A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson (Carter G Woodson Honor Book (Awards))
Gr. 4-7. Just in time for baseball season comes a winning biography of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, one of only three women (so far) to play professional baseball. Johnson was a pitcher with the Negro Leagues' Indianapolis Clowns from 1953 to 1955. In the introduction, Johnson speaks directly and movingly to the reader about her meeting with author Green, who then lets the famous ballplayer tell her own story in a lively first-person narrative. Johnson's ebullient personality and determination fairly leap off the page as the biography follows her from her childhood on her grandmother's South Carolina farm and her personal struggle against discrimination ("this colored girl thinks she can play ball") through her breakthrough and triumph on the team. The short, action-packed chapters are illustrated with occasional photos of Johnson and of other players she knew, including Satchel Paige, who taught her how to throw the curveball ("The first thing you gotta do, little missy, is stop squeezing the ball so tight"). Although baseball fans will be the first to grab this title, the true story of the underdog who succeeds despite tremendous odds will have wide appeal. Green includes a bibliography and a list of organizations and baseball Web sites.Debbie CartonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved