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

by Michelle Y. Green

Book Overview

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 determined 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 until she realizes her dream and becomes one of three women to play in the Negro Leagues. Mamie Johnson's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142400726
• ISBN13: 9780142400722
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

An excellent Biography By NV A Strong Right Arm

This book I am reviewing is A Strong Right Arm. by Michelle Y. Green. I believe this book deserves a five star because it tells everything about Peanut Johnson and his struggles to play in the Major Leagues. This book is about one of the first African American baseball players to play baseball in 1948. The problem in the story is that the M.L.B wont let him play because the color of his skin. But after many protests and the fact that they already let Jackie Robinson play. He was really excited to play. I would recommend this book because of its really good if you like baseball. I think this book would be good for ages 9-12 because of the details and its vocabulary.

A Strong Baseball Player

This book was about a girl that always dreamt of becoming a baseball player. Her dream was to play on a national baseball team. During Segregation, Mamie "Peanut" Johnson couldn't use the water fountains or bathrooms because she was Black. She always had to go through back doors but she still never gave up on her dream. I thought this was very cruel for Black people because they should be treated the same. In the book, Mamie Johnson said, " Thanks to Jackie Robinson I was one step closer to the dream." But thanks to Mamie Johnson, I learned to never give up on my dreams. Even if your Black or White you can still accomplish your dreams.

Mamie's Dream

You don't have to like baseball to read "A Strong Right Arm". This book is not just about baseball. This book is about what happened in the life of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. When she played baseball it was hard for her at that time because she was Black and a woman. During the time of Segregation, Black people couldn't play baseball in the majors so they played for the Negro League. Mamie followed her dream and became one of the first women to play baseball on a men's team. What this book is trying to tell you is to never give up and to always follow your dreams.

Fascinating Story, Fascinating Person

Green presents the fascinating story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, one of only three female professional baseball players. Raised in the Deep South, Johnson had a deep love of baseball early on and wanted to play the game, although she had two strikes against her: she was female and she was African American. Green describes Johnson's efforts to challenge the boundaries built around her because or her race and gender, and recounts both victories and defeats in the face of overt racism and sexism. Johnson's biggest break came in 1953, when she was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns in baseball's Negro Leagues. With the color barrier broken by Jackie Robinson, many players from the Negro Leagues had moved on to the Major League, leaving the owners of the Clowns desperate to sign new talent. Johnson played for the team until 1955. The book concludes with Johnson's present-day passion to keep people conscious of the Negro Leagues and their role in baseball's history.Although Green's first-person narration in the character of Mamie Johnson is confusing at first, the story of Johnson's life is compelling. The reader cannot help but admire Johnson. The vivid portrayal of the Negro Leagues and the prejudices of the day make this a great selection for Black History Month assignments, and Johnson's role as one of only three female pro baseball players makes this suitable for Women's History Month as well. However, it will be a shame if those commemorations are the only occasions when this book is read. The book includes an introduction by Johnson herself, who recounts how the author discovered her and her story; there are also a list of additional resources and a note about the "They Played Baseball" foundation.

Fabulous story of an American Hero

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.