Fast Pitch

Shenice Lockwood captains her softball team in Decatur, Georgia while pursuing her dream of becoming the first Black female pitcher in professional baseball. As the pressure builds during her team's regional championship quest, she becomes focused on clearing her deceased great-grandfather's name from an old scandal involving a stolen baseball signed by Jackie Robinson. The 12-year-old athlete must balance her commitment to her teammates with her growing obsession about her family's past. Her investigation leads her through layers of local history and forces her to confront uncomfortable truths about racism in baseball's past and present. The story examines the intersection of family legacy, racial justice, and youth sports in the American South. Through Shenice's parallel journeys on and off the field, the novel explores themes of loyalty, truth-seeking, and the ways historical injustice continues to impact present-day lives.

Readers find Fast Pitch engaging for middle-grade audiences, particularly highlighting its exploration of family history, racism in sports, and the protagonist's determination. Many describe it as a quick read that appeals to both sports fans and non-sports readers. Liked: - Authentic portrayal of softball and team dynamics - Strong female protagonist who faces real challenges - Discussion of racial barriers in sports history - Family relationships and mystery elements - Age-appropriate handling of serious topics Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Mystery subplot resolution felt rushed to some readers - Baseball/softball terminology can be confusing for non-fans Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (300+ ratings) Kirkus Reviews: Starred Review Common reader comment: "Perfect for young athletes looking to see themselves represented in fiction." Multiple reviewers note the book's success in balancing sports action with deeper social themes.

Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning A softball player joins the football team to prove herself after being kicked off her original team for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang A graphic novel chronicles a high school basketball team's quest for a state championship while exploring themes of family, legacy, and determination.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen A track star loses her leg in an accident and must navigate her return to sports while forging an unexpected friendship.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds A young track athlete with natural talent confronts his past trauma while trying to earn a spot on an elite middle school track team.

Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages A girl in 1957 fights to play Little League baseball by researching and presenting evidence of women's contributions to baseball history.

🥎 Author Nic Stone played softball as a youth and drew from her own experiences to create authentic gameplay scenes in Fast Pitch ⚾ The book addresses racial inequities in baseball history, including the story of the Negro Leagues, which operated from 1920 to 1960 👥 The main character, Shenice Lockwood, is named after two of the author's family members 🏆 Fast Pitch skillfully combines multiple genres: sports fiction, mystery, and historical fiction, while exploring themes of family legacy and racial justice 📚 The book was released in 2021 as part of Scholastic's "WISH" line, which features diverse, contemporary stories for middle-grade readers