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bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
The author is a true baseball fan, and lives in Maryland where one day she happened to meet Mamie Johnson in a shop that sells merchandise representing the glorious history of the Negro Leagues. Mamie was one of three African American women who played professionally in the Negro Leagues. She was a pitcher with the Indianapolis Clowns, and amazing despite being only 5 feet 2.
The book is written in the voice of Mamie who tells her story from childhood through the time her short career from 1953-1955 when the Negro Leagues were on the way to folding. There are nice details of a few games where Mamie displays her strategy to win. She is an engaging woman who lived from a young age only to play baseball and succeeded against the odds of dual discrimination against women and African Americans.
This is a short book of just over 100 pages. While some writers will take a biography and inflate it with baseball lore and history, Green chose to write a book for young readers and stick to Mamie's story. I would have liked to know about Mamie, but this was an enjoyable and enlightening read. Mamie Johnson passed away in December, 2017.
The book is written in the voice of Mamie who tells her story from childhood through the time her short career from 1953-1955 when the Negro Leagues were on the way to folding. There are nice details of a few games where Mamie displays her strategy to win. She is an engaging woman who lived from a young age only to play baseball and succeeded against the odds of dual discrimination against women and African Americans.
This is a short book of just over 100 pages. While some writers will take a biography and inflate it with baseball lore and history, Green chose to write a book for young readers and stick to Mamie's story. I would have liked to know about Mamie, but this was an enjoyable and enlightening read. Mamie Johnson passed away in December, 2017.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
This biography of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, a female baseball player who played for the Negro Leagues, is both interesting and informative. I learned about a fantastic woman that I had never even heard of before. Mamie's story is an inspiring one. From a pretty young age, she loved playing baseball. Not softball. Hardball. But gaining acceptance in a man's sport was not easy, especially since she is black and this was in the 1950s when many things were still segregated. Shunned from the All-American Girls' Baseball League, she eventually earns her way onto the Indianapolis Clowns, a team in the Negro League. Mamie truly shows that you can achieve any dream as long as you work hard and don't give up.
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Learned about this book because it was an IL Bluestem. Read most of it aloud to my 4th graders. A slim, but interesting read. A true story about a professional, African-American female baseball player from the 1950's. Definitely girl power book.
lisadolak's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure if the 4th and 5th graders from the year 2011 will enjoy it as much as I did because so much of this is about Mamie overcoming, what at the time seemed to be, insurmountable odds of race and gender that are not even part of their current reality. Hopefully they will at least see it as an uplifting story about someone who was able to reach their goals, despite the challenges they faced.
The 'author' told it in first person, but we know it was not written by Mamie; it was written for Mamie. Although I do not know the main character personally, I would have to say the author did a great job at finding Mamie's voice. I really felt as if I was reading an auto-biography not a biography.
I find Mamie Johnson a woman I would like to know better. According to this book, she held her head high, followed her dreams, and only allowed the love of her life to derail her from the path she chose for herself at a very young age. I think we would all be happy to say that about our own lives.
The 'author' told it in first person, but we know it was not written by Mamie; it was written for Mamie. Although I do not know the main character personally, I would have to say the author did a great job at finding Mamie's voice. I really felt as if I was reading an auto-biography not a biography.
I find Mamie Johnson a woman I would like to know better. According to this book, she held her head high, followed her dreams, and only allowed the love of her life to derail her from the path she chose for herself at a very young age. I think we would all be happy to say that about our own lives.
christinamp's review against another edition
3.0
The author did a fantastic job of ghostwriting for Mamie. I loved hearing Mamie's voice shine through.
At the same time, though the details person in me wanted more specifics. I often found myself confused by the timeline in conjunction with the photos. It would show a photo saying it was "circa x year" but then the main text wouldn't tell me what year those things were happening - at least, not very often.
Otherwise though, I liked learning the little-known story of one of three women to play professional baseball in a men's league.
At the same time, though the details person in me wanted more specifics. I often found myself confused by the timeline in conjunction with the photos. It would show a photo saying it was "circa x year" but then the main text wouldn't tell me what year those things were happening - at least, not very often.
Otherwise though, I liked learning the little-known story of one of three women to play professional baseball in a men's league.
allison_13's review against another edition
3.0
I have to admit, I don't know much about baseball history or even much about the sport in general other than you hit the ball and run the bases. And hope no one catches it or gets you out.
And of course I know about some of the big names such as Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth... (Those may be the only names I know.) And living in Chicago, I know the Cubs and the White Sox. But I really don't care about the sport.
Oddly enough, for a sport I don't care about, I love baseball books and movies. Sandlot, Angels in the Outfield, The Girl who Threw Butterflies (On the Caudill List two years ago). This book is anoyther one to add to my collection.
Written as a memoire, Mamie tells us what it was like growing up as an African American female ball player in the 40s. She mentions what it was like getting signed on a professional team and being one of only three women to play professional ball, albeit on the Negro League.
The story was quite fascinating. I had no idea about the history shown here. I enjoyed her discussions about playing in Sandlots.
Mostly, I appreciated how accessible the book was for kids regardless of their background.
And of course I know about some of the big names such as Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth... (Those may be the only names I know.) And living in Chicago, I know the Cubs and the White Sox. But I really don't care about the sport.
Oddly enough, for a sport I don't care about, I love baseball books and movies. Sandlot, Angels in the Outfield, The Girl who Threw Butterflies (On the Caudill List two years ago). This book is anoyther one to add to my collection.
Written as a memoire, Mamie tells us what it was like growing up as an African American female ball player in the 40s. She mentions what it was like getting signed on a professional team and being one of only three women to play professional ball, albeit on the Negro League.
The story was quite fascinating. I had no idea about the history shown here. I enjoyed her discussions about playing in Sandlots.
Mostly, I appreciated how accessible the book was for kids regardless of their background.
brucefarrar's review
5.0
Green has captured Mamie Johnson’s voice as she tells her story from being a girl in South Carolina playing with a ball made from tape wrapped around a rock to starting pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns. The writing is as exciting as the pitch by pitch call of an announcer broadcasting a close game.
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