A High Five for Glenn Burke

Sixth-grade baseball player Silas Wade discovers the story of Glenn Burke, the MLB player who invented the high five and later came out as gay. For a class presentation, Silas decides to share Burke's groundbreaking legacy with his classmates and teacher. As Silas learns more about Burke's experiences in baseball during the 1970s, he begins to recognize parallels with his own life. The middle schooler must navigate his identity while maintaining his passion for baseball and relationships with teammates, friends, and family. Between practices, games, and school, Silas faces decisions about who to trust with his truth and when to share it. His journey connects past to present as he finds inspiration in Glenn Burke's courage and authenticity. This middle-grade novel explores themes of self-acceptance, sports history, and the power of seeing yourself represented in your heroes.

Readers connect with the authentic voice of sixth-grader Silas and the way baseball serves as both a literal story element and metaphor. Many reviewers note the book handles coming out themes with sensitivity appropriate for middle-grade readers. Readers liked: - Baseball history woven naturally into the narrative - Positive portrayal of supportive family dynamics - Clear explanations of LGBTQ+ terms for young readers - Representation of anxiety/panic attacks Common critiques: - Some felt the baseball terminology might lose non-sports fans - A few found certain dialogue exchanges repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 4.33/5 (1,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (100+ reviews) "Perfect balance of sports and identity" - School Library Journal review "My students could really relate to Silas's internal struggle" - 5th grade teacher on Goodreads "Wish the baseball game scenes were shorter" - Parent reviewer on Amazon

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🖐️ Glenn Burke gave baseball's first-ever high five to teammate Dusty Baker after Baker hit his 30th home run of the season on October 2, 1977, at Dodger Stadium. ⚾ Despite being a promising talent who helped the Dodgers reach the 1977 World Series, Glenn Burke's MLB career lasted only four seasons due to prejudice he faced as a gay player. 📚 Author Phil Bildner was a New York City public school teacher for 11 years before becoming a full-time writer, bringing his classroom experience to his middle-grade novels. 🌈 Glenn Burke publicly came out in 1982, making him the first MLB player to openly acknowledge his homosexuality during his professional career or after retirement. 🏆 The book was named to multiple "Best of 2020" lists, including those by Kirkus Reviews and the New York Public Library, for its sensitive handling of LGBTQ+ themes in middle-grade literature.