  | Mamie on the mound : a woman in baseball's Negro leagues Author: Henderson, Leah | |
| Price: $19.77 | ||
Summary:
Mamie "Peanut" Johnson had one dream: to play professional baseball. She was a talented player, but she wasn't welcome on the all-white Girls Pro Baseball League team due to the color of her skin. However, a greater opportunity came her way in 1953 when Johnson signed to play ball with the Negro Leagues' Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the only professional female pitcher to play on a men's team.
| Illustrator: | Doutsiopoulos, George |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 5.20 Points: .5 Quiz: 507065 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (12/01/19)
School Library Journal (01/01/20)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 PreS-Gr 4—Mamie Johnson grew up loving baseball, but she knew she wanted to do more than just watch men have all the fun. Johnson, motivated by the loving encouragement of her family, learned about the game and played alongside local boys on her family's farm in South Carolina. After moving to New Jersey, she earned her place on an all-white, all-boys Police Athletic League Team. Johnson led her team to two division championships. As she grew older, her skills and love of the game grew. After being effectively shunned at the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League tryouts, Johnson finally became a pro for the Indianapolis Clowns, a traveling Negro League team. The colorful, expressive artwork highlights Johnson's joy while also showing the oppressive racism faced by the ball player and her teammates. The afterword explains how Johnson's contributions to the sport have resonated through the years, earning recognition from Presidents Clinton and Obama. VERDICT Readers who are unfamiliar with Johnson will walk away from Henderson's thoughtfully written picture book biography as fans of this resilient, über-talented ballplayer. An important purchase for most collections.—Abby Bussen, Muskego Public Library, WI - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
