Warrior on the Mound
Warrior on the Mound by Sandra W. Headen, published by Candlewick Press on May 13, 2025, is a children’s book that explores themes of racial unrest and the love of baseball through the eyes of twelve-year-old Cato. Set in 1935 North Carolina, the narrative follows Cato’s passion for the sport as he dreams of perfecting his pitch and meeting the legendary Satchel Paige. However, when Cato and his friends practice on a whites-only baseball field, their actions ignite a fierce racial conflict within their community, putting their safety and dreams at risk.
This story presents a vivid portrayal of segregation and the societal tensions of the prewar South, culminating in a dramatic showdown between Black and white little league teams. The first-person narrative immerses readers in Cato’s experiences, highlighting the challenges of growing up in a divided society. The edition includes back matter with an author’s note, historical context, and biographical information about Negro League players, enriching the reader’s understanding of the era. With 272 pages, this edition is written in English and offers a thoughtful exploration of difficult discussions surrounding race and justice in a historical setting.
Official synopsis Publisher
Narrated by twelve-year-old Cato, this intense and evocative story of racial unrest in prewar North Carolina ends with a dramatic match between white and Black little league teams.
1935. Twelve-year-old Cato wants nothing more than to play baseball, perfect his pitch, and meet Mr. Satchel Paige––the best pitcher in Negro League baseball. But when he and his teammates “trespass” on their town’s whites-only baseball field for a practice, the resulting racial outrage burns like a brushfire through the entire community, threatening Cato, his family, and every one of his friends.
There’s only one way this can end without violence: It has to be settled on the mound, between the white team and the Black. Winner takes all.
Written in first person with a rich, convincing voice, Warrior on the Mound is about the experience of segregation; about the tinderbox environment of the prewar South; about having a dream; about injustice, and, finally, about dialogue.
Back matter includes an author’s note, historical background, biographical information about Negro League players, and more.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
“A HOME RUN.”—School Library Journal, starred review
“NOT TO BE MISSED.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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