One of the wonderful resources that we have at Prairieview is Jackie Warkentien. She is an immense help to teachers and students looking for a good book to read. She averages reading about a book-a-day and keeps track of them on a website called "goodreads.com." The following is a review she wrote about a book she highly recommends. We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson reminds us that we, as baseball fans, owe a debt of gratitude to those immensely talented men of the Negro Baseball League who played the game with dignity, affection, and devotion. Where would our beloved game be today if we did not enjoy the talents of Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Derrek Lee, or C.C. Sabithia? These dedicated men who put up with bumpy bus rides, segregation, playing three-games-a-day, and jeers and insults from white fans, are a testament today of the work ethic that makes doing any job you love worth doing. I, as one overly enthusiastic baseball fan, am in awe of these men who went about their business because of the love of the game, knowing full well that it wasn't about the money, or the fame, or the perks...it was about camaraderie, the intricacies of the game, and the passion of playing and giving it your all.
Kadir Nelson writes with a chatty, folksy tone and it seems as if he is sitting down next to you on the bleachers on a sun-filled summer day, eating a hot dog and watching your favorite game. He tells the reader the unvarnished truth, with no regrets, or apologies, or sugar-coating. He simply wants you to know what came before the multi-million dollar salaries, the luxuries of the clubhouse, and the mind-numbing figures of product endorsements.
As bad as some of it was, it wasn't all bad; they were playing the game they loved. As Nelson writes, "We look back and wonder, 'How did we do all of that?' It's simple. We loved the game so much, we just looked past everything else. We were ballplayers. There was nothing we would have rather spent our time doing."
If you are a baseball fan, We Are the Ship is a must-read. If you are a card-carrying member of the human race, this book should be required reading. If you are an aficionado of American History, this is a story that fills in some of the blanks about our country. If you appreciate a job well-done, devotion to a passion, or inspiring stories passed down through generations, this beautifully crafted book full of intricate, life-like illustrations must not be passed up. This is a book for kids of every age, especially 'kids' who love the game. Don't miss it.
