Safe at Home
Summary - Ten-year-old Elijah Breeze, aka 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 by 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.
Reviews
"SAFE AT HOME is Sharon Robinson's first novel, though she is no novice at either writing or baseball. She proves her talent for both in this book that entertains as it touches the heart." - Kids Reads
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Slam Dunk!
Summary - Elijah "Jumper" Breeze is settling into his new home in Harlem--though it hasn't been easy since his father died and his mother moved them from the suburbs.
Still, he made friends at summer camp and he's eager to see them at his new middle school. Jumper is looking forward to hitting the books and hitting the court for some serious b-ball. Then his best friend, Kelvin, talks him into running for student council and suddenly life gets a lot more complicated! He needs to out-poll Nia, his fiercest opponent in the student council race, and doesn't want to lose her friendship in the process.
Reviews
"Sharon Robinson does an amazing job conveying to readers the struggles that Jumper faces as a sixth grader. Her characters are likable and relatable, and the story moves along with plenty of dialogue and problem solving. Whether or not you’re a basketball fan, this book truly is a slam dunk!" Kids Reads
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Official Author's Site
Extras
When Jackie Robinson walked onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn in 1947, he was the first Black player to play in a Major League Baseball game since the 1880's! A natural athlete who had lettered at four different sports in both high school and college, Robinson went on to became one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
The Robinson baseball tradition is carried on today by his daughter Sharon and the rest of the Robinson family. Besides the novels here, Sharon Robinson has written about her baseball dad in a few books for kids and she has also been a education consultant for major league baseball. I think it's fair to say when Sharon Robinson writes about baseball, she knows what she's writing about.
To learn more about Jackie Robinson, start with this Bio at the Robinson family site here.
I found these interviews with author Sharon Robinson in the secret teachers area at Scholastic books. I hope I don't get in big trouble for releasing this site. At least teachers can't put me in detention anymore. (Ha, Ha!)
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