I’m excited to share Warrior on the Mound, a brand-new middle-grade novel!

Today is just a regular day for most, but for the mom of a baseball fan, it’s been marked on my calendar for a while: MLB Opening Day! And how better to celebrate than with a new book? Debut author Sandra W. Headen has hit it out of the park with a baseball-themed book that Kirkus Reviews has called “An outstanding blend of history, sports, and coming of age: not to be missed.” Without further ado, I’d love to run the bases with you as we dig into this special title.

This story takes place in 1939 near Wilmington, North Carolina, amid segregation. Twelve-year-old Cato and his younger sister live with their grandparents after the loss of their mother during childbirth and the mysterious death of their baseball-playing father, Daddy Mo. Cato and his buddies sneak onto their white rivals’ new baseball field to honor the memory of Cato’s dad. Their innocent intentions soon make them the targets of a local resurgence of racial hatred reminiscent of the 1898 Wilmington Coup.

Cato attempts to lead his friends well and be wise in his dealings with others while struggling to fully grieve his father’s death without any understanding of what really happened. Along the way, he’s befriended by the most unexpected people, including baseball great Satchel Paige. Cato’s bravery and optimism usher in a redemptive, healing experience for his family and others.

Tenderly told with great affection, this book is a home run!

As a middle grade novel, Warrior on the Mound targets ages 8-12, and I think 10-12 year olds would enjoy it most. There’s enough play-by-play baseball included to satisfy fans but not so much as to alienate readers who don’t care a lick about the sport. Baseball is an important element, but it’s really a story of family, friendship, regret, grief, and forgiveness.

The back matter includes an author’s note explaining which parts of the fictional story are rooted in truth, an explanation of how events in the book relate to historical incidents, and a timeline of Black Americans in baseball.

“The main character, Cato Jones, was named for Octavius Valentine Catto, an amateur baseball player, high school teacher, and social activist who lived in Philadelphia from the 1840s to the 1870s. During this period, Black players were not allowed to join Major League Baseball teams. Catto, a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phythians, succeeded in challenging white teams to play against them in interracial baseball games.”

Sandra W. Headen, Warrior on the Mound author’s note

Warrior on the Mound content considerations: I find this book to be completely appropriate for the intended audience. I’m providing details on potentially sensitive topics so parents/teachers are prepared for important discussions. It contains:

• Historically accurate racial tensions, including conflicts between the Black and white youth baseball players
• Repeated use of the term “neega” as a racial slur
• Animal cruelty when bullies harm a kitten. The kitten lives and thrives afterward.
• A non-gruesome memory of the main character’s dad being hung from a tree. The incident clearly refers to a lynching, but that specific term isn’t used, and the story is relayed as tenderly as possible, given the circumstances.
• The main character’s mom dies in childbirth (prior to the start of the book), and he and his sister are lovingly cared for by their grandparents.
• No profanity
• No romantic relationships

Read this book before Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The stories are entirely different, and this one takes place 4-5 years after Mildred D. Taylor’s book, but the time periods and issues are similar. However, Warrior on the Mound is more accessible to younger readers and provides a gentler introduction to the racism that was prevalent during the Jim Crow era and the Great Depression. There are also other similarities. Both books:

• Demonstrate deep emotional ties and intimacy with grandparents and between siblings
• Give examples of injustices endured by Black people at the hands of town racists
• Include the development of close, trusting interracial friendships
• Describe the inherent complexities of Black people shopping in white-owned stores
• Reference a potential or actual lynching without focusing on the details of the incident
• Show Black kids experiencing a range of emotions amid hardships and joys
• Involve uncles who hold grudges
• Have people pulling up to the main family’s house in fancy cars
• Describe a feast of soul food enjoyed by the characters
• Include references to the characters attending church

I wholeheartedly recommend both books!

I hope to include Warrior on the Mound as a Heritage Book Club pick, so it will be a “fun read” for our group, but it could easily fit into your curriculum with these 20th-century historical fiction books. If you’d like to do a deep-dive on the Negro leagues, you’ll want to check out the virtual exhibits at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (or visit in person) and read a few of these other titles to round out your study. There’s a little something here for everyone!

Read my book A PLACE TO BELONG to learn how my family joyfully incorporates books like these into our family culture. You can find me talking about Warrior on the Mound and more on Instagram @heritagemomblog. See you there!