The Home-Run King

Scraps of Time #4

by Patricia C. McKissack, Gordon James (Illustrator)

Award-winning author Patricia C. McKissack's story about one black family's history is perfect for Black History Month! Brothers Tank and Jimbo Turner love sneaking into Nashville's Sulphur Dell Ballpark to watch the superstars of Negro League baseball. When Josh Gibson, the famous home-run hitter for the Homestead Grays, bunks at their house, the boys think they're one step away from heaven.

With warmth and humor, the fourth installment of Patricia C. McKissack's family saga brings to life an era of all-black baseball for readers who may not know that Major League teams were once restricted only to white players.

Genres: Sports, Historical Fiction, Childrens

96 pages, Hardcover

First published December 26, 2008

About the author

Patricia C. McKissack was the Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of The Dark-Thirty and Porch Lies an ALA Notable Book. She collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on Goin' Someplace Special (Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Mirandy and Brother Wind (Coretta Scott King Award winner and Caldecott Honor Book).

Reviews

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Great* book for elementary lovers of baseball, history, and baseball history. My 7 year old son had read several books about Negro League baseball heroes, so he already knew a lot about Josh Gibson. To get to immerse himself in a story where he could imagine having Josh Gibson come stay as a guest in his house...it was such fun to experience his joy and excitement in every chapter. Infuses a tale of friendship, family, and sports with great details about segregation and an exploration of friendship, mistakes, and second chances.

[bookloverk8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading for the school library. I really liked the themes of this book - brotherhood, teamwork, and kindness; however, there were definitely some outdated scenes that the kids may not understand. Some of these scenes included chewing tobacco and interacting with people who have disabilities. Still a good story.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great children book for baseball lovers.

[yosra omrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also I can't believe how tank showed it off at the ending type😂😂😂😂

[Jan]

set during the depression
Negro baseball league

[Sunnyvale Librarian]

This is the fourth book in the author's series about the Webster family. The story takes place during the Great Depression. Tank and his brother Jimbo live and breathe baseball. When Tank discovers a way to sneak into the Sulphur Springs Ballpark to watch the Negro Leagues Games, Jimbo follows him.

When one of their favorite players comes to stay at their house, both boys are thrilled. Josh Gibson is a great baseball player, but he is also more than willing to help the boys improve their skills. By being a standout player, during a time when he and his teammates are barred from "white-only" hotels and restaurants, Josh inspires the brothers in many wonderful (and one not-so-wonderful) ways. This is a great story of family, friendship, succeeding during difficult times...and, of course, baseball.

[Bridget]

Part of the McKissack’s Scraps in Time series, The Homerun King begins like others in the series. Although, I have never read another Scraps in Time series, it is evident that they all begin by looking into their grandmother’s attic and finding different old memorabilia from the past. In The Homerun King, the piece of memorabilia found is an old signed baseball. This piece of history segways into the the story of two brothers who love baseball and the history of baseball’s past. Children can read about a sport they love, while also being introduced to the segregation that occurred in baseball in the past.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 3-5 85 pgs


1937, Nashville, TN. Told as a flashback, brothers Tank and Jimbo love baseball so much that they sneak in to watch the Homestead Grays, a Negro League team, play. They are excited when they learn that one of the players, Josh Gibson will be staying at their house.


Great read for sports fans.
Part of the "Scraps of Time" series

[Amy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes place in 1937, part of Scraps of Time series. Tells how Tank and his brother love baseball, get to meet Josh Gibson (who played in the Negro League) and even are able to form their own baseball team. Good historical fic book for 3rd/4th grade boys.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading all four books of the series that made history come alive.