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Baseball Card Adventures #2
Jackie & Me
With more than 2 million books sold, the Baseball Card Adventures bring the greatest players in history to life!
Like every other kid in his class, Joe Stoshack has to write a report on an African American who's made an important contribution to society. Unlike every other kid in his class, Joe has a special with the help of old baseball cards, he can travel through time. So, for his report, Joe decides to go back to meet one of the greatest baseball players ever, Jackie Robinson, to find out what it was like to be the man who broke baseball's color barrier. Joe plans on writing a prize-winning report. But he doesn't plan on a trip that will for a short time change the color of his skin—and forever change his view of history and his definition of courage.
With historical photos and back matter to separate the facts from the fiction, New York Times bestselling author Dan Gutman takes readers on a page-turning trip through baseball’s past.
Like every other kid in his class, Joe Stoshack has to write a report on an African American who's made an important contribution to society. Unlike every other kid in his class, Joe has a special with the help of old baseball cards, he can travel through time. So, for his report, Joe decides to go back to meet one of the greatest baseball players ever, Jackie Robinson, to find out what it was like to be the man who broke baseball's color barrier. Joe plans on writing a prize-winning report. But he doesn't plan on a trip that will for a short time change the color of his skin—and forever change his view of history and his definition of courage.
With historical photos and back matter to separate the facts from the fiction, New York Times bestselling author Dan Gutman takes readers on a page-turning trip through baseball’s past.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1999
182 people are currently reading
887 people want to read
About the author
Dan Gutman
358 books1,033 followersThe author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
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June 8, 2021Finished right after the math test.
January 4, 2024
Another fun and fantastic book by Dan Gutman. The premise is that a young man can go back in time by using old baseball cards. That part is ridiculous but the story is that surrounded are tremendous.
I am at bit of a Jackie Robinson buff and the story accurately reflects the struggles, and the pain that Mr. Robinson went through to break the color barrier.
Great book that I highly recommend.
I am at bit of a Jackie Robinson buff and the story accurately reflects the struggles, and the pain that Mr. Robinson went through to break the color barrier.
Great book that I highly recommend.
January 4, 2018
this book I read was about Jackie and me. Joe was a kid that goes to school and he has a special talent. That no one knows about he can hold baseball cards in his hand. His hand will start tingling and he can travel in time. To see them when they were alive. Joe wanted to go back into time to see Jackie Robertson. The first black person to play baseball on a all white baseball team. Jackie was a black person that dreamed of playing baseball. but since Jackie was the only black person everyone was racist back then so he got called a lot of mean stuff and everytime he would play he would get booed at. Jackie was the first person to beat the baseball white person only rule and after that he could have as many black people as you want.
February 5, 2017
I am a huge fan of these books, but after reading Babe and Me, that really messed up the series, I liked this book, but Babe and Me really relates to this book in a way where I don't believe that the character is talking like its HIM controlling the story, I really think that he is talking to much about his other travels in the past for the book in like the first thirty pages, so that made me lose interest that the story wasn't even about the STORY!
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October 5, 2018Chris Nguyen
9/28/18
PM
Jackie & Me was a good book what I thought it was gonna be all about sports and but most of the book is about what happened to Jackie Robinson and Bill Stoshack. But Bill he is the only person that can time travel and so Bill time travel to 1947 to see Jackie Robinson, and he wished that he was to feel like what Jackie feels like when Bill went to 1947 he was an African American. Bill was next to a man that was injured so Bill helped him and the man knew Jackie so they went to Jackie house and Jackie wife was helping the man with his injury Jackie said ¨Thank you for helping my friend¨ Jackie ask Bill where is your mom Bill said in Louisville Bill. Bill told Jackie that he came from the future but Jackie did not believe that he came from the future. The first game of the season Bill was the bat boy and he did not know what to do so a kid
Named Ant a white boy was not that happy when he had to work with an African American but he had to work with him. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Ant was trying to Kill Bill with a baseball bat because, Ant found out that Bill was from the future and so they made a bet that Bill will tell all the future presidents and Bill did that and one of the presidents Ant did not believe so he starting to attack Bill with a bat and, Bill ran after Bill was out of the gymnasium other white boys starting to chase Bill and then the cops were chasing after him and so Bill went hack in the future. The book was very good and Dan Gutman made the book very interesting and the whole book was fun to read. I hope you read the book one day.
9/28/18
PM
Jackie & Me was a good book what I thought it was gonna be all about sports and but most of the book is about what happened to Jackie Robinson and Bill Stoshack. But Bill he is the only person that can time travel and so Bill time travel to 1947 to see Jackie Robinson, and he wished that he was to feel like what Jackie feels like when Bill went to 1947 he was an African American. Bill was next to a man that was injured so Bill helped him and the man knew Jackie so they went to Jackie house and Jackie wife was helping the man with his injury Jackie said ¨Thank you for helping my friend¨ Jackie ask Bill where is your mom Bill said in Louisville Bill. Bill told Jackie that he came from the future but Jackie did not believe that he came from the future. The first game of the season Bill was the bat boy and he did not know what to do so a kid
Named Ant a white boy was not that happy when he had to work with an African American but he had to work with him. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Ant was trying to Kill Bill with a baseball bat because, Ant found out that Bill was from the future and so they made a bet that Bill will tell all the future presidents and Bill did that and one of the presidents Ant did not believe so he starting to attack Bill with a bat and, Bill ran after Bill was out of the gymnasium other white boys starting to chase Bill and then the cops were chasing after him and so Bill went hack in the future. The book was very good and Dan Gutman made the book very interesting and the whole book was fun to read. I hope you read the book one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2019
A kid named Joe Stoshack that lives in Kentucky is going against a baseball team. With the pitcher named Bobby Fuller, he was a quick tempered pitcher, he was calling Joe names and Joe got mad so he started a fight then got kicked out for the rest of the season. In school they had to do reports on Black History Month and he picked Jackie Robinson because he loves baseball He could travel in time with baseball cards. So he went to Jackie Robinson's house. He would meet Jackie and get to know him. Then go to a few Dodger games and bring some baseball cards back for his dad. He left 1947 with a paper report with Babe Ruth's signature on it. Jackie taught Joe a lesson to have the guts to not fight back.
January 4, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book, books about baseball are interesting to me. Joe got suspended from little league because he flung a bat and started a brawl. Joe had to write a book report and chose Jackie Robinson, instead of just researching him he is able to travel back in time using his baseball cards. That would be really cool to do, there are so many great baseball players that I would love to meet. Being able to see in person what Jackie Robinson accomplished in baseball would be amazing. Joe traveled back to 1947 and was a colored boy, he learned what it was like to be a boy of color on the streets of Brooklyn. Joe's dad had given him a suitcase full of baseball cards to take back in time with him. When his dad gets upset about him leaving them in the past and allowing "Ant" to treat him the way he did, Joe decides to go back in time and stay a white boy to take care of business. He even gets an autograph from Babe Ruth for his father. Joe learned a lot of history and how to be a better person by going back and seeing what Jackie Robinson had done to change baseball. This book kept me interested through all of it.
August 14, 2025
This was the second of the Baseball fantasy series. This time, Stosh traveled back in time and met the great Jackie Robinson, the year he started with the Dodgers! Gutman really knew his history, including that no official cards were published that year because of the war! I adored how Gutman took the real story of Robinson not responding to slurs but got even playing great ball, and applied it to Stosh’s own (fictional) life! I also respect how carefully Gutman made clear what was real and what was made up! I also respect how Gutman made Stosh into a Black for the first time travel. I think he taught some great lessons that way. Definitely recommended!
March 7, 2018
Joe Postach found out when he touched a baseball card he went back in time to the year the card was made. Next he got into a fight at school with a guy then he met jackie from a baseball card he had to a book report and then he helped jackie when some broke in his house.
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February 21, 2019I really did like this book because it was really cool how this boy has a power to when he touches a baseball card he goes back in time to meet theses great baseball players . Defiently recommend this book to baseball people .
November 19, 2018
I liked this book because I shared all of the hard times African Americans went through back then and shared what Jackie Robinson had to go through with fans yelling mean things at him calling him names throwing things at him. Also when he went back to his time and then came back to visit Jackie
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May 6, 2019This was an outstanding book. We are learing about civil rights right now and it fits right with that. I also love jackie robinson and sports. This was one of my favorite books
February 9, 2018
awesome adventure book.
December 18, 2017
A kid named Joe Stoshack that lives in Kentucky is going against a baseball team. With the pitcher named Bobby Fuller. He was a quick tempered pitcher. He was calling Joe names and Joe got mad so he started a fight then got suspended for the rest of the season. In school they had to do reports on black history month and he picked Jackie Robinson. He could travel in time with baseball cards. So he did going to Jackie Robinson's house. He would meet Jackie and get to know him. Then go to a couple dodger games and bring some baseball cards back. He left 1947 with a paper with Babe Ruth's signature on it. Jackie taught Joe a lesson to have the guts to not fight back.
December 16, 2019
Jackie and Me by Dan Gutman.Just like every 5th grade boy Joe Stostack has to do a report on an African American for Black history month.Joe loves baseball but recently he got in a fight with a pitcher hit him with a baseball.He is suspended from little league.Joe always wanted a Jackie Robinson baseball card 1 of every 1 million of Jackie Robinson cards comes out.He asks his mom if he can time travel to the 1950s.His mom lets him and he gets lost in the 50s.Back then since there was racism Jackie cards were common.Then he sneaks into the locker room and after game 7 of the 1955 World Series game when the Dodgers beat the Yankees he found Jackie and Jackie gave him a pack of cards also a signed autograph.Then comes home.I love sports books but I give this one a 3.5.
November 26, 2012
My impression of Jackie and Me by Dan Gutman was very good. It starts of with Joe the protagonist having to write a school report of a significant African-American. He strangely has away to travel back in time by holding a baseball card so he decides to go back and meet Jackie Robinson. When he arrives with Jackie Robinson he realizes he turned African-American when he went back in time. Joe felt what it was like to be a black man back in 1947 when they were treated poorly. He asks Jackie about his life and wrote down the answers then came back to present time. He wrote his report and ended up getting an A on his report. I think this book really well described what it was like being an African-American in 1947. They were beaten and called terrible names like "Brownie". Some parts were just hard to read and mind boggling like when players on Jackie's team (the Brooklyn Dodgers) said they would rather be traded to another team then play with a black man. I would recommend this book to people who know the game of baseball. You don't really even have to know it well just maybe the positions and other basic stuff. It teaches you about the history of America and how the blacks were discriminated just because of their skin tone. In conclusion I think the book captures the eye of the reader with its mind torturing discrimination.
March 13, 2015
My interest in Dan Gutman's books are very good and this book was very good. It started of with Joe having to write a school report on an athletic African-American. He has a way to travel back in time by holding a baseball card. So, he decided to go back and meet Jackie Robinson. When he arrived with Jackie Robinson he realizes he turned African-American when he went back in time. Joe felt what it was like to be an African man back in 1947 when they were treated poorly. He asked Jackie about his life and wrote down the answers then came back to present time. His friend Pee Wee Reese who was also the shortstop and the team captain. Pee Wee was very nice to Jackie. He wrote his report and ended up getting an A on the report. I think this book was really well written. It was like being an African-American in 1947. Jackie Robinson was the first major league African American baseball player. Some Africans were beaten and called terrible names. Some parts were just hard to read and mind hurting like when players on Jackie's team which was the Brooklyn Dodgers, said "they would rather be traded to another team then play with a black man." I would recommend this book to people who loved Jackie Robinson and baseball itself. It can be hard to read in a few parts, but then you would know what it was like for them. Jackie Robinson had also had many friends.
September 8, 2011
A boy named Joe Stoshack was born with a special power. He can travel through time with sports cards and vist historical events.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier between the black league and the white league and made them one.
Setting- this book takes place in Louisville, Kentucky and Brooklyn, New York.
Plot- Joe has had horrible baseball game. His dad felt sorry for Joe and gave him a 1947 Jackie Robinson baseball card. Joe goes back in time with the card to the exact day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier between the black league and the white league.
Two quotes I liked were all of chapter four because it talks about Joe going back in time for the very first time to meet Jackie Robinson. The other quote is on page 41 and it talks about Ebbets Field were the Brooklyn Dogers played.
In this book you are first person. I would recommend this book to everybody who likes to read about historical fiction and has a great love for sports.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier between the black league and the white league and made them one.
Setting- this book takes place in Louisville, Kentucky and Brooklyn, New York.
Plot- Joe has had horrible baseball game. His dad felt sorry for Joe and gave him a 1947 Jackie Robinson baseball card. Joe goes back in time with the card to the exact day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier between the black league and the white league.
Two quotes I liked were all of chapter four because it talks about Joe going back in time for the very first time to meet Jackie Robinson. The other quote is on page 41 and it talks about Ebbets Field were the Brooklyn Dogers played.
In this book you are first person. I would recommend this book to everybody who likes to read about historical fiction and has a great love for sports.
November 8, 2024
(Read as a kid, Review from 2024)
Say what you will about the concept of a kid’s series about using baseball cards to travel in time, this series and book in particular could get really mature. I remember as a kid being uncomfortable with the description of the racism Jackie Robinson endured but that was probably the point. Had the book come out today I’m sure the book would have had much more polarized reception from progressives (the plot point of a white protagonist becoming Black in the past in order to “get” racism would raise some eyebrows) and regressives (probably don’t want their kids to be confronted by how white people are racist towards Black People and feel bad about it). Still I think the book’s heart is in the right place.
Say what you will about the concept of a kid’s series about using baseball cards to travel in time, this series and book in particular could get really mature. I remember as a kid being uncomfortable with the description of the racism Jackie Robinson endured but that was probably the point. Had the book come out today I’m sure the book would have had much more polarized reception from progressives (the plot point of a white protagonist becoming Black in the past in order to “get” racism would raise some eyebrows) and regressives (probably don’t want their kids to be confronted by how white people are racist towards Black People and feel bad about it). Still I think the book’s heart is in the right place.
December 26, 2012
I recommend this book to sports people and anybody interested in historical figures. Joe Stoshack has to write a report on an African American who has made a contribution to society. Joe has a special talent that nobody else has. With the help of old baseball cards, he can travel through time. Joe decides to go back in time to meet Jackie Robinson, to find out what it was like to be the man who broke baseball's color barrier. He plans on writing a prize-winning report. He didn't plan on a trip that for a short time changed the color of his skin and forever changed his view of history and his definition of courage. Read the book to find out what happened.
February 1, 2011
Im really interested in sports books. I love reading about sports history as well.
This book is about a young boy (Stoch) who has the power to time travel. The cool thing is he uses baseball cards to do it. This book is an adventure back to the time when African Americans were not allowed to play sports. This story takes you through what it was like for Jackie in Stoch's eyes.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sports or just wants a good quick read.
This book is about a young boy (Stoch) who has the power to time travel. The cool thing is he uses baseball cards to do it. This book is an adventure back to the time when African Americans were not allowed to play sports. This story takes you through what it was like for Jackie in Stoch's eyes.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sports or just wants a good quick read.
January 13, 2014
If you are looking for an adventure book, Jackie and Me hits a grand slam. In this fast action-packed adventure, Joe Stoshack meets Jackie Robinson and other famous baseball players. The main character, Joe Stoshack, gets an assignment to study Jackie and travels back in time to meet him. They experience racism and other problems including getting hurt on the baseball field. Do you want a book about baseball and adventure? Then this is for you.
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February 3, 2016I read Jackie & Me by Dan Gutman i Like it was a very good book it talked about somethings i didn't know about Jackie Robinson, the setting is in Brooklyn 1947. The main characters are Jackie Robinson and Joe Stoshack. The conflict is that Joe's dad gives Joe a Jackie Robinson baseball card and Joe used it to travle back in time to see what Jackie Robinson is about. I would recommend it to baseball fans and Jackie Robinson fans because i think this book is good for people like them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2019
i liked this book because it tells you a lot about baseball and also it talks about Jackie Robinson. i learned a lot in this book because it teaches kids and readers how to play baseball and know what baseball even is. this book made me feel good because it motivates me to start reading sports books and other books. Jackie Robinson was the only black guy on a white player team and also he had challenges with the guys because he was a black person and they racist.
March 30, 2015
According to my kids, these books should receive 5 stars. They LOVE this series. These aren't masterpieces, but I appreciated that this book didn't mince words when discussing how Jackie Robinson was treated.
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March 26, 2020Short Summary:
February, black history month. Alike most kids at school, it was time for Joe Stoshack to write a report on an influential African American. However, Joe isn’t like most kids at school. Joe holds a special power that allows him to travel back in time. Instead of doing the standard research, Joe decided to travel back in time. The only question was who to meet? Joe is a baseball fanatic so it ultimately became clear to travel back in time to meet Jackie Robinson. This allows Joe to experience for himself everything that occurred. However, it is not as smooth sailing as Joe expects. Will Joe make it out alive? Or will he be stuck in 1947 forever?
Book Review:
In the book Jackie and Me, there are just a few characters to have to remember. The main character, Joe Stoshock, is a middle schooler out of Louisville Kentucky. Joe is obsessed with baseball. He plays it, watches it, collects baseball cards, and other memorabilia. Speaking of baseball cards, Joe holds a special unique power. If Joe holds on to a baseball card for too long he will travel back in time to the year the card was made. This special talent is what carries the entire plot of the book, however his talent does get him into some trouble. The second main character is Jackie Robinson. As many of you know, Jackie Robinson was the first colored player to play in the MLB. This was a major accomplishment not just for baseball, but all of man kind during the year of 1947. The main character, Joe, recognizes how special it must have been. So why not use his special talent and actually be alongside Jackie Robinson during this time. However things do not go as smoothly as Joe had hoped. The author, Dan Gutman, does a great job of telling this fictional piece. He effectively uses this story to appeal to baseball fans. His text does adequately reach his audience. Dan Gutman uses segregation between whites and blacks as the main topic in the book. The book shows the nasty side of things and how difficult it was for Jackie, as well as any African American to live during the 1940’s. Reading how they were treated is sickening. The main character Joe, realizes this as well. He goes in depth on why this is not ok. I couldn’t agree more with Joe’s explanation and reasoning, in which was written by Dan Gutman. This definitely was not the easiest book for Mr. Gutman to write as it forces him to look back on a heartbreaking time in America. In conclusion this is a well written fictional book. It is an easy read. This book gives a combination of baseball and history, all while being able to tie in the importance of treating everyone with respect regardless of skin color. This book easily appeals to ones emotions as one can not stand to bear what African Americans had to go through. This book was written in 1999, published by agreement with the author, price is $5.99.
February, black history month. Alike most kids at school, it was time for Joe Stoshack to write a report on an influential African American. However, Joe isn’t like most kids at school. Joe holds a special power that allows him to travel back in time. Instead of doing the standard research, Joe decided to travel back in time. The only question was who to meet? Joe is a baseball fanatic so it ultimately became clear to travel back in time to meet Jackie Robinson. This allows Joe to experience for himself everything that occurred. However, it is not as smooth sailing as Joe expects. Will Joe make it out alive? Or will he be stuck in 1947 forever?
Book Review:
In the book Jackie and Me, there are just a few characters to have to remember. The main character, Joe Stoshock, is a middle schooler out of Louisville Kentucky. Joe is obsessed with baseball. He plays it, watches it, collects baseball cards, and other memorabilia. Speaking of baseball cards, Joe holds a special unique power. If Joe holds on to a baseball card for too long he will travel back in time to the year the card was made. This special talent is what carries the entire plot of the book, however his talent does get him into some trouble. The second main character is Jackie Robinson. As many of you know, Jackie Robinson was the first colored player to play in the MLB. This was a major accomplishment not just for baseball, but all of man kind during the year of 1947. The main character, Joe, recognizes how special it must have been. So why not use his special talent and actually be alongside Jackie Robinson during this time. However things do not go as smoothly as Joe had hoped. The author, Dan Gutman, does a great job of telling this fictional piece. He effectively uses this story to appeal to baseball fans. His text does adequately reach his audience. Dan Gutman uses segregation between whites and blacks as the main topic in the book. The book shows the nasty side of things and how difficult it was for Jackie, as well as any African American to live during the 1940’s. Reading how they were treated is sickening. The main character Joe, realizes this as well. He goes in depth on why this is not ok. I couldn’t agree more with Joe’s explanation and reasoning, in which was written by Dan Gutman. This definitely was not the easiest book for Mr. Gutman to write as it forces him to look back on a heartbreaking time in America. In conclusion this is a well written fictional book. It is an easy read. This book gives a combination of baseball and history, all while being able to tie in the importance of treating everyone with respect regardless of skin color. This book easily appeals to ones emotions as one can not stand to bear what African Americans had to go through. This book was written in 1999, published by agreement with the author, price is $5.99.
December 14, 2022
Joe Stoschack has to write a report about an African American figure who has affected the world in a way. Being a baseball fan, Stosh obviously chose Jackie Robinson. The first African American to play in the Major Leagues. Unlike every other kid in his class, Joe has a special talent. He can travel through time using baseball cards. So, he decides he will go back in time to find out more about Jackie Robinson and how he broke the color barrier in baseball.
Joe gets a Jackie Robinson card from his coach and good friend Flip. Flip owns a baseball card store and loans him a card that is worth $5000. After much convincing of his mom, Stosh travels back to 1947. When he gets there, he realizes that he has turned into a black boy. Confused and worried, he finds Jackie who lets him stay with him and his wife and baby. Joe ends up kind of living with Jackie and even becomes the bat boy for the Dodgers. Being with Jackie, he realizes how mean and hateful everyone was toward him because he was black. He never knew before how hard it really was for black people in America. Not only does he see Jackie being discriminated against, he feels it himself personally, which he never thought would happen. Some kids in the park called him racial slurs and didn't let him play with them.
Joe ends up learning a lot by watching how Jackie responded to all of the hecklers and racists. He was amazed at how calm Jackie stayed under all of the pressure. Before his trip, Joe had a temper and was
quick to pick a fight. After his trip, he was much calmer under pressure after learning from Jackie. I found it cool how Stosh changed from being a hot-head to a calm individual after experiencing what to do up close and personal. Also how much he learned from being discriminated against himself. He ended up writing an excellent report and winning first prize.
I would recommend this book to history buffs, sports fans, and people who are interested in black history.
Joe gets a Jackie Robinson card from his coach and good friend Flip. Flip owns a baseball card store and loans him a card that is worth $5000. After much convincing of his mom, Stosh travels back to 1947. When he gets there, he realizes that he has turned into a black boy. Confused and worried, he finds Jackie who lets him stay with him and his wife and baby. Joe ends up kind of living with Jackie and even becomes the bat boy for the Dodgers. Being with Jackie, he realizes how mean and hateful everyone was toward him because he was black. He never knew before how hard it really was for black people in America. Not only does he see Jackie being discriminated against, he feels it himself personally, which he never thought would happen. Some kids in the park called him racial slurs and didn't let him play with them.
Joe ends up learning a lot by watching how Jackie responded to all of the hecklers and racists. He was amazed at how calm Jackie stayed under all of the pressure. Before his trip, Joe had a temper and was
quick to pick a fight. After his trip, he was much calmer under pressure after learning from Jackie. I found it cool how Stosh changed from being a hot-head to a calm individual after experiencing what to do up close and personal. Also how much he learned from being discriminated against himself. He ended up writing an excellent report and winning first prize.
I would recommend this book to history buffs, sports fans, and people who are interested in black history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2021
I think this series is just so interesting and well done. It could easily be overly simplistic and cheesy, but it is not.
In this one, Joe travels back to 1947 to meet Jackie Robinson for a report he has to do for school during Black History Month. Obviously it's overly simple the way he finds and meets Jackie, but apart from that suspension of disbelief aspect of these books, their time together is really special.
It really captures the spirit of what I've always learned about Jackie Robinson, in that he was chosen to break the color barrier not simply because he was a great player, but because he had the temperament to handle the constant barrage of harassment he most certainly would face. Anyone 'handling' that is of course not actually possible, but he was able to not constantly punch people in the face, basically.
Making Joe become a black version of himself when he first goes back was an interesting choice as well. It seemed to gain him faster and less questions access to Jackie, but also created that special extra layer for the kids reading this book. This young white boy from Louisville suddenly having to walk the streets of the white neighborhoods of Brooklyn as a black boy was eye-opening for him and I'm sure for the readers. His eventual need to race back to the present due to the police being after him is quite the testament to what the author was trying to achieve with that choice.
I'll continue to read these periodically as I continue to teach this age level. They really have something special.
In this one, Joe travels back to 1947 to meet Jackie Robinson for a report he has to do for school during Black History Month. Obviously it's overly simple the way he finds and meets Jackie, but apart from that suspension of disbelief aspect of these books, their time together is really special.
It really captures the spirit of what I've always learned about Jackie Robinson, in that he was chosen to break the color barrier not simply because he was a great player, but because he had the temperament to handle the constant barrage of harassment he most certainly would face. Anyone 'handling' that is of course not actually possible, but he was able to not constantly punch people in the face, basically.
Making Joe become a black version of himself when he first goes back was an interesting choice as well. It seemed to gain him faster and less questions access to Jackie, but also created that special extra layer for the kids reading this book. This young white boy from Louisville suddenly having to walk the streets of the white neighborhoods of Brooklyn as a black boy was eye-opening for him and I'm sure for the readers. His eventual need to race back to the present due to the police being after him is quite the testament to what the author was trying to achieve with that choice.
I'll continue to read these periodically as I continue to teach this age level. They really have something special.
October 28, 2018
Taking place in 1947, "Jackie & Me" is a book by Dan Gutman that looks at the career of the legendary Jackie Robinson. Joe, the main character, is asked to write a paper for one of his classes. The paper must be about an African American who made a big impact on the world. He decides to write his paper on the man who broke the color barrier in the MLB, Jackie Robinson. Joe has the ability to time travel by holding a baseball card. He travels back to see Jackie Robinson so that he can get an up-close look at Jackie. Joe witnesses how poorly Jackie Robinson was treated. Joe himself becomes an African American and is treated just as poorly. This really shows Joe how difficult it was to be African American back then.
"Jackie & Me" is not necessarily a super happy story. It shows what African Americans actually had to go through back when Jackie Robinson was around. The story structure is very good. I enjoyed every moment of this book. Joe and Jackie are both very likeable. Jackie is a very humble and confident man despite the troubles he is going through. Joe is normal other than the fact that he can travel through time. This book is one of the best books I have ever read. I am a baseball fan and I did not know much about Jackie Robinson before I read this book. I learned a lot from this book even though it's target audience is much younger than me. Just about anybody can read this book, even if you're not a baseball fan. I promise you will learn something new.
"Jackie & Me" is not necessarily a super happy story. It shows what African Americans actually had to go through back when Jackie Robinson was around. The story structure is very good. I enjoyed every moment of this book. Joe and Jackie are both very likeable. Jackie is a very humble and confident man despite the troubles he is going through. Joe is normal other than the fact that he can travel through time. This book is one of the best books I have ever read. I am a baseball fan and I did not know much about Jackie Robinson before I read this book. I learned a lot from this book even though it's target audience is much younger than me. Just about anybody can read this book, even if you're not a baseball fan. I promise you will learn something new.
April 19, 2019
Jackie and Me is about a young boy named Joe who has to do a report for black history month, so he decides to go back in time to 1947 to meet Jackie Robinson. When he goes back in time, he ends up having black skin instead of white skin like he did in current day so he really got to experience what it was like to be black in the late 40’s. Joe got a firsthand look on exactly what Jackie had to go through to become the first African-American player in the major leagues which was a lot of harassment. While Joe is in 1947 he wants to get some baseball cards to sell in the future, but he has to extend his trip to be able to get them. He has to make a quick exit back to his time, so he has t leave the cards and go. When he gets back, his dad is mad, so he decided to go back another time but wishes to be white while travelling and so this time nobody recognizes him, and he tries to get the card while showing Jackie he is the same person from before. He goes back but can’t get the cards, so instead he gets Babe Ruth’s signature for his dad and goes back in town. During both of his trips he learns what it takes to show true courage and fight a different way than with fists.
This book is about a 4th or 5th grade level.
This would be a great book to talk about segregation, black history and what it was like for the first african-American baseball player.
This book is about a 4th or 5th grade level.
This would be a great book to talk about segregation, black history and what it was like for the first african-American baseball player.
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