A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson [Paperback]

Michelle Y. Green (Author), Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Motivated by her love for the game and inspired by the legendary Jackie Robinson, Mamie Johnson is determined to be a professional baseball pitcher. But in a sport that’s dominated by white men, there is no place for a black woman. Mamie doesn’t give up— from the time she insists on trying out for the all-male, all-white Police Athletic League team until she realizes her dream and becomes one of only three women to play in the Negro Leagues. Mamie Johnson’s life shows that with courage and perseverance one can overcome even the greatest challenges.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

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 Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

A winning biography of Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson . . . the true story of the underdog who succeeds despite tremendous odds. (Booklist, starred review)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (March 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142400726
• ISBN-13: 978-0142400722
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #345,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > Sports & Recreation

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous story of an American Hero, July 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson (Carter G Woodson Honor Book (Awards)) (Hardcover)

What a great book !! Michelle Green does a wonderful job telling the story of Mamie Johnson, Negro league pitcher, and the first woman to ever pitch during the regular season for a men's team. Johnson is a true American hero. This is a little known part of our history that the author vividly brings to life. A Strong Right Arm tells an inspiring story for everyone, baseball fan and non-fan alike.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiration Read for All Ages, September 28, 2003

By 

EnglishTeacher (Stanford, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson (Carter G Woodson Honor Book (Awards)) (Hardcover)

"Do you have a dream? If you don't, maybe my story will get you started working on one. If you do, darling, you're already halfway to making it come true." Mamie Johnson's story is one that many will not be familiar with but one that leaves you feeling like you have met a new friend. This is a would be a great book for children between the grades 3-5 and are sports fans. But reading about Mamie's desire to achieve the goals she has had throughout her life is inspirational for any age. This is a great read for anyone looking for a story of courage and determination.

Mamie recounts her dream of playing baseball. Growing up in the 1930's and 40's was especially difficult for African American females, especially ones who loved baseball. But Mamie had a deep love for baseball and the determination to do "what she had been made to do."

Mamie takes us on her journey which began with the Police Athletic League when she was in elementary school giving her her first chance to play with the boys. Like many times after this, Mamie was able to leave people speechless with her ability to play baseball for a woman or a man. Then two years after graduating from high school in 1953, Mamie had her chance at the minors.

Standing at only 5'2" and 92 pounds, Mamie earned her spot pitching for the Indianapolis Clowns, a team in the Negro League. Mamie was one of only three women to every play in the Negro League. Before her baseball career came to an end, Mamie earned the name "Peanut" while playing in the Negro World Series for her image of being "a peanut of a woman in a man's game" as one mouthy fan put it.

Mamie's life story represents the power of a dream. You are never too young to begin dreaming and setting goals for your life. While reading this book, you are going to be amazed at the talent and the desire to stop at nothing. After reading the book, you will be encouraged from a lady who knows what it means to go up against the odds. If you can dream it, it's possible. Take it from Mamie "Peanut" Johnson...she knows. And at 66, she still hasn't stopped dreaming.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Just A Regular Baseball Player, October 30, 2002

By 

Becky (Lancaster, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson (Carter G Woodson Honor Book (Awards)) (Hardcover)

I believe this is a great book for young girls and also die hard baseball fans. It gives the wonderful message that if you really want to do something deep down in your heart, you can do it. Mamie Johnson proved this by being only one of three women ever in the Negro League. All througout her life she overcame both the fact of being an African American and a girl. She proved to everyone that she deserved a her position as a pitcher on the team. This book not only discuses the challenges of being a woman playing a man's game, but it also discuses the issue of segregation in the 1940's and 1950's. She discusses the problems the Negro League had to endure when playing games in the south, along with the the problems players like Jackie Robinson encountered in the major leagues as the first African American baseball player to cross the color barrier and play on a white major league team. Besides being a great inspirational story about a girl who defeated the odds and followed her dreams, it is also a great read because it describes one of the hidden and unacknowledged aspects in the history of baseball.