A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson

Gr 4-7-Johnson played professional ball for the Indianapolis Clowns for three years in the waning days of the Negro Leagues. She succeeded as a professional athlete, competing on an equal footing against some of the best male ballplayers in the country. As her story makes clear, even though Jackie Robinson had broken the major-league color barrier a few years before, the U.S. was still mired in segregation and prejudice, and Johnson faced an equally pervasive bias against female athletes. She never let any of this stand in her way, however, and her love of baseball kept her going. This isn't an autobiography, but the author, who obviously interviewed her subject extensively, wisely tells the story in the first person. Consequently, whereas some sports biographies are a rather dull catalog of accomplishments, this one is peppered with colorful language and filled with Johnson's natural exuberance and love of life. While readers might wish for more descriptions of some of the professional games she played in and how she developed her impressive skills as a pitcher and infielder (she won far more games than she lost and had a respectable batting average), this is an enjoyable account of a part of baseball history that will come as a surprise to many readers. Black-and-white photos are scattered throughout.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"A winning biography of Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson...the true story of the underdog who succeeds despite tremendous odds." -Booklist