Three Strike Summer

The gutsy girl is a conundrum in children’s books. She seems so easy to conjure up. Writing a bit of historical fiction? Surely all you have to do is just give your heroine some feisty comebacks and historically accurate inequities and the audience will be on her/your side, right? It’s not so simple. There’s a book for adults I love called <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/6013046.How_I_Became_a_Famous_Novelist" title="How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely" rel="noopener"> How I Became a Famous Novelist</a> by Steve Hely that is a biting takedown of the adult bestsellers. It pauses, however, at one point to eviscerate precisely the kind of book I’m talking about here today. At one point the main character’s aunt is writing a historical novel about a girl in Revolutionary Era American who wants to become a cooper (a barrel maker). I cringed with delight at the familiar tropes Hely was able to conjure. They were painful and true. There are thousands of awful books in which “girl power” has been shoehorned into a specific moment in history. They don’t feel historical after that happens. They feel like they contain contemporary characters in a historical reenactment. Now connect all that to what Skyler Schrempp is doing with her middle grade novel <i>Three Strike Summer</i>:. Headstrong girl? Check. Rubbing up against the prejudices and sexism of the time? Check. Contains a storyline with familiar tropes? . . . No check. No, Ms. Schrempp isn’t one of those authors that phones in her history. Her writing has bite. Her characters erupt from their era, rather than feeling like they were dropped in. And her heroine? Character development and a hero’s journey go hand in hand with this stunning tale. <br /><br />The day that Gloria “Glo” Mae Willard throws a stone through a bank man’s car window (a mean fastball) is the day she and her family leave their home in Oklahoma. The Dust Bowl is in full swing and Glo is determined to someday actually get to play on a real baseball team like she’s always dreamed. They’re headed to California, a land of sun and fruit trees that need picking. But living in the Santa Ana Holdsten Peach Orchard isn’t one grand sweet song. The guys who run it want everyone to buy everything from the company store and any hint of organizing at all meets with swift and pure fury. At first Glo doesn’t care. All she wants is to join the local boys in their baseball game against the Michelson’s Apricot Grove boys. But the longer she and her sister spend in the peach grove, the more they realize that there’s something rotten at the heart of this orchard, and it has nothing to do with the fruit. Will Glo be able to convince the boys to let her play? And even if she does, will she be around long enough to win a game? Things are heating up, and it turns out that Glo, for all her faults, is a force to be reckoned with.<br /><br />One of the descriptions I saw of this book labeled it “<i> The Sandlot</i> meets <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/89763.Esperanza_Rising" title="Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan" rel="noopener"> Esperanza Rising</a>.” Doggone it, that’s better than what I came up with. When I try describing it to folks, I usually end up saying something along the lines of “It’s <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/18114322.The_Grapes_of_Wrath" title="The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck" rel="noopener"> Grapes of Wrath</a> meets <i>The Great Escape</i> meets <i>The Natural</i>.” Too wordy. <i>The Sandlot</i> and <i>Esperanza Rising</i>? Accurate and succinct and not too far off. You’ve got the humor and sports of <i>The Sandlot</i>. You’ve the union organizing of <i>Esperanza Rising</i>. But getting either of those elements right requires quite a lot of work. So let's break down each element.<br /><br />A relatively recent middle grade novel which shall remain nameless at this time (buy me a drink and I’ll spill all) set in Cuba attempted to work union organizing into its plot. Alas, the book made the mistake of many of a fine novel of making it seem like (A) union organizing is super duper simple and easy and (B) bosses tend to be just one big bad main boss who will usually crumple in the face of any organized resistance. I think we need only look to the tactics of Amazon today to know that these lies to our children aren’t helping anyone. So what to do? If you want to write a book in which organizing is key, but you want to be honest with kids about the fact that there are times that it seemingly leads nowhere, how do you balance harsh reality with hope? Schrempp’s solution in this book is marvelous. At no point did I feel she strained against the tender strands of my (or a skeptical 11-year-old’s) credulity. She manages a marvelous tightrope walk between honesty and a (relatively) happy ending. By the end of this book, Glo doesn’t have that Hollywood happy ending she might have wanted, but she sure feels like she won in some way. Anyone with an appreciation of children's literature will walk away impressed.<br /><br />Now every year the library workers in my library attempt to come up with <a href="https://www.epl.org/announcing-evanston-public-librarys-101-great-books-for-kids-2022/" rel="nofollow noopener">101 Great Books for Kids</a> published in the current year. All year we pass around and read different books for children. Some will have received stars from professional review journals. Some will be complete surprises. All are noteworthy, but very few involve sports. Turns out, we all have our blind spots. When I worked for New York Public Library I was on a similar committee and year after year I couldn’t get anyone to read the horsey books. These days, sports books are the titles I have to beg others to consider. Depending on the output from publishers, it can occasionally feel like pulling teeth, getting a grown person to read a book they just don’t wanna. <i>Three Strike Summer</i>? The pun in the name is the name of the game. This here’s a baseball book, loud and proud. You’re fairly sure of the fact when, in Chapter One, Glo uses her golden pitching arm to nail a rock through that car window of the bank man repossessing their house. But the sports hardly end there, and as the title went on I was reminded of the fact that baseball, more than any other sport, is made for narrative. I don’t know it for a fact, but suspect a person wholly unaware of the rules of the game would still get swept up in Schrempp’s storytelling. <br /><br />And I was never bored. That’s saying something when you're discussing a historical novel where the heroine is picking fruit half the time, but I never found myself bored while reading this novel. You can chalk that up to any number of things, but for me it was Schrempp’s writing. She’s got a golden pen, putting together thoughts and feelings and sentences that’ll just take your breath away. Considering how much happens in this book, you wouldn’t blame her a jot if she gave all the interior complexity and development to the kids and left the adults out of it. But even though Glo’s ma and pa are left on the periphery of Glo’s own story, they too get their moments to shine. For me, one of the best parts of the book was an almost off-handed comment from Glo’s ma late in the story. At the beginning of the book Glo is furious and baffled by her mother’s willingness to just pick up and leave the family farm without so much as a blink. When at last Glo is able to ask her about it, almost at the end of the book, her ma says honestly, “Aw, Gloria… You couldn’t have paid me a million dollars to keep on living in a house that my baby died in.” Glo’s little brother died, probably because of the Dust Bowl, in that home. It’s so simple and so human and so understandable. Plus, I love children’s books where kids get this sudden clarifying instant where they can see everything adults have to go through and try to hide. <br /><br />I listened to the audiobook of <i>Three Strike Summer</i> which had the double benefit of being exceedingly well penned and performed with aplomb . . . by the author. Turns out, if your writer also happens to have a degree from the School at Steppenwolf, you may end up with a better narrator than some random audiobook actress. Now I listen to a LOT of audiobooks of children’s literature in a given day. I know a good one when I hear one. And Skyler Schrempp is an exceptional reader. But even the world’s best reader can’t make a bad book good. It’s just a simple coincidence that Ms. Schrempp just happens to simultaneously talented at reading as well as writing. Little wonder that “Three Strike Summer” delivers on all counts. It’s the sports book/ escape narrative / union organizing novel you wish every kid had the chance to read. Starts bleak. Ends triumphant. Never cheats on either count. It’s raw and honest and funny and exciting. In short, the perfect novel to draw kids in and keep them enthralled. <br /><br />On shelves now.

A brave, plucky ballplayer fights for herself and others in this searing Depression-Era novel. Here are just three things I loved about this powerful and important story:<br /><br />Gloria Mae Willard<br />Fierce, outspoken, brave, and overflowing with grief and righteous indignation, this girl stole my heart. Gloria doesn’t always make the best choices—the bank man’s cracked windshield proves that—making her an entertaining, perfectly human protagonist young readers will root for.<br /><br />The supporting cast is well-crafted, too. I particularly enjoyed Gloria’s relationship with her older sister, Jessamyn.<br /><br />Setting<br />Evocative, sensory details, lyrical writing and Gloria’s powerful voice render the 1930s Dust Bowl and Depression era in startling clarity. When Gloria’s family loses their Oklahoma farm to the aforementioned bank man, they land at a California peach farm with other migrant workers. Everyone—Pa, Ma, Gloria, and Jess—spends long hours in the orchard picking peaches or working in the canning operation. The pay is low and shrinking, and the conditions are brutal and dehumanizing—exhausting, dangerous work; outrageous costs to rent a shack and pay for company-store necessities; ever-present hunger; and the constant threat of violence for anyone who speaks up and tries to change things.<br /><br />Themes of Equality and Justice<br />After the boys back home excluded Gloria from playing baseball, she’s determined to win—or fight—her way onto the secret peach-farm team. With dogged tenacity, quick-witted bravado, and a tricky curveball, Gloria overcomes gender stereotypes and earns her place among the boys. The ballplayers, including the team’s stoic captain, are wonderfully individualized. These scenes ratchet up story tension and contribute to Gloria’s growth.<br /><br />This novel shines a light on a difficult period of American history, and would be a great supplement for student learning. (An Author’s Note adds context.) But, like the best historical fiction, it also highlights our time. Look at the headlines: catastrophic flooding, wildfires and drought from climate change; corporations blocking unions; historic income inequality; and schemes and lies threatening our democracy. The questions raised in this book—including who stands up to tyranny, and at what cost?—are chillingly relevant.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I received a digital copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I only post about books I finished and enjoyed.

Believe me when I say you NEED to meet Gloria Mae.

Such a wholesome, charming, story. This was also such a vividly told story in every way. The dialogue was so on point, &amp; I could hear that 1930s Oklahoma twang clear as day. I ate that up let me tell you. I could feel the dust &amp; dirt on my skin(&amp; in my eyes &amp; nose lol), smell the peaches, see the shanties..just all of it. Superb. This has the Sandlot movie vibes, but isn’t like it. The vibes were good enough for me though, with a tough as nails girl the MC too. Always being told no-no she can’t play, no she can’t know what’s going on, no she can’t speak her mind, etc. Amazing themes in here, some hard hitting. Such as workers rights, women’s rights(in a way, because the very idea of Gloria playing baseball is laughable to boys at this time), poverty(losing your home &amp; everything but your truck), child loss, grief, &amp; anger. Gloria has so much anger. Anger at losing her farm, &amp; feeling like her pa didn’t fight for their home or them. Anger at her ma for the same reasons, &amp; more. Anger at probably even God Himself, since her baby brother was taken along with everything else. All apart of grief &amp; loss. She &amp; her family have lost so much, &amp; are also still grieving. Now anger at the Peach orchard men, &amp; how they run things there, &amp; treat everyone. &amp; anger at a boy there trying to keep her from playing ball when she’s the closest she’s been to being able to. Yes, Gloria has a chip on her shoulder, but I’d say she’s earned it. 1 tough cookie. This has depression era issues, worker’s rights(union type talk, strikes, etc). The authors note even explains what is real vs not in the book, which was so fascinating to read itself. I learned so much. She discusses the “Dust Bowl refugees”, factory farms, the affect both had on immigrants in the area, “organizing” workers, &amp; more. This just came out the other day, &amp; I highly recommend. BEAUTIFUL cover by Sas Milledge too.?

Skyler Schrempp has done a wonderful job of taking a dire, emotional time in our history -the Dust Bowl and the Depression- and presenting it in a way the middle grade students can understand. Readers experience the trauma of migration and poverty through the eyes of a peer. Gloria Mae Willard is a feisty main character who relates better to boys than girls. She is so confident of her throwing arm, but no boys will allow her to play on their baseball team. Gloria’s relationship with her parents and sister is deep and detailed. She has to grow up fast. Her voice is remarkably real. Obviously I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but not without tears. <br /><br />This book is a must have for my middle school library. I am so grateful to author Skyler Schrempp for the arc. I’m already anticipating her next book.

A gem of a book! Gloria is easy to fall for, spunky, proud, &amp; in love with baseball. The story is gorgeous &amp; real, funny &amp; poignant. LOVED!

Three Strike Summer is a book that both kids and adults need to read! Gloria is a strong and beautifully vulnerable heroine who narrates the story with a voice you won't forget thanks to Schrempp's stunning, authentic prose. Gloria's fight to play ball is woven into a historical background of the dust bowl, and the novel expertly illuminates this difficult time in American history while keeping each essential detail rooted in the story. A truly engaging read cover to cover - I can't recommend this book enough!

Gloria Mae Willard is a spirited girl who just wants to play baseball with the boys. But everything gets in her way, especially when her 1930s family loses their farm and becomes migrant workers picking peaches. In the hands of this talented writer, you will be transported into Gloria's world with humor, honesty, and heart. A writer to watch! <br /><br />Also check out the audio book – wonderfully read by the author.

Gloria grabs you from the get-go and doesn't stop in this great baseball/dust bowl story. I love how she grapples with when to use her anger for good, and not for just wounded pride. The family moves from Oklahoma to work in the California peach orchards, and Schrempp piles in a lot of history into her subplots. Best of all, is a girl proving to the boys she can play ball!

I really appreciated this great middle grade. I think in particular this is a different focus than a lot of books that I've read that handle the 30s and the look at organizing and working conditions on a factory farm was really well done. I also appreciated the moment between Gloria and her dad towards the end of the book.