From
New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone comes a challenging and heartwarming coming-of-age story about a softball player looking to prove herself on and off the field.
On sale: August 31, 2021
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 6-8
Page count: 192 Pages
ISBN: 9781984893017
Reading level: Lexile: 790L | Fountas/Pinnell: X
NIC STONE is the
New York Times bestselling author of
Clean Getaway, which received starred reviews from
Publishers Weekly and
Booklist, who called it “an absolute firecracker of a book.” She is also the author of the #1
New York Times bestselling and William C. Morris Award finalist
Dear Martin, its
New York Times bestselling sequel
Dear Justyce, and the acclaimed novels
Odd One Out and
Jackpot for teens.
Nic spent several years on the softball field as a kid, and
Fast Pitch grew out of her love of the sport and the movie
The Sandlot, and her desire to see more Black female athletes represented on the field and on the page. Nic lives in Atlanta with her adorable little family. You can find her online at nicstone.info.
“A grand slam of an adventure.
” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"Black girl magic hits a home run in Stone's latest novel." —
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Books like “Fast Pitch” are welcome evidence that writers for young readers are continuing to move beyond narratives in which the primary problem is a character’s marginalization."
-The New York Times"Tensions are high as the plot bounces between gameplay and sleuthing, ultimately reaching a satisfying conclusion....
Readers of all ages will cheer for Shenice." —
Booklist“A sports mystery that
will keep readers engaged from start to finish…Discussions about
race and civil rights are seamlessly woven into the narrative through Shenice’s own experiences.”
—School Library Journal
"This contemporary sports story goes beyond mere genre appeal; it is
a novel of substance, carrying the weight of history.”
–The Horn Book
