Annotation: A smart and interesting commentary set in the Midwest during the 1920s that intersects two very American pastimes: baseball and racism. 

5.18.08 cjm

The Golem's Mighty Swing, by James Sturm. Drawn and Quarterly Books, Montreal, 2001.  978-1896597713

Summary: An all-Jewish baseball league signs a deal with a promoter to dress their one black player (billed as a "member of a lost tribe") as the Golem, since a movie made of the legend has recently swept the theaters.

Analysis: This is nicely done. Lots of play-by-play games for sports fans, but they don't go on too long to bore non-fans (i.e., me!). The prejudice the team faces is dealt with at a good level for middle-school students -- Sturm doesn't gloss things over, but also has the team maintain its humor and their hardship isn't the sole focus of the book. The incorporation of the golem legend makes an interesting twist on the standard historical fiction novel. I am very curious, though, to know how Henry got onto the Stars of David in the first place.

Illustrations: Shaded black-and-white pen and ink drawings, fairly realistic. The illustrations tend to focus highly on people and their expressions, letting the background go blank when it would get in the way.

Rating: 5Q/5P

Curricular connections: 6-9th grade unit on American history or race relations. Also great free reading for reluctant readers.

--SLH