Reviews

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone

hannahhbic's review against another edition

5.0

Attention sports anime, MG, and/or general fiction fans! If you need a short book that's engaging, silly, and has pop culture references, this is for y'all. It's full of Black girl magic and I'm here for it 100%. Nic Stone does a fantastic job narrating her own book. I forgot repeatedly that she was also the author! Gonna read her other stuff now. Not sorry about it.

megpancoast's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

librarydosebykristy's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this snappy, page turning middle grade story with one of the best favorite main characters I’ve read in a while.
Shenice Lockwood is the captain of her all-Black softball team and is determined to take them all the way to the Fast Pitch World series. In a sport where the majority of the other teams are wealthy, white and often overtly racist, it would be a personal triumph for herself and her team. But a family secret comes to light that shakes Shenice’s focus and distracts her from her goal. Can she get back on track?

Nic Stone is such a great writer. I loved Shenice’s voice and the way Stone wove the history of the Negro Leagues into the story in a perfectly balanced way.
This was a pleasure to read, not too little, not too much, a perfect choice for reluctant readers! Grades 3-6

analyticalchaos's review against another edition

3.0

Cute book, pretty typical middle grade feel. It was interesting to see the intersection between race and sports history, especially African-Americans in baseball.

thejillianjones's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

5.0

a_devine_read's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

4.0

Shenice and her softball team are making waves being the first all Black team to progress this far. She has a family legacy to uphold, from her great grandfather down to her. On top of all that, Shenice just met her great uncle who gave her a mystery to solve about how her grandfather was kicked out of his league. She can't keep her focus on softball when her grandfather's mystery keeps coming up. 

Opinion 

I loved this book. I was close to my grandfather and I love that Shenice was working hard to clear her grandfather's name. This was a quick and enjoyable book that any young sports fan would love. 

Many thanks to Net Galley and to Random House Children's books for providing me with an ARC of this book and many apologies for taking so long to review. 

victorialynch's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I really liked this one, Nic Stone's audio narration made it that much better. I loved the history/mystery tied to a modern day sports story. Not sure how many softball players I know to recommend it to, but if I find one, this is a solid rec!

thomasr417's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

ashleyeila's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

adrzeck's review against another edition

3.0

When the book starts with a dedication to Nic Stone's grandmother for "basically letting us watch the Sandlot whenever they wanted", you have me hooked. Appreciate all the nods to old school songs about scrubs. Lots of really impactful issues couched in "a sports fiction book" just serve to make me a huge fan of Stone's j fic.