Jackie and Me

Jackie & Me by Dan Gutman

This right here is the book that launched the blog. Here’s the story way back on my very first post.

Joe Stoshack has a special, highly specific talent.  He can time travel.  But only when handling baseball cards.  If he holds a card, he gets a fuzzy, tingling sensation and then is magically transported back to that player’s world.  When Joe’s assigned a school report on an African-American who has made an important contribution to society, he knows exactly who he wants to see – Jackie Robinson.

This is the first one of Gutman’s baseball time travel books that I’ve read, and boy,  do I get the appeal.  Reading this was a snap, it was interesting and engaging throughout.  I definitely will continue to endorse the series.  It’s especially popular with third and fourth grade baseball fans.  I’m especially impressed with Gutman’s ability to create an engaging story without forcing familiar heroes into ridiculous situations as often happens when history meets fiction.

What’s not to like? For me, the race issue is a big one.  I thoroughly understand where writers are coming from when they say that they want to be realistic about the treatment of Jackie Robinson or whichever African-American they’re writing about.  But I just can’t endorse the use of the n-word, which is used repeatedly in this book.  Sure, use “n-word” but in a book for third and fourth graders, don’t write it out.  Would you drop f-bombs into a book for that age group?  Even if it’s what the character would really say?  In Gutman’s case, the answer is no.  His Babe Ruth entry in the series is filled with $@#! and other swear replacements.  So why is it okay to print the n-word just because it’s historically honest.  You can be plenty accurate by typing “n-word” or “n____” without having to use it.  Gutman does say  “it was about the worst word you could say to an African American” but is that strong enough for children to know it’s on the level of fuck? Because it is, or worse.

Good for: Hey, I’d be happy to recommend the series as a whole to baseball loving kids, but I did pull this copy from my classroom library.  If I were a parent, I’d have to think long and hard about whether I’d power through with full explanations about my feelings on this language or take a black sharpie to the book.  But as a teacher, I don’t want it read without discussion.

Language Note – Jackie Robinson uses the word “Negroes” to refer to African-Americans. Another boy calls him “colored”  When speaking to people in the past, Joe uses their own terminology.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – Some boys play stickball without their shirts on.
Profanity – “stupid” “Polack”, “ticks you off” “n—–r” which Gutman (a white man) writes out in its entirety, repeatedly. Gutman says “it was about the worst word you could say to an African American” and that most people call it the “N word” in our time.  1111 “jungle bunny”, “snowflake,” “brownie,” “Sambo” “boy”
Death, Violence and Gore – There’s a brawl on the baseball field, punches are thrown.  Joe runs into a man that has been cut badly by a bottle.  Joe has a temper and threatens when he is angry “I’m gonna kill him!”  Jackie Robinson receives threats on his life, that he would be shot if he played the game.  His wife and child were threatened as well.  He gets spiked in game. Joe socks another boy in the face.  There’s a part where Joe is threatened, told that what they do to “uppity Negroes” is to hang them over a tree branch.  Joe’s father pounds one fist against the other when Joe forgets something that he wanted him to do.  Babe Ruth is dying of cancer.  In the reader’s note at the end, we learn the years many of the famous players died, and that Jackie Robinson, Jr died in a car accident at the age of 24.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – a pitcher takes a swig of whiskey before a game.  There’s a beer sign at the park.  In the reader’s note at the end, we learn that Jackie Robinson Jr. was addicted to drugs and alcohol when he grew up.
Frightening or Intense Things – None that aren’t mentioned above.