"The Case of the Missing Lightning Bat" by Victor Evans
Posted: May 4, 2022
Tuesday, May 17, 6 p.m.
Casey Commons
Free event; copies of the book at a discount available for purchase
The Communication and Media Department presents the 2022 Sharon James Lecture, featuring Dr. Victor Evans’s new middle-grade book, “The Case of the Missing Lighting Bat.”
This new mystery is one of very few featuring a middle-grade, LGBTQ African-American character. Dr. Evans will read from the book, discuss it with Dr. Caitlin Carlson, and sign copies following the event. Register and purchase the book here.
About the book: Life hasn’t been entirely fair to Evan Sinclair, or "Sissy Sinclair" as most of his classmates like to call him, but now it’s seventh grade - and the universe owes him. A missing baseball bat, belonging to star player Jayden Stevens, provides him with the perfect chance to put his love of detective shows to good use. His objective? Find the lucky “lightning bat” and score himself a place with the most popular kids in school: The Untouchables.
However, just like in the TV shows, nothing goes according to plan. As Evan delves into the investigation, his personal life turns to shambles. His father’s overbearing nature and extreme religious devotion lengthen the rift between them, while Evan is still processing the loss of his mother. His grandmother, his BFF, and an unexpected old friend are the only people he can count on to help him crack the case.
There are numerous suspects in Lincoln Middle School, but this mystery goes deeper, becoming even more complicated than anyone first thought. Is it just petty jealousy that has fueled this theft? Or is something more sinister going on behind the scenes of the baseball team? There’s one person who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, even if that means confronting his own deep dark secret – it’s Evan Sinclair.
About the author: Dr. Victor Evans is an assistant professor in the Communication Department at Seattle University. He has been teaching in higher education for over 19 years. Before teaching, Evans was an entertainment journalist, working with many organizations in both New York and Los Angeles, including Entertainment Weekly, People, MTV, Guest Informant and BET. He also worked as an entertainment producer for CNN’s Headline News. Evans is also a documentary filmmaker whose production company, CrossRoads Productions, creates media literacy videos to educate adolescents on various multicultural issues.
