Book Review of We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nelson, Kadir. 2008. WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. ISBN 9780786808328.

PLOT SUMMARY

Baseball began in mid-1800’s America. African Americans had to build their own league to play the game professionally. Everyone involved were African Americans: players, coaches, referees, owners, and all support staff. The focus of the league were the outstanding players, who would have been stars of the white major leagues, had they been allowed to play. The 9th Inning (last chapter) is devoted to Jackie Robinson, the man who finally integrated the major league, thanks notably to the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey. Once the major league began accepting black players, the Negro League was effectively ended.         

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the foreword by Hank Aaron at the beginning, to the index at the end, and everything in between, this book is a work of art. The book is divided into nine innings (chapters) plus a final “Extra Innings” chapter. The story is told from first person POV. The narrator represents a conglomeration of the players, coaches, and fans of the era. The author’s use of colloquialisms and terminology from the time adds authenticity to the book. The artwork is first-rate photorealism.  

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS

2008 CASEY AWARD for best baseball book

2009 CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR AWARD

2009 ROBERT F. SIBERT INFORMATIONAL BOOK AWARD

BOOKLIST: “Award-winning illustrator and first-time author Nelson’s history of the Negro Leagues, told from the vantage point of an unnamed narrator, reads like an old-timer regaling his grandchildren with tales of baseball greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and others who forged the path toward breaking the race barrier before Jackie Robinson made his historic debut.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know how he has done it, but illustrator and first-time author Kadir Nelson brings us a baseball book that will make fans out the least sports-enthused children out there. Lush pictures, great text, and startling facts bring the story of Negro League baseball to life like never before.”

CONNECTIONS

*This book would fit in with any discussion of civil rights and its history in the United States and elsewhere in the world.

* Other books like this one include:

Nelson, Kadir. THE UNDEFEATED. ISBN 9781328780966.

Nelson, Kadir. NELSON MANDELA. ISBN 9780061783746.

Castle, Caroline. FOR EVERY CHILD. ISBN 9780803726505

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