The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship Between a Boy and a Baseball Legend

by Sharon Robinson

Based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson. Stephen Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York, which means he only cares about one thing-the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio. Aside from an occasional run-in with his teacher, life is pretty simple for Steve.But then Steve hears a rumor that an African American family is moving to his all-Jewish neighborhood. It's 1948 and some of his neighbors are against it. Steve knows this is wrong. His hero, Jackie Robinson, broke the color barrier in baseball the year before.Then it happens -- Steve's new neighbor is none other than Jackie Robinson! Steve is beyond excited about living two doors down from the Robinson family. He can't wait to meet Jackie. This is going to be the best baseball season yet! How many kids ever get to become friends with their hero?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Sports, Baseball, Childrens, Audiobook, Friendship

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2016

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my reading themes this year is reading quality middle grade kids books. Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson is the fictionalized account of the friendship between her father Jackie and nine-year-old Stephen Satlow. We go back in time to 1948 Brooklyn where all the kids drank egg creams, played stickball, built model airplanes, and idolized their favorite players on the Brooklyn Dodgers. Stephen Satlow is enjoying one of these normal childhoods, although because his father works 6 1/2 days a week, he tends to have trouble behaving in school, even getting suspended for ten days. His dream is to go to the Dodgers home opener, but he has to earn his parents' trust by behaving. His behavior and dreams take a turn for the better when the Robinsons move two doors down from the Satlows' home.
The second half of this book builds Stephen's friendship with Jackie Robinson. Sharon writes quality messages for kids touching upon issues as how to fight back without fighting, team work, respecting one's parents and teachers, religious tolerance and prejudices, and how to be a quality person. She touches on issues from 1948 as the formation of the nation of Israel and subsequent war and the integration of the US Armed Forces. Jackie Robinson was at the forefront of these issues and along with the Satlows conveyed a positive message to Stephen about how to treat all people with respect.
I finished this book in an hour and my almost nine-year-old daughter finished in the course of a day. We both really enjoyed the story. It is a great book for middle/upper grade elementary students and can be used in social studies classes in teaching pre civil rights. It is also a quality book to lead into baseball season in conjunction with the movie "42." A moving portrayal of 1940s Brooklyn, I rate Two Doors Down 4.5 stars.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had higher expectations for this book. There is no plot, just kind of some stuff that sort-of-ish maybe happened in real life. I thought maybe there would be some struggle to accept Jackie Robinson because of his race, but no conflict, no choices made. Which is fine, great for these people being so accepting, but makes for a boring book. All of the "life-lessons" are handed out by a lecturing adult, the child doesn't actually learn things for himself. There really isn't even enough historical detail to really learn about this period of history. I learned more from 5 minutes of a PBS documentary about Jackie Robinson I caught recently. The only part that was really worth reading was chapters 9 and 10 about the Christmas tree, but it wasn't worth trudging through the rest of the book to get there. Maybe this book would have been better as a short story? And the set up of the book bothered me. In the first chapter, Steve is a young adult whose father has just died. He goes through a box of things his father saved from his childhood and it brings up memories of meeting Jackie Robinson. He is not remembering his recently deceased dad, but Jackie Robinson. Huh?

Maybe for the right kid at the right time in his/her life this book could have an impact. But for me this book was a total "meh."

[Cammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly chose The Hero Two Doors Down because the title caught my attention, and quite frankly, I could use a little baseball in my life right now.
Sharon Robinson, Jackie Robinson's daughter (this blew my mind), tells of the friendship between eight-year-old Stephen Satlow and Jackie Robinson the year that Robinson and his wife and son moves into the all-Jewish neighborhood where Stephen's family lives. Jackie is just starting his second season with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Stephen is a huge fan of Jackie, the Dodgers, and baseball.
Stephen can hardly contain himself when he learns that his baseball hero is moving into the house two doors down. The families soon become friends and Stephen learns many valuable lessons from Jackie Robinson. The Christmas/Hanukkah scene is especially touching and shows that with communication everyone can have tolerance and understanding.
The main storyline is a flashback set in 1949 when Stephen meets Jackie Robinson. This flashback is framed by 1959 after Stephen's father has passed away. Stephen's mother gives him a box of keepsakes that Stephen's father had kept for him. Sifting through the box as the book opens takes Stephen back to the summer of 1949 when he meets Jackie Robinson. The story appropriately ends with Stephen visiting Robinson to tell about Mr. Satlow's death.
I'm not sure if Jackie Robinson actually said the following quote from the end of the book, but I really liked these words: "When you reach out to others, good always comes back to you."

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Middle Grade book that I read this book with my daughter for her monthly school family reading project we do together. I love the story so much. I think it shows that people can get along even if they are different. I think that the story was written so well that young children can understand the meaning of the story. I am so glad I read this book. (*)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the adult in me was frustrated by the lack of plot (as another reviewer noted), I know kids (mostly boys, about age 7 to 10) will like this quick, based-in-real-life read. The author, Sharon Robinson, is the daughter of baseball great Jackie Robinson, and the book is based on the true friendship that her parents built with the Satlow family in the late 1940's. The afterward and acknowledgements are particularly touching: "Were you able to picture becoming friends with your hero? I wish that for all of you!"

This book gives a glimpse into a time where the stadiums were fairly small and intimate, and the cost to go to a game was not as exorbitant as it is today. I nearly cried when young Steve came face-to-face with Jackie Robinson. It was a simpler time, without multi-million dollar contracts, private planes and billions of dollars worth of marketing. Of course, there were problems, not the least of which was the battle against racial prejudice, which the book does address. The Robinson family (in the book, at least) seems to handle it with a fair amount of concern and frustration but also with grace. Do our kids have heroes anymore? I hope so. This book might be a nice way to open a conversation about it.

[Lily Lynd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I really love it and recommend reading it. It shows the true meaning of friendship and shows that dreams can come true.

[Courtney Vineyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

lol @ me for writing a review on a children’s book 😂

But… I am completely shaken that while Jackie Robinson was breaking ground in the Civil Rights movement, he’d come home to a quiet street in Brooklyn & take time to befriend a kid two doors down - asking about his grades, knowing his birthday, visiting him in the hospital, & playing stoopball in the yard.

A humble reminder that being a good neighbor is one of the smallest yet biggest acts you can commit to. I can’t wait to neighbor with you in Heaven, Jackie!!!

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to the students in my Sunshine State Club. It's the story of a boy (Stephen) living two doors down from his hero, Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn in the year 1948. The book was written by Sharon Robinson (Jackie's daughter) and is based on "the true story of a friendship between a boy and a baseball legend."

The kids loved the book and it was fun to discuss what it was like to live in the 1940's. It's hard for them to imagine life without a cell phone, let alone life where you can only hear baseball on the radio, instead of watching on tv. We learned about Jackie Robinson and his courage and integrity. We learned about egg creams, transistor radios, and stoopball. And we learned about what it was like to live in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn in 1948. It was also fun to talk to the kids about who their heroes are and what it would feel like to be friends with them.

This book is great for elementary students, especially sports fans.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great story poorly executed. I was excited because my students read a Jackie Robinson book in tri 3 but I can only recommend this with reservations. It has a very "after school special" feel. The characters sound nothing like any person I know in their speech patterns. I will cautiously put it in my library and say, "You can enjoy reading this, but please don't write this way."

This seems to be a theme with sports books. Every young athlete I read about (it seems) is all "Golly gee, I only want to do what is right and be friends with every single person in the world, even my enemies on the other team."

[Gary Anderson]

Author Sharon Robinson, daughter of baseball and civil rights legend Jackie Robinson, tells the lightly fictionalized story of eight-year-old Brooklyn Dodgers fan Steve and his Brooklyn neighborhood. Steve’s hero is Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson. Steve gets in a fair amount of trouble in school and in the neighborhood, and his parents struggle to keep him in check. Then Jackie Robinson’s family moves in two doors down from Steve and his family. The two families become friends, and Jackie shares some advice with Steve that helps him rein in some of his behavioral impulses.

The Hero Two Doors Down has enough baseball lore to engage middle-grade fans, but the real value in Robinson’s book is from the life lessons about resilience, tolerance, and the value of friends, family, and community.

[heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story based on the true life friendship between a Jewish family in Brooklyn and their neighbors, the Robinsons. It talks about relationships with parents, the struggle kids have with emotions, all against the backdrop of growing up in Brooklyn as Dodgers fan in 1948. It also discusses discrimination (racial and religious) in terms elementary children can understand. I was so happy to hear Sharon Robinson (the author and Jackie Robinson's daughter) afterword talking about how the story was inspired by the Stevie and her families.

I particularly enjoyed it b.c my family were Dodgers fans and I loved explaining phrases and games to my kid that they weren't familiar with (stoop ball, barnstorming..)

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit to a certain bias with this book! As a lifelong Dodger fan and UCLA alumni, I was interested in this more intimate story about a special family friendship between the famous Jackie Robinson and a young fan. Sharon’s love and admiration for her parents, Jackie and Rachel shines brightly in this book. The book does get a little didactic from time to time.

[Ashley Clapper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. Love reading this with my class.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Overdrive app *


3 stars 🌟 a lovely story of friendship :)
Would loved to hear more stories about the times with these two families....bet there are many wonderful tales to tell there.

Some of the writing and storytelling was a bit awkward and stilted, and I wish some parts had been expanded on but overall I enjoyed this one and it helped me focus today after a stressful weekend.

[Bebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish i would have read it when i was younger!

[Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hero Two Doors Down was an engaging read about a young Jewish boy who befriended his baseball hero, Jackie Robinson.

With its 1948 Brooklyn setting, the author painted a wonderfully vivid picture of life during this timeframe - listening to baseball games on the radio, building model airplanes, going to the candy store to buy milkshakes. I loved the details and the rich history of this book, including how it tactfully addressed prejudice and inequality.

I also thought this book balanced humor and seriousness extremely well as Stephen Satlow navigates his life with all the dramatics and sincerity of a 9 year-old. Stephen's mistakes and genuine curiosity of the world around him provided lots of teaching moments. I also thought his friendship with Jackie Robinson was endearing and sweet - it made me appreciate the fact that this book was based on a true story even more.

Although I read in other reviews that they didn't like that this story didn't have a plot, I actually didn't mind it. I enjoyed going through Stephen's experiences and the audiobook made it wonderfully entertaining.

Speaking of, I absolutely loved listening to this book on audio - and this was my first fiction read I've ever listened to, so I approached this book with a bit of wariness. Honestly, the narration was amazing! It definitely heightened my experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

All in all, The Hero Two Doors Down was a fantastic read full of baseball, amusement and a strong sense of family and friendship. I highly recommend this book to adults and children alike!

[Montserrat L · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE HERO TWO DOORS DOWN
I have read this book and it is really good I love it.
It is about a boy and a baseball legend that are friends, the boy is living in a place and then they move and they tell him that Jackie Robinson (his inspiration ) is living two doors down and they are friends and if you like this book you will like MY LIFE NEXT DOOR.

I recommend this book because is really good and it made me feel like you are exited for the kid... Or the kid basically.
It is similar to the one I told you because is like you love both but one is about love. The other one is about baseball...but is like the same... Maybe...I think so.
Well this is the story in a shorter way.
It is that the guy, Stephen is a loooooover of baseball player, Jackie Robinson.
He knows aaaall about him,his birthday, his wife, his son, his touchdowns... Wait that is football but anyway.
So like I was saying the boy is living in a place but he changes so he is in an apartment and then Jack or Jackie changes, two down of Steve!
And they are friends.
This is a true story!
Even I can't believe it.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

1948 was a great year for many people, but it was especially great for the young Steven Satlow. Written by Sharon Robinson, The Hero Two Doors Down is about a boy who has an iconic neighbor. In this sports fiction book Steven gets to see his favorite player every day, Jackie Robinson. The book takes place in Brooklyn, New York. Every boy's dream is to meet their favorite player, and Steven gets to do that every day.

There were three main characters in the book: Steven, Steven”s father, and Jackie Robinson. Steven”s family, along with the other familie”s were not pleased when they heard that a black family was moving into their neighborhood. It was 1948 and most families were segregated like that, especially in an prominent white area in Brooklyn, New York. When Steven finds out that his neighbor two doors down is Jackie Robinson he is stoked beyond measure. Jackie Robinson was the best player for his favorite team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Steven and his father read baseball magazines and listen to almost every game on the radio. Steve always dreams of going to games, but his father is very busy with work. Jackie is generous enough to let Steven and his dad come to opening day! It truly is a dream come true for Steven.

I give this book a three out of five stars. I usually give any baseball book a five, but even though it was a good read, at times it got very boring. It was a short book too. Fast moving read. I like more of a slow paste, longer book with lots of detail. The author told a good short story, I enjoyed the interactions between Jackie and Steve. Jackie was a good buddy to Steve. All in all it was a good read.

[~Bellegirl91~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a super short possibly 3 hour audiobook on Libby and found a couple and this one stood out to me and decided to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did! I don't know why, but near the beginning, I got a tiny bit teary eyed from a cherished memory I had when all I could think about was my 91 year old grandpa who passed away near the end of January of 2020 who was a Dodger's fan for YEARS and I could never put together how and why he became a Dodger's fan considering he was born in Snowflake, Arizona and practically lived and grew up for majority of his life until he died in Utah.


So one day, when I had watched the movie 42 based on the Jackie Robinson story, that night I happened to be at my grandparents and I asked my grandpa why he was a Dodger's fan and if he remembered Jackie Robinson playing. And he had a smile on his face and said he did remember and said it was actually because of Jackie Robinson that grandpa had become a fan of the Dodgers. He said he remembered hearing on the radio when it was announced Jackie would be the first black player for any sport/baseball and he said he also remembered saying/thinking, "Well it's about time." And since then grandpa had been a Dodger's fan.


So to have this title appropriately being The Hero Two Doors Down hit home for me since I grew up most of my life having my hero and grandpa down a few blocks from where I lived (walking distance really and less than a minute drive). This story was so touching and worth reading about the unlikely friendship between a little Jewish boy who didn't see color, but saw a person who was his hero and a favorite baseball player. And to learn to this day both his mother and Rachel Robinson are still friends.


This is a heartwarming story of a boy's dream having his hero and favorite athlete live just two door down from him and to then continue a lifelong friendship despite also religious views. If anyone wants a book for their child to read or vice versa to read to their child, this one is highly recommended. One memorable story that's for sure and glad I found/discovered this gem of a story that needed to be shared and told.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We listened to this on audiobook, and my 7yo and 4yo both enjoyed it. Our family watches a lot of baseball, so they’re pretty familiar with what watching a game is like, which helps. It’s a neat book because it was written by Jackie Robinson’s daughter, based on the true story of how Jackie Robinson’s family moved into a Jewish neighborhood and became friends with a boy and his family two doors down. It was a sweet story, and talked about the racism that Jackie faced, plus addressed some of the cultural differences that they ran into (like when Jackie’s family accidentally gave Steve’s Jewish family a Christmas tree). My oldest said he really liked learning about some Jewish traditions from the book, in addition to the baseball stuff.

[Peg Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for Baseball fans. A must for any child (or adult, tbh) who wants a good Jackie story! Great story of genuine love between families of different culture and race. This story serves as a reminder of looking beyond the differences and love people for who they are. This was a fun way to learn more about how Jackie Robinson was just as much a hero off the field as on it when he was in Brooklyn.

[Kayla Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hero two doors down is a cute book it is about this boy named Steve and he and his dad love baseball. When Jackie the first black man to be on a major league baseball team moves in two doors down from Steve he is thrilled. Steve has been getting into trouble at school but Jackie who has faced his own troubles being the first black man on a major league baseball team helps him learn how to be better in school and to use your words and not actions.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love the story of Jackie Robinson so I was excited to find this book written by his daughter Sharon. The book deals with prejudice, racism, and discrimination as we see Jackie and his young Jewish neighbor, Steve, develop a special friendship. Baseball fans will also enjoy this with many facts about the 1940s and 50's Brooklyn Dodgers.

Read to my children at lunch.

2022 A book about sports or an athlete

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet story. It's like a dream come true, your baseball hero moves in next door and your families become friends. But the story also has such beautiful treatment of family dynamics, friendship, school troubles, plus discrimination, religious differences and war. Very well written and heartfelt.

[Kade · Rating 4 out of 5]

in the book Stephen is the main character and he is eight years old he is from Brooklyn and he loves the dodgers he always is with his dad listening to the game or they get tickets and he loves Jackie Robinson so when Jackie move two doors down the hall he thought that they would be friends

[Courtney Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing story based on real life written by Sharon Robinson. I read this to my 4/5th graders and it absolutely stunned them that it was based on truth. What kid doesn't dream of knowing their favorite celebrity in person? For Steve, that not only happened but led to an amazing friendship.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story based on the true history of 2 families in Brooklyn in the 1940's. One being the heroic baseball player, Jackie Robinson, and his 10 year old neighbor. Good read for late elementary students to discuss differences in race and religion.

[Hunter Satterfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to my boys. BL 5.0 and appropriate for all ages. I love baseball and Jackie Robinson is one of the 10 people I would have to dinner if I could. That being said, this wasn't a great book. It is a true story and written by Jackie's daughter, but the story likely isn't interesting to anyone that doesn't love Jackie. Good moral about friendship though.

[Bonnie Frogma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work for Scholastic and I picked this up from the giveaway shelf at work. I actually grabbed it for a cousin whose kids are Jackie Robinson fans and then ended up reading half of it on the train on the way home and then curled up on the couch with it this morning to finish.

It is SO sweet!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! Very good narration. I would read this one again. I enjoyed it even if some of the events were in different order or the characters were changed a little bit. A must read!