Each chapter in this book for young readers (grades 3-6) is short and focused and the sentence structure and vocabulary–which includes lots of baseball-specific terms, most of which are explained–are suitable for the target audience. A list of sources for interested readers to consult as well as charts summarizing career statistics for each player are included at the end. One photograph of each player is included at the beginning of the chapter about them.

While descriptions of things like conversations between Hank Greenberg and his stern father or the thoughts running through Jackie Robinson’s mind as he ignored the hate speech of his opponents help draw the reader in and make these players feel more real, some of what Stout presents as fact may or may not have happened. While what Robinson was actually thinking at a particular moment doesn’t really affect the overall story of his career and his impact on baseball, it makes me uncomfortable to have fictionalized bits in a nonfiction book, and at least one point, Stout writes, “Watching a major league game in person is much better than watching it on television” (92), which I felt should have been qualified as an opinion rather than being presented as fact.

Despite occasionally transgressing these nonfiction boundaries, this book is a good introduction to these four players who changed baseball and the bigger idea of being a trailblazer, of fighting oppression and discrimination, and of working hard toward one’s life goals. 3/5.

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Tags: 3 star, children's books, glenn stout, nonfiction, reviews