We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

Nelson, Kadir (2008). We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. Hyperion Books New York, NY. ISBN: 978-0786808328

Nelson writes a powerful story through words and illustrations that takes a reader on the adventure of The Negro League, and the eventual evolution of baseball in itself. Using the basis of baseball’s nine innings, Nelson separates his stories of players into innings rather than chapters. Kirkus review notes, "Nelson continues to top himself with each new book. Here, working solo for the first time, he pays tribute to the hardy African-American players of baseball's first century with a reminiscence written in a collective voice-" Giving the story much more credibility on the non-fiction book that it is, is the foreword by Hall of Famer, Hank Aaron.

The narrator, that of an anonymous Negro League player in the 1920’s, takes readers on an adventure from the beginning of the league to the end of the league and the integration of black baseball players into Major League Baseball. Through the illustrations and words, Nelson gets the readers to truly feel the struggles in which the players had to face. At some points, the players had to play three times a day, travel by themselves, getting little income, as well as dealing with the constant discriminatory words and acts against them. Even with all the negativities seen by these players, there were many good things that came from the league. Lights for night games, shin guards, helmets, and even the bunt play were first seen with these players and these leagues.

Nelson carries his readers on a journey through baseball and life during segregated times. Through his writing style, it appears as each ‘inning’ is a first-hand account from the various players. At the beginning of each inning, Nelson brings in the Negro League’s players actual words, For example,  “I ain’t ever had a job, I just always played baseball-Satchel Paige” (1) and “The greatest untapped reservoir of raw material in the history of our game is the black race-Branch Rickey” (p. 41).

Nelson brings to life The story of Negro League baseball by sharing the gift of athletes, owners who refused to give up,  racial discrimination, the idea of winning and losing, both on and off the field. Using the stories of baseball during the 1920’s, the author also brings to life the history of blacks in America at the beginning of the twentieth century.  Nelson brings to the table the idea of hero’s that never got their fame due to the color of their skin. He shares the trials and tribulations men took simply to be a part of “America’s game”.

The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences.  The multitude of oil paintings also help share the readers feelings of being ‘in the moment’ with the author. The detail to the body posture, facial expressions, and color allow the reader to feel empathy, pain, and happiness through Nelson’s creative paintings. "The stories and artwork are a tribute to the spirit of the Negro Leaguers, who were much more than also-rans and deserve a more prominent place on baseball's history shelves."(Booklist)

Coretta Scott King Award/Honor(2009)

Kirkus Review starred December 1, 2007 "Readers will come away with a good picture of the Negro Leaguers' distinctive style of play, as well as an idea of how their excellence challenged the racial attitudes of both their sport and their times."

Booklist starred review February 1, 2008 "Showcases the pride and comradery of the negro Leagues."

Hole in My Life

Gantos, Jack. ( 2002). Hole in My Life. Douglas & McIntyre, Canada. ISBN: 9781435233607

Jack Gantos writes his memoir of the darkest time in his life, young adult. Jack takes the reader through a journey that lead him from a life of a college bound, independent high school student, to the life behind bars. Jack eventually spent fifteen months behind bars in a federal prison on drug trafficking charges after helping sailing drugs from the Virgin Islands to New York City. “The best memoir that we have read in the last few years is Jack Ganto’s Hole in My Life which was a runner-up for the 2002 Printz Award. As shown by the smoothness and the power of the writing, Gantos has written this story probably a dozen times, if not on paper, at least in his head.” (Nilsen).

The reader may at some points find Jack either a Naïve young man, or a person so hooked on drugs that his inhibition allows to be fooled by drug smugglers. Gantos takes others on their offers to smoke marijuana, and with no other thought but finding income to pay for college, he agreed to help smuggle drugs to New York City for $10,000.

Through his memoir, it appears as though Gantos cannot catch a break with the law, even though through his perspective he is constantly telling the truth. When he finds out that the FBI is looking for him, he quickly returns to New York to turn himself in, only to find out he is the last of all involved to do so. The Federal Government wants names of others who are involved, except Gantos never asked questions and truly could not identify others involved. According to the prosecutors,  “The accused has not cooperating in the ongoing investigation of others involved with this international operation. It is our belief that he is withholding information, and our office is in favor of incarceration.” (p. 142).

While in prison, Gantos uses his intelligence to make the most of his stay. He gains a job in the clinic, and seems to befriend the inmates as well as some of the officers, even to the point where they would mail his college application from outside of the prison in order to save the large “Federal Prison” stamp from the envelope. He constantly was reading while in prison, even using the books as paper in which to write his own stories, which later he would use in order to help him succeed in his college courses.

The idea of drugs, sex, lies, and independence are evident throughout this memoir, and is intended for much more mature young adults. Gantos even has described it as “the book was as much a cautionary tale for adults as for kids. He wants adults to get the message that we should not give up on kids who are in trouble. With the right help, and a lot of luck, they may survive and go on to become the kind of adult who can make the world a better place” (Nilsen). Gantos takes his readers on an adventure of youth to maturity, to wanting to write to becoming a writer.

Nilsen, A. & Donelson, K.(2009). Literature for Today’s Young Adults. Boston, MA.

The Book Thief

Zusak, Markus. (2006). The Book Thief. Random House, New York, NY. ISBN: 9780375831003

What are words? What do words mean? Are words extremely powerful? “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” (p. 528) These are a few of the questions and words of  “The Book Thief”, also known as Liesel Meminger, throughout this historical fiction story. Liesel is a foster child growing up in Germany during the World War II. “The Book Thief” is an exceptionally written novel following the life of a young foster child Liesel Meminger through Death, the narrator. Death, inevitable considers Liesel a “perpetual survivor” and initially reveals three different times in which he (Death) will have interactions with her. This is one event of foreshadowing of events, which is a prominent piece of the writing by Mark Zusak.

Growing up in Nazi Germany, Liesel is confused at her reasoning for being forced to move in with Rosa and Hans Hubermann. Her father has disappeared, her brother dies on the train ride, and her mother then leaves and disappears, leaving Liesel in the hands of Rosa and Hans. Rosa and Hans truly have love for Leisel, even though Rosa has a very different way of showing her love. Hans on the other hand, adores Liesel, and becomes an extremely important part in her life as well as the life of others he comes into contact. This is shown through his many nights of teaching Liesel how to read, which in the end, calms her neighbors during the bombings in their neighborhoods.

According to Nilsen and Donelson, “The book seems sprawling at times as more characters are introduced, but the cast of major characters remains small. Zusak’s novel is long and complex and rich. Some readers will be confused, but most will not forget Liesel. (p249). The book is so rich and full of multiple themes, it can be a bit overwhelming, yet so leaving the reader wanting to know more. The themes of courage, colors, and deception are evident throughout the story.

Liesel is both deceptive and courageousness in her thievery. She steals her first book at her brother’s gravesite, “The Gravediggers Handbook”. Even though she can’t read, she carries it with her wherever she goes, even to the extent of hiding it from her foster family. The book in itself is a handbook, but as the narrator reminds us, it could also be metaphoric to what is going on in the world surrounding Liesel. As the handbook is read, Death presents the idea that one gravedigger does what he is told by the other, and brings forth the question if it is similar to Hitler, commanding the entire nation, in which they all obey him unquestioningly.

The theme of courage is shown in Liesel’s ability to overcome her disability, but also through her willingness to speak up against her beliefs. Liesel, as she ages throughout the book, becomes more open to the truth of Hitler. Hans brings in Max, the son of a man who saved his life in the First World War, but is also a Jew. Liesel is introduced to the real idea behind Hitler, when they must hide Max in their basement.  Through her friendship with Max, she shows many more courageous moments including being a part of Max physically whitewashing the pages of “Mein Kampf” and painting and entirely different story over them. The text of “Mein Kampf”, which deals with the attacks on the Jewish race, peeks through under a story about the friendship between a hidden Jew and a German girl. This is very symbolic of the courage between both Max and Liesel. She later jumps on Max, hangs on him when he is being brought to a concentration camp after he had been captured knowing she will be enduring the pain and suffering of showing support to the enemy.

Hans, Liesel’s foster father shows bravery, that he later questions. Liesel learned her courage through watch Han’s selfless manner. Hans helped out an old friend who saved his life, even though he was a Jew. Hans provided bread for the captured Jews as they were embarrassed through the streets of Germany. He later regrets his decisions, not because he truly believes they are wrong, but because he feels now his family has increased scrutiny towards them. His act of kindness to nourish the Jews resulted in endangering a younger Max.

Throughout the story, Liesel rebels by stealing books, learning to read, and eventually writing her own book. She experiences death, friendship, and eventually love from her neighborhood friend and confidant Rudy. She experiences pain and hurt from the difficult things she is subjected to. “To tackle the subject of the atrocities of the Nazis in Germany at the beginning of the second world war with Death as it narrator, is to stumble into all kinds of sensitivities; then add to that the gentle humor throughout, with the horrors of the Holocaust looming in the shadows, well.” (Garton)

As readers, we are surrounded by book burnings, athleticism, childhood, poverty, and questioning authority all in one novel. The reader is introduced to many underground anti-Nazi Germans, even the Mayor’s wife. The reader is taken through a story from Death’s persective, which gives the reader the sense of a very dark tone, yet we realize the narrator even questions death “Did they deserve any better, these people? How many actively persecuted others, high on the scent of Hitler’s gaze, repeating his sentences, his paragraphs, his opus? Was Rosa Hubermann responsible? The hider of a Jew? Or Hans? Did they all deserve to die? The children?” (p. 375).

“The Book Thief” intertwines the life of a growing young lady and the life in war leaving a reader with a possible sense of confusion, but also with an agreement with the narrator, “I am haunted by humans.”(p. 550).

Garton, Helen. A BOOK I WILL REMEMBER. Reform Magazine, Feb2011, p33-33, 1/3p

Catching Fire

Collins, S. ( 2009). Catching Fire. Scholastic, New York, NY. ISBN: 978-0-439-02349-8

After Katniss and Peeta find a way to beat the Capitol’s rules in the previous Hunger Games, both surviving, they become the unknown sponsor of rebellion within Panem. Little does Katniss realize her stunts in the Games have now lead for others to believe they can overtake the rules of the Capitol, leading to many Districts unrest. “Katniss and Peeta, who fought other teens to the death in the first book, find themselves once again in grave danger. At the same time, they've become symbols of defying the harsh government.” (Odean, 2010).

Catching Fire is a true Dystopia novel set in the future with the characters living in various districts within a country named Panem. Collins introduces readers to a place that “warns us of society’s drift toward a particularly horrifying or sick world lying just over the horizon.” (p. 241). When the Capitol realizes that allowing two winners in the previous year’s Hunger Games would cause so much distress within the country, President Snow wants revenge. But how will he get it when a contestant who has won the games previously can no longer participate, can only die of natural causes, and now lives with plenty of money and food? Katniss is left with the liability of not only the people in her district, but the people within Panem “I stand there, feeling broken and small, thousands of eyes trained on me.” (p. 61). 

A spin Collins introduces comes with the Quarter Quell. Since the beginning of the Hunger Games, every twenty-five years, there is something different added. This year, the contestants of the Hunger Games will not be children, but past winners. One male, one female. Katniss must return to save her life as well as Peeta’s one more time. Katniss, a female protagonist must not only save the life of her friend and fiancé, but she is left with the guilt and burden of the rest of the country who wishes to overthrow the Capitol. “No, it’s more than a mission. It’s my dying wish. Keep Peeta alive. And as unlikely as it seems that I can achieve it in the face of the Capitol’s anger, it’s important that I be at the top of my game.” (p. 189).

Collins creates a sequel that unlike the first book, takes place more outside of the Hunger Games Arena. The focus is more on the Districts themselves, and the vast differences between each one. An introduction to the possibility of a thirteen district where life may have more freedom is questioned as a possibility, and the stricter rules for life and dictatorship are revealed. Katniss is the face of freedom, the face of change, the face of possibility. “By the time I’m introduced, the audience is in an absolute wreck. People have been weeping and collapsing and even calling for change. The sight of me in my white silk bridal gown practically causes a riot.” (p. 251). What can Katniss do to save the people of Panem and accomplish her one goal: Keep Peeta alive!

Odean, Kathleen. Life’s Struggles. Teacher Librarian, Apr2010, Vol. 37 Issue 4, p11-11, 1/3p

Odean, Kathleen. Teacher Librarian, Apr2010, Vol. 37 Issue 4, p11-11, 1/3p

Nilsen, A. & Donelson, K.(2009). Literature for Today’s Young Adults. Boston, MA.