WARRIOR ON THE MOUND

It’s 1939, and an African American tween in North Carolina is looking forward to following his older brother and now-deceased father into the Negro Baseball Leagues.

Twelve-year-old Cato Jones desperately wants to be a great pitcher, just like his beloved father, Daddy Mo. Cato and his teammates go see the impressive new (but whites-only) ballfield, and they can’t resist trying it out. But when they’re accused of causing damage, Cato knows his denial won’t be enough to challenge a white person’s lie. Gradually Cato learns that Daddy Mo and Luke Blackburn, the white man who owns the field, were friends, but no one will share what happened on the night Daddy Mo died. Mr. Luke agrees to a game between the Black and white teams, an event disrupted by racial threats. The racist undercurrents in town go back decades, and some seek to use these divisions to sow even more discord. All of that seems unimportant when Isaac, Cato’s brother, arrives home, the victim of a terrible beating. Debut author Headen has crafted a highly engaging novel that skillfully and believably weaves actual events into the story. The energy of sports and Cato’s drive to excel propel the narrative. Family and community dynamics reflect the times but still allow today’s readers to connect with Cato and his friends.

An outstanding blend of history, sports, and coming of age: not to be missed.