What do you think?
Rate this book
42 Is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero
An eye-opening look at the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and became an American hero.
Baseball, basketball, football -- no matter the game, Jackie Robinson excelled. His talents would have easily landed another man a career in pro sports, but such opportunities were closed to athletes like Jackie for one reason: his skin was the wrong color. Settling for playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Jackie chafed at the inability to prove himself where it mattered most: the major leagues. Then in 1946, Branch Rickey, manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, recruited Jackie Robinson. Jackie faced cruel and sometimes violent hatred and discrimination, but he proved himself again and again, exhibiting courage, determination, restraint, and a phenomenal ability to play the game. In this compelling biography, award-winning author Doreen Rappaport chronicles the extraordinary life of Jackie Robinson and how his achievements won over -- and changed -- a segregated nation.
Baseball, basketball, football -- no matter the game, Jackie Robinson excelled. His talents would have easily landed another man a career in pro sports, but such opportunities were closed to athletes like Jackie for one reason: his skin was the wrong color. Settling for playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Jackie chafed at the inability to prove himself where it mattered most: the major leagues. Then in 1946, Branch Rickey, manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, recruited Jackie Robinson. Jackie faced cruel and sometimes violent hatred and discrimination, but he proved himself again and again, exhibiting courage, determination, restraint, and a phenomenal ability to play the game. In this compelling biography, award-winning author Doreen Rappaport chronicles the extraordinary life of Jackie Robinson and how his achievements won over -- and changed -- a segregated nation.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2017
102 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Doreen Rappaport
61 books78 followersDoreen Rappaport has written many books of fiction and nonfiction for young readers, specializing in thoroughly researched multicultural history, historical fiction, retellings of folktales and myths, and stories of those she calls the "not-yet-celebrated." Among her recent books is Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., illustrated by Bryan Collier, which received a Caldecott Honor Award and a Coretta Scott King Honor Award for illustration. Doreen Rappaport divides her time between New York City and a rural village in upstate New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
May 30, 2019
this was a really good book, I normally do not like biographies, but I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to anyone even if you do not play sports.
March 13, 2018
A quick read, I really liked that this focused as much on Jackie's willingness to explicitly fight back against racism as it did on his sports prowess. It seems like a lot of what's written for kids about well know African Americans from our past is about their willingness to work together and turn the other cheek, but it's really useful and important to see these people as individuals, not martyrs or sanitized figures. Jackie Robinson was remarkable for many reasons, and I learned a lot about the ways that he fought racism aside from his diligent and tireless work on the baseball field.
April 30, 2019
This was an informational book about Jackie Robinson. It is very informative and eye opening about his life and what he managed to accomplish in his life span. This was a very quick informational book.
March 26, 2019
A quick and informative read about Jackie Robinson’s life and groundbreaking career in Major League Baseball. Readers should be aware that this book includes direct quotations of the racial slurs Mr. Robinson faced, but I would still recommend this book for readers 10 and up.
October 16, 2019
it is a good book and if you like baseball this is a good book to read
March 6, 2019
This super quick non-fiction read tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the trailblazing African American athlete who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and, in doing so, opened the doors for others to follow in his footsteps. Following Robinson from his childhood where he idolized his older brother for his own athletic exploits all the way through his success in the majors, readers will get a vivid glimpse into the racism and pushback he and his family faced every step of the way, from almost every corner of his travels.
I'm not a baseball historian, just a well-informed fan. I have to be honest and say this book didn't necessarily offer up anything new or ground breaking. Robinson's story is well known. But, for younger people whom this book is intended for, 42 is Not Just a Number provides a pretty accessible view of this time in history and the character that helped Robinson become a symbol of hope and perseverance. As a nominee for the 2020 Rebecca Caudill Book Award, it is a quality piece of non-fiction that is worth checking out.
I'm not a baseball historian, just a well-informed fan. I have to be honest and say this book didn't necessarily offer up anything new or ground breaking. Robinson's story is well known. But, for younger people whom this book is intended for, 42 is Not Just a Number provides a pretty accessible view of this time in history and the character that helped Robinson become a symbol of hope and perseverance. As a nominee for the 2020 Rebecca Caudill Book Award, it is a quality piece of non-fiction that is worth checking out.
Read
November 15, 2019The book is mainly about how Jackie Robinson had lived his whole life. When he was a kid he didn't have a father so he lived with his mom and older brother. When he got older he found out that he was good at football he started playing in middle then high then he got a scholarship for the University Of California, LA. When he was walking around the school he bumped into a pretty girl (in his opinion) and carried on? (Later his wife). He injured his ankle while playing football so he stopped.
I think the book was great I like the details behind his life and how he managed around when he was little. The book had overall a great story behind Jackie, but one thing it was missing was the action and the thrill (Jackie had some thrill in his life right?). I give the book a 8/10 don't get me wrong it was still good just had a few missing parts. I suggest this book to people who like Baseball, History behind players, and all-around sports fans.
I think the book was great I like the details behind his life and how he managed around when he was little. The book had overall a great story behind Jackie, but one thing it was missing was the action and the thrill (Jackie had some thrill in his life right?). I give the book a 8/10 don't get me wrong it was still good just had a few missing parts. I suggest this book to people who like Baseball, History behind players, and all-around sports fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2019
I chose this book about Jackie Robinson because my students in the school are doing a unit on Athletes for social change and we're doing several lessons about Jackie Robinson so I was inspired to pick this book. This was a WOW book for me because it is very real about the experiences Robinson went through on his journey to make it in the major leagues and discusses some heavy topics of segregation and racism in a manner that is appropriate for students. This book is classified as a Biography and would be the best for the 5th grade. I think an awesome assignment to go along with this book would be to have students put into groups and then each group would get to choose a significant moment in Robinson's life that they felt led to his success. They would then have to write a script and then perform it and record themselves, like a movie. Students would each have specific roles in the process, and on a Friday the class would have "movie day" with popcorn and snack etc. where the class views each group's short film.
July 8, 2017
Jackie Robinson was more than a baseball player. This book chronicles his life and hardships from childhood through his baseball career. His courageand strength in the face of racism and segregation show what a great man he was. The book highlights his life at various ages and includes details of his games with the Dogders. This book would be a welcome addition to any sports collection in any library.. The timeline at the end of the book includes some additional details about his life. I would have enjoyed some photographs to be included with the text.
February 26, 2018
Solid straight forward biography of Jackie Robinson, that focuses on his role in breaking racial barriers. I appreciate how the author provides lots of information about Robinson's early years and shows how he stood up to discrimination often and with force as a young man in school and in the military. Noting the strength it took not to respond to overt racism in his early baseball career became even more compelling.
May 23, 2019
A short, concise biography about the great Jackie Robinson packed with facts, trivia, and awe-inspiring statistics. Jackie was a trailblazer with support from both unlikely and likely sources. His performance on and off the field is legendary and timeless.
42 Is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero is a must for sports enthusiasts and readers of all ages. Includes Author's Note, Timeline, Source Notes, Selected Bibliography, Books, Websites, and Index.
42 Is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero is a must for sports enthusiasts and readers of all ages. Includes Author's Note, Timeline, Source Notes, Selected Bibliography, Books, Websites, and Index.
Read
March 15, 2019The book I chose to read is called 42 Is Not Just a Number by Doreen Rappaport. The book is about the life and experiences of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player to play in the major leagues. I like this book because I found it interesting and inspiring. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading about baseball or the history of American pop culture.
February 15, 2019
I have never read anything about Jackie Robinson before so I truly enjoyed this. My only complaint about the book is that I wish there were pictures in the book maybe one at the end of each of the chapters.
June 13, 2019
This was a wonderful nonfiction. I really enjoyed the story. Jackie Robinson's life is told in such a wondrous way that does not bore the reader. I would recommend this to even people who do not like nonfiction.
May 20, 2018
The man was inspiring, this writing is well researched with splendid narrative style providing details that flesh out the man and the player.
March 29, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It was about Jacki Robinson's life. It was from when he was a kid growing up in California until his army experiences and his baseball career. It told me a lot about his life that I didn't know before.
Read
February 1, 2022Great book If you want to learn about Jackie and a amazing book about what he overcame.
December 8, 2019
In an attempt to read widely, this title came up in a conversation with my husband, so I though I'd give it a try. I enjoyed this quick and informative read about Jackie Robinson's life, and I can easily envision students feeling the same way. Recommended for G6, 7, & 8.
December 9, 2017
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
I always knew in a vague sort of way that Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player, and that this was a Big Deal back in its time. I've never been much into sports, so I never knew much more about Jackie than those basic facts.
42 is Not Just a Number does a really good job of going beyond the basic facts and giving us a good sense of who Jackie was and what he experienced throughout his life–or at least the first few decades of his life; the last twenty years are pretty much skipped over. I think the parts that fascinated me the most, though, were actually the earliest days: his childhood and days in the military before he joined the Dodgers. You know what the single most fascinating thing I learned about Jackie Robinson was? His older brother Mack won a silver Olympic medal in the 200-meter dash in 1936. He received no support from the city of Pasadena when he went off to the Olympics, no ticker-tape parade when he returned, and once he finished competing he literally wound up sweeping the streets of the city at night.
I suppose it's just because of the glory and fame that follows all the Olympic athletes (regardless of race) nowadays, but the sad mental image of this amazing athlete coming so far only to be turned away by every white person in Pasadena is particularly stark and hateful to me. Even now, we all know about Jackie Robinson–but do we know about his brother Mack Robinson, an equally talented athlete in his own right? No, we don't. Not at all.
The other interesting scene that particularly caught my attention was when Jackie got in huge trouble when he sat on a bus next to a black woman whom the driver perceived to be white. Basically, when he got pulled before an authority figure in the army for this "crime," he was disrespectful of the charges and disobedient when ordered to stay in a different room where he wouldn't be allowed to argue his case. He eventually actually went to trial for the offences, and while he was acquitted he was left behind by his platoon. It all ended well, I suppose, since that indirectly led to his becoming a professional baseball player, but the injustice still rankles.
Basically, this is a straightforward and fairly simple, yet still detailed, description of Jackie Robinson's most formative moments. It does skim over some times that I think would have been interesting to know more about, but on the whole it does a good job and makes for an interesting read. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Jackie Robinson the human being, then I recommend 42 is Not Just a Number.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I always knew in a vague sort of way that Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player, and that this was a Big Deal back in its time. I've never been much into sports, so I never knew much more about Jackie than those basic facts.
42 is Not Just a Number does a really good job of going beyond the basic facts and giving us a good sense of who Jackie was and what he experienced throughout his life–or at least the first few decades of his life; the last twenty years are pretty much skipped over. I think the parts that fascinated me the most, though, were actually the earliest days: his childhood and days in the military before he joined the Dodgers. You know what the single most fascinating thing I learned about Jackie Robinson was? His older brother Mack won a silver Olympic medal in the 200-meter dash in 1936. He received no support from the city of Pasadena when he went off to the Olympics, no ticker-tape parade when he returned, and once he finished competing he literally wound up sweeping the streets of the city at night.
I suppose it's just because of the glory and fame that follows all the Olympic athletes (regardless of race) nowadays, but the sad mental image of this amazing athlete coming so far only to be turned away by every white person in Pasadena is particularly stark and hateful to me. Even now, we all know about Jackie Robinson–but do we know about his brother Mack Robinson, an equally talented athlete in his own right? No, we don't. Not at all.
The other interesting scene that particularly caught my attention was when Jackie got in huge trouble when he sat on a bus next to a black woman whom the driver perceived to be white. Basically, when he got pulled before an authority figure in the army for this "crime," he was disrespectful of the charges and disobedient when ordered to stay in a different room where he wouldn't be allowed to argue his case. He eventually actually went to trial for the offences, and while he was acquitted he was left behind by his platoon. It all ended well, I suppose, since that indirectly led to his becoming a professional baseball player, but the injustice still rankles.
Basically, this is a straightforward and fairly simple, yet still detailed, description of Jackie Robinson's most formative moments. It does skim over some times that I think would have been interesting to know more about, but on the whole it does a good job and makes for an interesting read. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Jackie Robinson the human being, then I recommend 42 is Not Just a Number.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2019
This book starts when you're introduced to Mack Jack Robinsons' older brother. Mack is extremely athletic and is an amazing track athlete. Jack adored his brother and this admiration led to Jack being inspired to become athletic as well. Jack excelled in many different sports and was a record-setter in the Negro leagues. Jack lived while segregation still existed and lived in a neighborhood with primarily white people. Jack lived with many of his family members and his grandmother told him to stand up in the face of injustice and with Jack's temper, he always fiercely stood up for himself. Jackie once threw dirt at a girl who called him a slur and he had been arrested multiple times for many anti-segregation acts along with swimming in the city reservoir. Jack was approached by a priest who gave Jack a star position in the church's athletic programs. Jack had been such a star athlete his friends gave him the nickname Jackie. Jackie tried out for their towns minor Negro leagues and set so many records that a man who worked for the Major leagues' spring training approached him and offered for him to be the first black batter in Major league baseball. The only rule was that Jackie had to keep his temper under wraps and should not retaliate against the prejudice and fury he was about to face.
Jackie agreed and he and his girlfriend Rachel went to the tryouts he made it in and his performance could not be challenged. His spring training team traveled a lot and Jackie was denied many of the privileges his other teammates received. Jackie hated this but held his tongue and withheld his promise to control his temper. Jack was finally accepted into the Brooklyn Dodgers where he was compared to Babe Ruth and the Dodgers received mass amounts of attention from not only white viewers but black viewers too. People chased Jackie and adored him. The Dodgers won a lot of their games and depended heavily on Jackie. Jackie was enlisted in the army but was never sent onto the field due to an ankle injury but even in the armed forces he faced prejudice and was honorably discharged for refusing to leave a seat on the bus for a white man. Jackie was constantly badgered by racists and adversity but surprisingly Jackie had broken his promise very few times. Jackie had invited many other races into Major League baseball he had successfully broken the barrier between races in baseball. Jackie was one of the greatest players in baseball and he deserved his spot in the baseball hall of fame.
There are very few things I would change. One of the things would be the amount of detail they put into Jackie. Some of the details are unnecessary and are completely separate from the point of the story. Another thing I would change was the inclusion of Jackies' older brother Macks stats I would have just left it with a few sentences about Macks excellence in sports. I really enjoyed this book and I really liked getting to know more about Jackie Robinson.
Jackie agreed and he and his girlfriend Rachel went to the tryouts he made it in and his performance could not be challenged. His spring training team traveled a lot and Jackie was denied many of the privileges his other teammates received. Jackie hated this but held his tongue and withheld his promise to control his temper. Jack was finally accepted into the Brooklyn Dodgers where he was compared to Babe Ruth and the Dodgers received mass amounts of attention from not only white viewers but black viewers too. People chased Jackie and adored him. The Dodgers won a lot of their games and depended heavily on Jackie. Jackie was enlisted in the army but was never sent onto the field due to an ankle injury but even in the armed forces he faced prejudice and was honorably discharged for refusing to leave a seat on the bus for a white man. Jackie was constantly badgered by racists and adversity but surprisingly Jackie had broken his promise very few times. Jackie had invited many other races into Major League baseball he had successfully broken the barrier between races in baseball. Jackie was one of the greatest players in baseball and he deserved his spot in the baseball hall of fame.
There are very few things I would change. One of the things would be the amount of detail they put into Jackie. Some of the details are unnecessary and are completely separate from the point of the story. Another thing I would change was the inclusion of Jackies' older brother Macks stats I would have just left it with a few sentences about Macks excellence in sports. I really enjoyed this book and I really liked getting to know more about Jackie Robinson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2019
42 Is Not Just A Number Candlewick, march
Doreen Rappaport 12 2019, 94 pp., $6.99
ISBN 1536206326
Players that play five sports are hard to come by, but then there is an exception that man was named; Jackie Robinson (Jackie). Even though Jackie Robinson had an amazing skill set and was a hard worker no matter what he did sadly his skin color didn’t line up with the time.
The book 42 Is Not Just A Number by Doreen Rappaport is a heart-wrenching experience about the first black Major league baseball player. And how Jackie had to make sacrifices such as playing baseball in the negro leagues because blacks weren’t allowed in the major leagues. Finally, Jackie's hard work and compassion for the game played out and the Brooklyn Dodgers team manager/owner Branch Rickey took a chance to integrate the sport of baseball for good.
Even though Jackie Robinson made it to the major leagues his journey was just beginning. He had to go through hatred and racial prejudice his whole life. But that did not stop Jackie he used the hatred words and violence to his advantage to help pave a pivotal pathway for black American people, especially in the sport of baseball. According to https://theundefeated.com/features/af..., there is a very diverse game of baseball that has changed a lot over time since Jackie Robinson had played ball it says “ In 1956, Robinson’s final year in the majors, African-Americans constituted 6.7 percent of major league rosters. Today that number is 7.7 percent, according to MLB.”
This book would be a good read for baseball fans, and especially people who want to learn about how Jackie Robinson created a name for himself. Also how he created a pivotal path for black American people in the sport of baseball.
This is a very impressive number since the day Jackie Robinson took the field for the first time on April 15, 1947, when he was the only black player out on the field. Even though the number of black baseball players is a small portion of the different ethnicities in the league Jackie didn’t just make a path for black players he made a path for races and ethnicities to join the game and that is why 42 Is Not Just number.
Doreen Rappaport 12 2019, 94 pp., $6.99
ISBN 1536206326
Players that play five sports are hard to come by, but then there is an exception that man was named; Jackie Robinson (Jackie). Even though Jackie Robinson had an amazing skill set and was a hard worker no matter what he did sadly his skin color didn’t line up with the time.
The book 42 Is Not Just A Number by Doreen Rappaport is a heart-wrenching experience about the first black Major league baseball player. And how Jackie had to make sacrifices such as playing baseball in the negro leagues because blacks weren’t allowed in the major leagues. Finally, Jackie's hard work and compassion for the game played out and the Brooklyn Dodgers team manager/owner Branch Rickey took a chance to integrate the sport of baseball for good.
Even though Jackie Robinson made it to the major leagues his journey was just beginning. He had to go through hatred and racial prejudice his whole life. But that did not stop Jackie he used the hatred words and violence to his advantage to help pave a pivotal pathway for black American people, especially in the sport of baseball. According to https://theundefeated.com/features/af..., there is a very diverse game of baseball that has changed a lot over time since Jackie Robinson had played ball it says “ In 1956, Robinson’s final year in the majors, African-Americans constituted 6.7 percent of major league rosters. Today that number is 7.7 percent, according to MLB.”
This book would be a good read for baseball fans, and especially people who want to learn about how Jackie Robinson created a name for himself. Also how he created a pivotal path for black American people in the sport of baseball.
This is a very impressive number since the day Jackie Robinson took the field for the first time on April 15, 1947, when he was the only black player out on the field. Even though the number of black baseball players is a small portion of the different ethnicities in the league Jackie didn’t just make a path for black players he made a path for races and ethnicities to join the game and that is why 42 Is Not Just number.
March 1, 2022
The book 42 is Not Just a Number is about a guy named Jackie Robinson who played in a small league of baseball. One of the Doger’s managers asked Jackie Robinson if he wanted to play for the Dodgers. Jackie said yes. He was the only Black player on the team. A lot of people didn’t want to be around him and they did everything in their power to get him off the team. One person asked the team to vote and said they wouldn’t play until Jackie was off the team. They were forced to play with Jackie but they kept their distance from him. In the first game they tried aiming at him with the baseball to hurt him. Jackie hit home runs or at least made it to base. People were saying racist things to him and he ignored it and focused on himself and his love of baseball. He thought about his wife.
Eventually a lot more African Amercians came to the games to see him play. Jackie Robinson inspired a lot of people. After the Dodgers started winning games, some of the team came around and wanted to be good teammates and friends with Jackie. The team played a game against a team whose coach would go on the field and be racist toward Jackie and yell at him and tell him to leave any time Jackie went to bat. Jackie’s coach told him to ignore it and play the game. Jackie played well and the other coach kept up with the racism. Jackie’s team walked up to the coach and told him that if it didn’t stop there would be issues. Jackie ignored the coach and they won the game. A few games later, someone asked the Sheriff to come in and remove Jackie from the game because Black people were not allowed to play in the league. Jackie was not removed and the Dodgers won a lot of games and made it to the Series, which the Dodgers won. Every year there is a day for Jackie where players wear the number 42 to represent the way he changed the game of baseball. I would recommend this book for people who are into history and sports. I would like to give this book 5 out of 5 because it told the history of the number 42. I found it interesting about what the blacks had to deal with back then.
Eventually a lot more African Amercians came to the games to see him play. Jackie Robinson inspired a lot of people. After the Dodgers started winning games, some of the team came around and wanted to be good teammates and friends with Jackie. The team played a game against a team whose coach would go on the field and be racist toward Jackie and yell at him and tell him to leave any time Jackie went to bat. Jackie’s coach told him to ignore it and play the game. Jackie played well and the other coach kept up with the racism. Jackie’s team walked up to the coach and told him that if it didn’t stop there would be issues. Jackie ignored the coach and they won the game. A few games later, someone asked the Sheriff to come in and remove Jackie from the game because Black people were not allowed to play in the league. Jackie was not removed and the Dodgers won a lot of games and made it to the Series, which the Dodgers won. Every year there is a day for Jackie where players wear the number 42 to represent the way he changed the game of baseball. I would recommend this book for people who are into history and sports. I would like to give this book 5 out of 5 because it told the history of the number 42. I found it interesting about what the blacks had to deal with back then.
May 28, 2019
Kids non-fiction really is the best. This short book taught me a whole bunch I didn't know about Jackie Robinson, first African-American man to play Major League Baseball.
For instance, his older brother, Mack, won the silver medal in the 200 meter dash in the 1936 Olympics right on the heels of Jesse Owens. During WWII, pressure from his friend, world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Lewis, convinced the Army to put Jackie and several other high-performing African Americans through officer training school. Jackie was a natural athlete who lettered in 4 sports, even in college. In fact, the first sport he tried to play professionally was football, but an ankle injury got him cut from his first semi-pro team.
Hearing about all the challenges racism put in his path was depressing - as a kid he could only swim at the pool on a certain day of the week; the neighbors in his mostly white neighborhood often were mean to him; despite his athletic prowess, college athletic scholarships were hard to come by; despite being a top performer in basic training, the Army had to be convinced to send him and other top-performing blacks to officer training; despite being a talented player in the Negro Leagues, it took several attempts to get an MLB team to follow through on actually letting him earn a spot on a team, and when he got there many players and managers didn't want to accept him.
It was encouraging to learn that his rise to the Major League taught him to take all that anger at being discriminated against and use it to build his inner strength and ignore the taunts and go on being the best baseball player he could be. Sometimes the best way to fight injustice is to blaze a trail and help others follow your lead.
So instead of reviewing the book, I've given a book report, but I guess that's the book's strength - it taught me a lot and got me excited to learn more about Jackie Robinson - the ball player, and the man.
For instance, his older brother, Mack, won the silver medal in the 200 meter dash in the 1936 Olympics right on the heels of Jesse Owens. During WWII, pressure from his friend, world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Lewis, convinced the Army to put Jackie and several other high-performing African Americans through officer training school. Jackie was a natural athlete who lettered in 4 sports, even in college. In fact, the first sport he tried to play professionally was football, but an ankle injury got him cut from his first semi-pro team.
Hearing about all the challenges racism put in his path was depressing - as a kid he could only swim at the pool on a certain day of the week; the neighbors in his mostly white neighborhood often were mean to him; despite his athletic prowess, college athletic scholarships were hard to come by; despite being a top performer in basic training, the Army had to be convinced to send him and other top-performing blacks to officer training; despite being a talented player in the Negro Leagues, it took several attempts to get an MLB team to follow through on actually letting him earn a spot on a team, and when he got there many players and managers didn't want to accept him.
It was encouraging to learn that his rise to the Major League taught him to take all that anger at being discriminated against and use it to build his inner strength and ignore the taunts and go on being the best baseball player he could be. Sometimes the best way to fight injustice is to blaze a trail and help others follow your lead.
So instead of reviewing the book, I've given a book report, but I guess that's the book's strength - it taught me a lot and got me excited to learn more about Jackie Robinson - the ball player, and the man.
July 29, 2020
Can you imagine a young child who was told they couldn’t swim in the same pool as some of the other kids or couldn’t eat their meal at the same counter in a restaurant as the other customers? Or later, when older facing racial prejudice while serving in the U.S. Army simply because they weren’t the color as the other soldiers? Well, baseball’s Hall-of-Famer Jack “Jackie” Robinson was this very child and the young man who dealt with racism during the 1930s and 1940s. He was the very first to have broken through the color barrier in Major League Baseball through his magnitude of athletic talents (along with the help from Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946) and his depth of courage, strong beliefs, and character. He was taught to fight back early on against cruel and violent hatred and racial injustice throughout his youth. Later in life, Jackie let his talents do the talking.
With its 21 short chapters, this biography tells a story of courage, self-control, and perseverance of a remarkable man and his phenomenal ability to play the game of baseball. Another book for enthusiasts worth checking into is Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America, written by his daughter Sharon Robinson. Though this 2020 Caudill nominated book is a great, captivating read, I thought it could have included photos more than those on the covers and a bit more story-line as to Jackie Robinson’s later achievements. Definitely a must-read about a fantastic human being and his extraordinary life proving that 42 is indeed not just a number!
This title is also available in digital formatting online with the Swan catalog and Hoopla. Suggested ages are 8-12 with a Lexile Reading Measure of 1010L.
Check this book out from the Villa Park Public Library!
With its 21 short chapters, this biography tells a story of courage, self-control, and perseverance of a remarkable man and his phenomenal ability to play the game of baseball. Another book for enthusiasts worth checking into is Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America, written by his daughter Sharon Robinson. Though this 2020 Caudill nominated book is a great, captivating read, I thought it could have included photos more than those on the covers and a bit more story-line as to Jackie Robinson’s later achievements. Definitely a must-read about a fantastic human being and his extraordinary life proving that 42 is indeed not just a number!
This title is also available in digital formatting online with the Swan catalog and Hoopla. Suggested ages are 8-12 with a Lexile Reading Measure of 1010L.
Check this book out from the Villa Park Public Library!
May 3, 2019
This book shows the journey of Jackie Robinson and his career and his journey to becoming the first african american in major league baseball. In the beginning, we see the racial segregation in his hometown in California, which is never talked about. Jackie was first in the negro leagues, which was a sad moment in US history. He had a temper, and before he started being watched because of his making history, would usually fight back the racial comments. He had to learn to keep his mouth shut, even when there was so much abuse when he was in the spotlight.
This is a sports book, but it is more of a factual, historical, and racial book. I don't think young boys would like it as you first may think. It highlights the flaws America had back in the day and it shows the true adversity that a true American hero went through. It was kind of slow for me, just because the print was small and it wasn't all to exciting, but overall a good book and I learned a lot.
This would go great with Black History Month. I think we could look into studying Black history within sports and how it was hard for them to join at first. I think having a sports figure for each person to write about would be great. How it may have been hard for them at first, but then they overcame and became the best. We could also just talk about biographies and how other people write about another persons life. We could maybe experiment with writing a biography about another student in the class.
This is a sports book, but it is more of a factual, historical, and racial book. I don't think young boys would like it as you first may think. It highlights the flaws America had back in the day and it shows the true adversity that a true American hero went through. It was kind of slow for me, just because the print was small and it wasn't all to exciting, but overall a good book and I learned a lot.
This would go great with Black History Month. I think we could look into studying Black history within sports and how it was hard for them to join at first. I think having a sports figure for each person to write about would be great. How it may have been hard for them at first, but then they overcame and became the best. We could also just talk about biographies and how other people write about another persons life. We could maybe experiment with writing a biography about another student in the class.
October 29, 2019
Jackie Robinson is one of the best baseball players of all time, and he changed the world by risking his life for freedom.
The genre of my book is a non-fiction biography. Why I think this is a non-fiction biography is because it’s a true story from beginning to end about someone’s life. This book is about Jackie Robinson struggles, as an African American, to become the most valuable baseball player of all time. You learn about his relationship with his brother and how he helped him throughout his life. He had to put his anger aside to play baseball and to not show his true colors.
The internal conflict is when Jackie is getting yelled at by white people, and he has to back down because he doesn’t want to.While Jackie was cleaning his house, his neighbor came out and started calling him a bad word. Jackie couldn’t react, or it would get him in trouble. So, he just kept it in his head.
The external conflict is when Jackie was sitting in the front of the bus until the white bus driver ordered him to go to the back. Jackie refused to do that multiple times, so then the bus driver pressed charges on Jackie.
I really enjoyed this book because it’s about baseball. Also, I love biographies and Jackie crossing barriers to change the world.I think this book is a really good for people who enjoy the segregation problem back then. Also, it’s for people from 5th-8th grade. Boys and Girls would both like this book.
The genre of my book is a non-fiction biography. Why I think this is a non-fiction biography is because it’s a true story from beginning to end about someone’s life. This book is about Jackie Robinson struggles, as an African American, to become the most valuable baseball player of all time. You learn about his relationship with his brother and how he helped him throughout his life. He had to put his anger aside to play baseball and to not show his true colors.
The internal conflict is when Jackie is getting yelled at by white people, and he has to back down because he doesn’t want to.While Jackie was cleaning his house, his neighbor came out and started calling him a bad word. Jackie couldn’t react, or it would get him in trouble. So, he just kept it in his head.
The external conflict is when Jackie was sitting in the front of the bus until the white bus driver ordered him to go to the back. Jackie refused to do that multiple times, so then the bus driver pressed charges on Jackie.
I really enjoyed this book because it’s about baseball. Also, I love biographies and Jackie crossing barriers to change the world.I think this book is a really good for people who enjoy the segregation problem back then. Also, it’s for people from 5th-8th grade. Boys and Girls would both like this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2020
This book, 42 is not Just a number, by Doreen Rappaport is a non-fiction book centered around the life and hardships faced by Jackie Robinson. I thought of reading this book since I love sports and realized that I did not have much knowledge about baseball in the 1900’s. This book is a biography of Jackie Robinson's life where we can somewhat experience the segregation towards him and the other negros in the public community throughout the U.S. The reader finds out that Robinson's mother was born into slavery and still faces discrimination towards herself and her five children including Jackie Robinson even after she was freed. The discrimination towards Robinson on and off the field is very vivid even though this book is of a lower reading level. One example of this is when Robinson begins to receive fan mail, but receives mail from others with threats to kill him and endure violence against him and his family (Rappaport 76). I like this book because we can feel the emotion behind Robinson to keep his composure on trains while he is travelling and even, in some instances, on the field. Since it is only 119 pages, including the bibliography, it is a great book to quickly read and learn about U.S. history and the integration of the minor and major baseball leagues. I would rate this book ⅘ stars since it provides a lot of information but can get a little boring at some times when reading, but that's probably because I don’t like to read for long periods of time.
April 19, 2023
"42 Is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero" is a powerful and inspiring book that recounts the remarkable story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player in Major League Baseball. The book, written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Bryan Collier, is a well-researched and beautifully crafted biography that is both informative and engaging.
The setting of the book is primarily in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s, a time of great social and political upheaval, particularly with regard to civil rights and race relations. The book focuses on Robinson's struggles against racism and discrimination as he broke the color barrier in baseball and became an American hero.
The plot of the book follows Robinson's life, from his childhood in Georgia to his college years at UCLA, and his eventual signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. It also explores the challenges he faced both on and off the field, including death threats, racial slurs, and physical violence. Despite these obstacles, Robinson remained determined and focused, becoming a key player in the civil rights movement and inspiring generations of people to stand up against racism and prejudice.
"42 Is Not Just a Number" is a 5-star book since it is an excellent book that celebrates the life and legacy of one of America's most important figures. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, civil rights, and the power of sports to bring about change.
The setting of the book is primarily in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s, a time of great social and political upheaval, particularly with regard to civil rights and race relations. The book focuses on Robinson's struggles against racism and discrimination as he broke the color barrier in baseball and became an American hero.
The plot of the book follows Robinson's life, from his childhood in Georgia to his college years at UCLA, and his eventual signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. It also explores the challenges he faced both on and off the field, including death threats, racial slurs, and physical violence. Despite these obstacles, Robinson remained determined and focused, becoming a key player in the civil rights movement and inspiring generations of people to stand up against racism and prejudice.
"42 Is Not Just a Number" is a 5-star book since it is an excellent book that celebrates the life and legacy of one of America's most important figures. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, civil rights, and the power of sports to bring about change.
September 4, 2017
Rappaport, Doreen 42 Is Not Just a Number, 128 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2017. $14.99 Content: Language: PG (“n” word); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.
Jackie Robinson was the youngest of six kids and his mother moved them to Pasadena, California to try and give them opportunities. Jackie was a good athlete in many sports, but Branch Rickey saw not just his athleticism but that he was a good candidate to desegregate major league baseball. Jackie was an amazing baseball player, but he also helped the country in a lot of ways to move past segregation. His baseball jersey number, 42, was permanently retired from baseball to honor him.
This book read like a bunch of short stories about Jackie Robinson from different times in his life. The stories that Rappaport chose were interesting and fascinating, but at times it was confusing because she would use the word “today” in reference to the time period she was talking about instead of the today for the reader. This is a simple and brief overview of the life of a revered historical figure, and there are better Jackie Robinson biographies out there, but this is a good introduction for the younger crowd.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Jackie Robinson was the youngest of six kids and his mother moved them to Pasadena, California to try and give them opportunities. Jackie was a good athlete in many sports, but Branch Rickey saw not just his athleticism but that he was a good candidate to desegregate major league baseball. Jackie was an amazing baseball player, but he also helped the country in a lot of ways to move past segregation. His baseball jersey number, 42, was permanently retired from baseball to honor him.
This book read like a bunch of short stories about Jackie Robinson from different times in his life. The stories that Rappaport chose were interesting and fascinating, but at times it was confusing because she would use the word “today” in reference to the time period she was talking about instead of the today for the reader. This is a simple and brief overview of the life of a revered historical figure, and there are better Jackie Robinson biographies out there, but this is a good introduction for the younger crowd.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
February 23, 2024
“42 Is Not Just a Number” by Doreen Rappaport is a short biography about Jackie Robinson. This book is a biography of Jackie Robinson and his life as a famous baseball player. This book goes in-depth about Jackie Robinson's childhood and how he was raised. Jackie was born on January 31st, 1919. Jackie Robinson was raised in a poor neighborhood in Pasadena, California. The book talks about many hardships Jackie had to face in his childhood. The book “42 is Not Just a Number” is mainly based around Jackie's baseball career. Jackie started his baseball journey playing in the Negro League before he went to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 making him the first african american in the MLB. This was a major accomplishment and shaped the future of black athletes. In 1947 Jackie Robinson won MLB Rookie of the Year. I liked this book because it talked about Jackie's childhood, I learned a lot about how he grew up and the path he paved to get to the spot he was at. This book is a quick read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball and wants to learn about how the sport got to how it is today. You can purchase this book on Amazon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews