Mark Kratina

The Playground Mark Kratina

From the author of The Nostalgist and Admissions comes this whimsical novella about a minor league ballplayer slowly losing his grip on the highly-structured life he has aspired for himself. Craig Burton was the Cincinnati Reds' top draft pick out of high school but when his advancement through the minor leagues stalls, he struggles to understand what his life and work mean beyond the pursuit of success. With a cast of characters both real and imagined, The Playground is a thoughtful, lighthearted story about identity and balancing expectations when the things we count on don't come true. With the great American pastime as a backdrop, The Playground is an uplifting exploration of family, aging, and finding your way home.