“Arise” is a well-crafted Christian testimony by two vibrant young people who also have the platform to proclaim Jesus’ goodness to a potentially global audience. Clayton and Peggy Kershaw are the L.A. Dodgers’ First Couple, and their twin passions for baseball excellence and Africa mission work make for a compelling life story. The apt metaphor is the parallel with the Oscar-winning “Chariots of Fire,” where Clayton confesses, along with Eric Liddell, “When I play baseball, I feel God’s pleasure.” This book is an easy and compelling read, with a pleasant back-and-forth format that keeps the reader engaged. As a huge baseball fan, I could wish for more Dodger tales . . . but perhaps that is another book project. (The 2013 season would have been a delicious recounting with all the Puig/Hanley drama.) Perhaps team writer Ann Higginbottom can collaborate with Clayton on a season-long diary a la “Instant Replay,” the classic Green Bay Packer chronicle of a Super Bowl season. Kudos to all three of these winsome believers for a story well told.
David B. Smith Books 