Chris Ellison

I liked this book for three reasons. The first reason that I liked this book is because it pushed the reader to see a different perspective. It showed the reader how even though Jackie Robinson was playing in the MLB and proved that Black athletes were good athletes, they still weren’t allowed to compete against White athletes. This book shows how the community, not only the 14 boys on the team, prepared for them to go to play in a Little League with White teams and how they prepare to head to the Little League Championship. I also like the illustrations in this book. The colors tones throughout the book change as the mood changes. When the book is sad and uncertain about what is happening, the colors are dark whereas when it is happy, the colors are light and cheery. Lastly, I like that this book is ended with an epilogue. I like that tells about how the story of the 14 boys on the team ends and how it comes full circle. I think that is shows that even though you may not get what you want at the time you want it; it can still happen later in life. The big idea of this story is to tell not let other people tell you can’t, keep trying and good things will come from it.… (meer)

'Let Them Play' is the true story about an all African American little league team formed in South Carolina during the Jim Crow era of 'Separate but equal' in 1955. The fourteen boys who signed up to play baseball quickly found out the white little league teams would not play against them and even formed a new baseball league. In fact, adult prejudice spread to eleven other segregated southern states who were encouraged to form similar all-white leagues. Since they were the only team left in their league, they won by default and the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania would not allow them to play because they never got to perform one game.
The boys made the 745-mile journey to the World Series and were allowed to practice during the warm-up period before the games began. The crowd of five thousand began to chant "LET THEM PLAY!" but of course they were not allowed. It seemed they made the long journey and weren't allowed to play, but hearing five thousand people chant and cheer for them to play it gave their parents the strength to keep fighting for their rights and the rights of their children.
My favorite line in the book is a quote by Ben Singleton, one of the player's fathers, who said: "the man you condemn today is the one you become tomorrow." This story could be used to teach tolerance, and even bullying, in the classroom.
The afterword includes the story of the same 14 boys going back to Pennsylvania in 2002 and taking the field to the cheers of thousands of baseball fans. The author relays a very touching incident that left me shedding a few tears.… (meer)

Summary:
An African American family made their way to Oklahoma with hopes of being able to get the free Indian land that was soon to open up for all Americans. There was lots of trials and tribulations on the way to Oklahoma and once they reached Oklahoma. The family was able to come together and got their lot of free land to farm on like they had hoped.

Personal Reaction:
The story brought to life how hard it was for people to get the land that I now live on. It blows my mind to think how things changed since back then. Makes me more proud and grateful for the life that I have today.

Classroom Ideas:
1. Educate the children on what was going on back in the 1889 before Oklahoma became the state that we know it as today.
2. Show the children footage of the events talked about in the story.… (meer)