Independent reading level: PK-3
Awards: Georgia Children's Book Award Nominee

Back in the 1940’s, it was unheard of for girls to play baseball. Katie Casey however, did not agree with that; all she wanted was to play baseball. Around this time America was at war and all of the boys were sent away to war leaving the country without a national pastime. Even President Roosevelt knew this was worrisome. The owner of the Chicago Cubs proposed an idea that everyone thought was ridiculous; let girls play baseball. Without the acceptance of everyone, he went ahead anyway and sends scouts to find girl players. Girls from all over the world came to try out for the team and they were just as good as boys. They made uniforms and go out on the field just to hear giggles and rude comments towards them playing baseball. Despite the negativity, all the girls began to play ball and wowed everyone in the stadium. They then accepted that girls too could play baseball. ( )

During a time when gender roles were extremely significant, Katie’s obsession with baseball was abnormal. Her parents questioned her interest. She seemed to only be good at baseball. She struggled with cooking, dancing and knitting, the stereotypical roles of women. With the men were off fighting WWII, women had to fulfill some of male roles and it was Kate’s luck baseball was in the need of saving. When the owner of the Chicago Cubs came up with the idea to start a female baseball team Katie was ecstatic to play. I enjoyed reading this book. A great read for boys and girls. ( )

I absolutely loved this book! It is a great way to introduce young girls to the early times of feminism. The book is about a girl named Katie who was not a typical "girl". She was bad at cooking, sewing, dancing, etc. However, she was great at baseball. Baseball was her true love, and everyone looked at her weird for it. With the war happening, many men were forced to join the war. There were no men left to play baseball. So, Philip Wrigley decided to make a women's league. At first, these women were laughed at, but once they started playing ball, the crowd was thrilled. The book ends with Katie hitting a home run. This is a great book to show to girls and boys. This is a great example of the progress we have made and still making. ( )

The 1940s were a hard time for the American people. With soldiers big and small off to war, the favorite pastime of baseball was in danger. Enter Katie Casey, a girl who refuses to do anything girly and dreams of playing ball in the big leagues. Everyone tells her "What's baseball to a girl?" but Katie practices and practices until, finally, she gets the change to play in the first-ever All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Though controversial to the American public, the Girls League was a success and opened the way for girls to play professional sports.

Though Katie is a made up character, she represents the real struggle that many girls of the time faced. The events of the story are true. The text oddly gets big and bold in some places and small in others. The art has a '40s style to it and is very colorful and 2D. It shows expression very well! I also was surprised to learn that the "Take Me Out to The Ballgame," song was based on a girl who loved baseball! A very informative book, this is one way to inspire others to never give up and that everyone is equal. ( )