Penguin Random House is giving away a copy of Nic Stone’s Fast Pitch to one reader. You can enter at the end of this review.
Summary: Fast Pitch
Fast Pitch is a companion title to Nic Stone’s Clean Getaway, which I really enjoyed! It stars Scoob’s crush Shenice, an U12 softball team captain whose concentration is shot when she stumbles upon a decades-long family mystery. Shenice and her team are preparing to win the Fastpitch World Series, when she discovers that a crime her great-grand father was accused of — which cost him his reputation and place in the Negro leagues — may have actually been a set-up all along. And now, Shenice is the only one who can clear his name.
The Good
Like Clean Getaway, this is a fast-paced story and Shenice is sharp girl who excels at her sport and takes her role as captain seriously. Her parents are also very supportive. Shenice’s father is disabled after a game injury and he has to move around with a cane. The family has a long history of playing sports and they’re understandably proud of Shenice’s love for the game.
Shenice also has a great group of girlfriends and the team has a friendly dynamic. I loved getting to know a couple of the girls well and enjoyed seeing them compete with several mostly-white teams. They face a degree of racism and prejudice at some games and the author portrays those unflinchingly.
The heart of the story, though, is Shenice’s attempt at solving the family mystery after her encounter with her great-uncle Jack. Although in and out of lucidity, he is able to share a family story with Shenice and ask her help to clear his brother’s name. I really enjoyed the way Shenice handles the mystery and how fairly realistic the resolution is.
Overall: Fast Pitch
Fast Pitch is a fast-paced, poignant sports mystery about family, racism, and community. Fans of Clean Getaway will enjoy this companion title focused on Scoob’s crush Shenice. With engaging sports scenes and a diverse cast of characters, this story shines a light on the history of Black men in sports and how we can honor that legacy.
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Giveaway is US only and closes next Monday, September 20.
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