Safe at Home

by Sharon Robinson

A high-interest sports novel from the author of Promises to How Jackie Robinson Changed America.

Ten-year-old Elijiah Breeze, a.k.a. Jumper, is having the hardest summer of his life. His father has just died; his mother has moved them from the suburbs to New York City's Harlem area; and he has to spend the summer at baseball camp. Basketball is Jumper's game. He doesn't know anything about baseball, or city life, or how to keep going without his dad. Jumper struggles in his new life, but he's encouraged by the support of his coach and his grandma's wisdom. He finds out it is possible to start over in a new place with new people . . . and still hold on to what's important from his past.

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Cultural

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Gregory]

Safe at Home is a book by Jackie Robinson's daughter Sharon Robinson. The book is about a boy named Jumper who's dad just died,so he moved to the city with his Grandma and Mom. At the arcade Jumper runs into a bully and his posey who try to beat jumper at his favorite game. Later that week Jumper has to go to a baseball camp that he doesn't want to go to ( Jumper likes basketball ) and at the camp Jumper runs into the bully again. Marcus. At camp Marcus and Jumper get put on the same team and each became team captains. After practice coach helps Jumper practice with catching and hitting. Jumper loses his glove and blames Marcus for taking it. I would recommend this book to a person how likes sports and conflicts. This was a good book but wasn't very long it only took me 10 day to read it and I read it in 20 minute sections.

[Jalen Woodson]

I like this book because it is about baseball and a good story about a boy. My mom would like this book because it is a drama book. She watches reality tv shows that have a lot of drama in those kind of shows. One challenge in this book was the person telling the story. It was challenging because, one minute Jumper was not Marcus's friend and the next time he was Marcus's friend. Jumper lost his dad's glove he got from his mom. He thinks Marcus took his dad's glove because he is a mean kid. But he found out that Marcus didn't take the glove. Two other kids found it and told Jumper where it was at.

[Krista Stevens]

Rec in Voices from the Middle - "Roadmaps for the Treacherous Journey" by a student.

Set in Harlem, Jumper has to deal with his dad's unexpected death and a move to his grandmother's house. He finds respite, eventually, in a baseball camp. If I liked baseball more, I would have probably liked this books more, as it was, I just skimmed the baseball parts. Good for lower-level readers - 4-6.

[Susan]

I found this book in the library's used book sale bin and bought it to donate to my employer's newly renovated library room for the children and teens in our programs. I really liked the story and am even more excited to put it in their collection now that I know that the author is baseball legend Jackie Robinson's daughter!

[Jamie]

This was a very quick read for me. I think the book will be great for my below grade level boys to read, especially if they like sports. There are tons of examples of figurative language in this book!!!

[Claire]

The writing was clunky, but this was a solid read for third grade. Strong enough plot, enough action, and clearly drawn kid relationships. I'm glad Ms. Robinson has started writing -- my kids all enjoy these books.

[Tristan Karaman]

pretty good book which teaches you alot about how hard life can be for some people who are unfortunate and how pursuiving your dream can bring you happiness and help you in life (its about base ball).

[Barbara]

This book by Jackie Robinson's daughter follows a boy who learns how not to give up when something is hard (baseball) and, with a great coach, learns leadership skills as well. Kept my interest (despite the baseball). Might work for boys' Page Turners club. A little longer than optimal.

[Hawkeye]

This book is about a kid who goes to a camp and learnes how to play baseball. He wasn't very good at first, and got better and better.

[Terri]

A charming book about a ten your old boy spending the summer in Harlem with his grandmother, forced to be in a baseball camp, a sport he has no talent for while trying to make friends.

[Micchon]

this for me, was really boring. you have to kinda be INTO the sports stuff to actually like this book.

[Zac]

The conflict of safe at home was when Elijah dad had died he lost all his feelings and was so turned down and now his life got miserable.

[Julia Moncada]

I think that this book is awesome because the boy in the be is cool
I love this book

[Josh Akins]

It was a good book. If you like sports you will like it. He meets this kid and the kid is really rude but at the end they become friends. At first he isn't that good at baseball then he gets better.

[Kayden H.]

I liked the book, really good for the reader really got my attention.

[Ben]

I think that this book is a great historical fiction book but it's not my level.

[Lauren]

So cute,but i wouldve liked a sequel.
Cute.

[Amanda]

So far, I'm not very far into it so I don't really have an opinion yet.

[Scott Williams]

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