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protoman21's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty scattered story with a baseball theme that ended up with zero payoff. The message was certainly good, but the delivery left a lot to be desired.
darastar's review
3.0
So, the audiobook was a little hard to follow since it was a "full cast recording", and it's hard to keep players from two teams straight in your head when you don't have a list anywhere to look at.
But the story was good - the ending was a bit too ambiguous for my liking, and there seemed to be a giant leap at the end of going from not-understanding to understanding, which seemed unlikely for the character in question, but ... whatever. It was a fun story, and fun to see a historical fiction book about GIRLS in SPORTS, within the context of history.
But the story was good - the ending was a bit too ambiguous for my liking, and there seemed to be a giant leap at the end of going from not-understanding to understanding, which seemed unlikely for the character in question, but ... whatever. It was a fun story, and fun to see a historical fiction book about GIRLS in SPORTS, within the context of history.
sarakday's review against another edition
5.0
I had concerns at the beginning of this book that it would be trite and repetitive, and there are a few moments that I wish were handled just a bit more gracefully. On the whole, though, this is a story that covers a lot of angles and allows for a lot of important questions; it's a book that trusts young readers to pay attention, think critically, and ask themselves what they believe.
dlsmall's review
4.0
4.5/5…I first read this years ago when teaching, and it holds up. What a freight train of foreboding this story delivers, and I love the voice of the narrators (the members of the teams)…if their voices tend to be pretty similar..save for Shazam, and Susannah.
mizclaff's review
4.0
I was quite impressed by this book. Wolff (thank god she grew up to be an author, eh? And a decent one at that?) overreaches a little bit by aiming for a twenty-person narrative (!!), so naturally the girls start to sound similar after a while, but the key players -- especially Shazam -- are really evocatively drawn and their voices are clear and strong.
The plot builds in a slow, simmering, inexorable way, and there's no easy payoff or pat, after-school-special ending that teaches us all a shining lesson about racism, thank goodness.
The pride, passion, and clarity with which each girl speaks about playing softball makes it an excellent read for athletic middle-school girls.
Really thoughtful and well-written overall.
The plot builds in a slow, simmering, inexorable way, and there's no easy payoff or pat, after-school-special ending that teaches us all a shining lesson about racism, thank goodness.
The pride, passion, and clarity with which each girl speaks about playing softball makes it an excellent read for athletic middle-school girls.
Really thoughtful and well-written overall.
psalmcat's review
4.0
Another YA title, also about sports. This one is set in Washington State in 1949 and focuses on a girl's softball game between two towns: the 6th grade girls from each town compete each spring (for 50 years) for the trophy, and for the town's honor. Then a new, terrific softball player comes to one of the schools, one who has some major PTSD issues from the war. She doesn't like Japanese people, and one of the opposing team members is Japanese. Told by all the girls, interspersed with one another. Interesting.
nancyotoole's review
3.0
Every year in the towns of Barlow and Bear Creek Ridge, a softball game takes place between two sixth grade teams. In 1949, each team is convinced that they are going to win. Bear Ridge Creek believes they are going to win because of Aki, an incredibly talented Japanese-American who has spent a years in an Interment Camp during World War II. Barlow believes they are going to win because of Shazam, a phenomenal player with a horrible secret. No one could have predicted what ended up happening at the Bat 6 baseball game in 1949.
Bat 6 is a work of historical fiction about racism and living in post World War II America. The author skillfully paints the time period, and religious and political beliefs of the people during that time. The issue of racism is dealt with in a head on manner that some people may not seen as appropriate for young readers, but the overall message, being that racism is bad and has consequences, is well played out. The story is told through the alternate points of view of the twenty-one girls in in the Bat 6 softball game. The use of so many narrators is interesting, as if gives the reader many different reactions and opinions, but at times feels overwhelming. It can be difficult to keep the names and stories of the twenty-one narrators straight for an adult reader, never mind a child. There are a few characters who feel very well established. It is impressive that the author takes so much time to develop Shazam, who's dislike of Japanese may seem shocking. Still, one leaves the book believing that Shazam is not necessarily a bad child, but someone who has had such beliefs pounded into her, and struggles with letting them go. Bat 6 may start off slow, but once the story gets to the softball game, the readers patience will pay off as they are treated to an interesting story about softball, racism, and small town life in the 1940s.
Recommended Grade level- 4-6
Bat 6 is a work of historical fiction about racism and living in post World War II America. The author skillfully paints the time period, and religious and political beliefs of the people during that time. The issue of racism is dealt with in a head on manner that some people may not seen as appropriate for young readers, but the overall message, being that racism is bad and has consequences, is well played out. The story is told through the alternate points of view of the twenty-one girls in in the Bat 6 softball game. The use of so many narrators is interesting, as if gives the reader many different reactions and opinions, but at times feels overwhelming. It can be difficult to keep the names and stories of the twenty-one narrators straight for an adult reader, never mind a child. There are a few characters who feel very well established. It is impressive that the author takes so much time to develop Shazam, who's dislike of Japanese may seem shocking. Still, one leaves the book believing that Shazam is not necessarily a bad child, but someone who has had such beliefs pounded into her, and struggles with letting them go. Bat 6 may start off slow, but once the story gets to the softball game, the readers patience will pay off as they are treated to an interesting story about softball, racism, and small town life in the 1940s.
Recommended Grade level- 4-6
amdame1's review
4.0
4.5 stars. Set in 1949 about a friendly schoolgirl softball team between two rival towns. Then racism rears its ugly head... Narrator voice changes constantly, but is always labeled. Could make it tough for a less skilled reader.
emvsmith's review
4.0
Summary (by me): Two neighboring towns in rural Oregon are preparing for the fiftieth annual 6th grade girls softball game. When game day finally arrives it is ruined by bad sportmanship between a young girls whose father was killed at Pearl Harbor, and a young Japanese American girl recently returned from internment.
Review: I really liked this story. It is told in first person by all the members of each team as they recount the recent events. At first, keeping all the different narrators straight seems like a daunting task, but it is not necessary; the story comes through. The author writes in what I have to assume is accurate venacular for the time and place, rural Oregon in the late 1940's. Because the story is told in first person, the girls have no need to write detailed explanations of things common in their day and possible unknown to the reader, such as a icebox. These things must be pieced together and deduced from the text, a good skill to practice for a developing reader. The underlying themes of tolerance, acceptance, and forgiveness are repeated often. Overall, a great read.
Postive review in SLJ which beautifully describes how the author addresses "the irreversible consequences of war and the necessity to cultivate peace and speaks volumes about courage, responsibility, and reconciliation all in a book about softball."
Negative review by Publisher's Weekly calls the book "ambitious but ultimately unsuccessfu".
Review: I really liked this story. It is told in first person by all the members of each team as they recount the recent events. At first, keeping all the different narrators straight seems like a daunting task, but it is not necessary; the story comes through. The author writes in what I have to assume is accurate venacular for the time and place, rural Oregon in the late 1940's. Because the story is told in first person, the girls have no need to write detailed explanations of things common in their day and possible unknown to the reader, such as a icebox. These things must be pieced together and deduced from the text, a good skill to practice for a developing reader. The underlying themes of tolerance, acceptance, and forgiveness are repeated often. Overall, a great read.
Postive review in SLJ which beautifully describes how the author addresses "the irreversible consequences of war and the necessity to cultivate peace and speaks volumes about courage, responsibility, and reconciliation all in a book about softball."
Negative review by Publisher's Weekly calls the book "ambitious but ultimately unsuccessfu".