely calm as I settled in the batter’s box” (87). Baseball becomes more than a pastime—it’s a key to Joe’s personal growth and resilience.
On a societal level, the novel portrays baseball as central to American identity. The time-travel scenes immerse Joe and the young reader into the golden age of baseball, highlighting the sport’s historical and cultural significance. Gutman depicts early 20th-century ballparks, advertisements, and the rivalry between Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner, portraying baseball as a unifying force. Ultimately, the novel demonstrates how sports can bridge the past and present, connecting people across time.
The Value of History and Tradition
Honus & Me highlights the importance of understanding the past and learning from it. Through Joe’s time-traveling adventure, the novel allows him to engage with history, showing how history and tradition can shape individual identity and influence the present.
The story connects Joe to the history of baseball and its legendary figures, particularly Honus Wagner. In Chapter 6, after discovering the rare Honus Wagner card in Miss Young’s attic, Joe researches Wagner’s life and learns of his extraordinary accomplishments. Widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Wagner is not just a figure of historical significance—he becomes a mentor to Joe. When Joe meets Wagner face-to-face, history comes alive. Wagner embodies values such as integrity and perseverance, which influence Joe and his development. Through Wagner, the novel highlights the importance of generosity: “‘There’s a home for boys in Pittsburgh […] When I have some extra cash, I usually give it to them’” (74). This selflessness inspires Joe. When faced with the moral dilemma of what to do with the card, Joe thinks about what Wagner would do in his place. This demonstrates how the past can influence and guide present-day decisions, and the significance of mentorship.
As Joe travels back to 1909, Gutman recreates the atmosphere of early 20th-century baseball. As he visits Bennet Park, Joe observes: “Everything was made of wood. […] Bennett Park was much smaller than the ballparks I’d visited.” (56). These details highlight the simplicity and authenticity of the time, contrasting with the modern sports venues Joe knows. Through these descriptions, Gutman portrays a bygone era. The rivalry between Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb also connects Joe with baseball’s history, illustrating the spirit of the game during its early years. The historical black-and-white photos of Wagner and newspaper clippings scattered throughout the novel provide a different medium through which the past is brought to life.
The Honus Wagner baseball card embodies the value of history and tradition. Described as “the most valuable baseball card in the world” (20), it is a portal for Joe to travel through time and connect with Wagner. When Joe uses the card to send Amanda Young back in time to reunite with her lost love, it showcases his ingenuity, and becomes a bridge linking past and present.
The Importance of Honesty and Integrity
Throughout the story, Joe faces a moral dilemma regarding the Honus Wagner baseball card: should he sell it or return it to its rightful owner, Miss Young? This is not only a test of Joe’s character but a broader exploration of integrity and the weight of doing what is right.
Joe’s growth is shown by his decision-making. Initially, Joe is tempted by the potential material gain that could come from selling the rare Honus Wagner card . He discovers that a similar card was sold for nearly half a million dollars, and he imagines the many things he could do with the money: “What could I do with a half a million dollars? Well, first I’d buy my mom a house in the nice part of town, and a car that didn’t break down every few months. […] My mom could quit her job, of course” (27). Still, Joe feels conflicted. His mom, who values doing the right thing, insists they must return the card to Miss Young. She acts as a moral compass, reminding Joe of the importance of honesty and integrity.
Joe begins to understand that the right decision isn’t always the easiest or the most rewarding. In Chapter 14, Joe writes a pros and cons list to help him make his decision. On the pro side, he lists potential material gains, such as money for a new house, college, and a new car. On the con side, there is only one thing: “it’s wrong.” Though only a single item, it outweighs the material ones. Ultimately, Joe chooses to return the card to Miss Young, putting aside his personal desires. Through this decision, the novel underscores the importance of integrity.
Honus Wagner himself is an embodiment of honesty and integrity. Throughout the novel, Joe looks up to Wagner, not just for his incredible skill as a baseball player but for the character he displays off the field. Wagner is portrayed as generous and selfless, sharing his winnings with a boys’ home in Pittsburgh. “It feels so good when I do somethin’ nice for somebody” (74), Wagner says, showing Joe the importance of helping others. When Joe faces his moral dilemma, he reflects on what Wagner would do in his situation. Inspired by his example, Joe decides to return the card to Miss Young. In this way, the novel highlights how mentorship can shape young lives and morals.
Birdie Farrel, Joe’s foil, represents the opposite of honesty and integrity. Driven by greed and an obsession with the Honus Wagner card, he insists the card belongs to him. In his pursuit of it, Birdie even breaks into Joe’s house. While Joe is learning to make ethical choices, Birdie embodies selfishness and moral corruption.
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