Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fast Pitch follows twelve year old Shenice "Lightning" Lockwood, captain of her all-black softball team, and the fourth generation of Lockwoods to pursue the sport. When a visit to her Uncle Jack, brother to her Great-Grampy JonJon who left baseball after he was suspected of a crime, reveals that JonJon may not have committed the crime at all, Shenice goes to great lengths to find evidence to clear her Great-Grampy's name.

This story was beautiful. It was a quick read, but it was rich with history and modernity. Shenice was a delight of a narrator. The story was funny and authentic and full of passion, and Nic Stone did a phenomenal job of including the truth about baseball's history.

All in all, I really enjoyed my time with this book. It was brief, but it was thoroughly enjoyable, and I would recommend it even to readers who may not be into middle grade but are still looking for an all-around solid read.

This digital ARC was offered in exchange of an honest and unbiased review:
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3,5*
Pros: Heartwarming story of 12-year-old Shenice, captain of an all-Black softball team. Focuses on family and following your legacy. Relevant points about the still-present oppressive racism in the world of sports. A beautiful look into sisterhood.
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Cons: Odd vocabulary and expressions for 12-year-olds, that made it slightly jarring to be fully immersive.

As a sequel to Clean Getaway, Nic Stone's newest novel Fast Pitch delivers. It's an insightful look at the discrimination that children of color feel and face, and it's also a celebration of those same children. There is some sports history as well, and it's a fun and fast-paced read.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read a few short stories from Nic Stone in the past, but never read a longer work from her. So, even though I have little interest in softball, I jumped at the chance to review Fast Pitch. And even as a non-fan of sports, I still enjoyed it.

Despite my lack of sports knowledge, I’m still aware of the trend of the girl being the underdog in many sports stories, so to see a heroine like Shenice who excels at softball. I loved the camaraderie between the Shenice and the other Black girls on the team as they face off against the racism and bigotry that comes their way as the first all-Black team.

There’s also a sense of Shenice following in the footsteps of previous generations of her family who also played the sport, including her father, grandfather, great-uncle, and great-grandfather. I admired her determination to get justice when she found out that her great-grandfather JonJon’s career came to an end after being framed for a crime he didn’t commit, somewhat clouding her focus from the here-and-now with her team.

I like how Stone depicts sensitive issues to the Black experience, while also conveying a fairly lighthearted tone with the sense of community in the bonds between the characters. This is a fun book centering Black girlhood, and one I would recommend for both kids and adults.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the review copy of this book. This was intriguing to me because I have enjoyed Nic Stone’s work in the past and I played softball in high school. Holy moly, does Nic Stone know how to write a story!

This follows Shenice Lockwood, captain of the Fulton Firebirds. The team is on the path to make history as the first team made of all-brown faces to win the U12 championship. However, Shenice’s concentration is broken by family drama. Long ago, her great, great grandfather was shunned from the major leagues when he was accused of a crime his younger brother swears he didn’t commit (and Great Uncle Jack has proof!)

Determined to solve the mystery at hand and clear her great great grandfather’s name, Shenice runs the risk of letting down her team.

Shenice is a strong and wonderful main character! I loved watching as she grew and reflected. It was really awesome to revisit a favorite character from Clean Getaway as well!

TW: racism
Shenice Lockwood is the captain of the softball team. When her uncle informs her about a crime that a relative allegedly does, Shenice decides it's time for her to act like Nancy Drew. She wants to take matters into her own hands and lead the investigation.. The importance of a legacy is discussed and I liked how Stone talks about racism in the same way that it would occur in real life. It's not in the entire book, but it will make you stop and think. This is my third Nic Stone book and I'm excited for it.

She has done it again. Nic Stone has written another home run. Add a little mystery, history and ancestry, this could easily be considered a grand slam. Following the family story through generations and "batball" starts to setting in the reader's heart and need for justice. A few heart-pounding moments, a few times to sweat out the scene, and always cheering on the characters in solving a mystery, righting a wrong, learning about family and playing ball.

The book went by so fast that I thought I was reading a rather long short story but it has all of the elements of an entertaining read for middle grade-- a bit of a mystery, a girl who needs to solve it while juggling another obligation-- in this case taking her softball team to finals.

You see the companion, Scoob, from Clean Getaway as a peripheral character and center, like the other, on social justice elements with history. Shenice is learning about her family's history with the baseball and the Negro League.

And it's a whole lot of The Sandlot, like for real, for real. So if you're a Sandlot fan, it's kind of all there. Could the characters have been a little more fleshed out and a little more care to develop everyone? Yes, but altogether it was a family-centered sports-forward story about our heroine, Shenice.

When the captain of a softball team discovers that her great-grandfather was framed for a crime that cost him his spot as one of the first Black players on an MLB team, she embarks on a quest to find the real culprit.

Family, friendships, and a quest for justice burn bright in this gripping middle grade novel. The humor and the protagonist's loving community keep the story fun and uplifting even as her quest for racial justice forces her to confront the darkness and pain of racism in the past and the present. This novel has something for mystery lovers, realistic fiction lovers, and sports fans--plus plenty of thought-provoking thematic material--making it an ideal choice for classrooms and book clubs. I highly recommend this book to all middle grade and younger YA readers (grades 4-8).

Fast-pitch softball captain Shenice “Lightning” Lockwood has nothing else on her mind besides leading her team to the sectional championship and beyond. As the only all-Black team among a sea of mostly white faces, a championship win means more than just a trophy, especially in the Lockwood family, a family known for its generational talent. When Shenice meets her Great Uncle Jack, he tells her the tale of his big brother’s career and a crime and set-up that abruptly ended it. To restore her great grandfather’s (and family’s) good name, Shenice must dig into the past while trying to keep her feet and cleats firmly planted in the present. With time running out and few games left to play, can Shenice clear her family’s name and lead her team to a history-making win?

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone is a fast-paced, tender, coming-of-age story that will enthrall readers. It’s a testament to Stone’s ability that the novel not only balances an exquisite mix of sports, mystery, family, history, and contemporary issues but also that Shenice’s voice shines throughout. Her family and their love for one another is heart-warming, and her quest to right a racist wrong inspires. Despite the lightning quick ending, Shenice’s story will stay with readers long after turning the last page.

Fast Pitch will be blazing off the shelves in libraries and middle grade classrooms everywhere. Both accessible and attention-grabbing, readers will love Shenice’s story. Educators will also find plenty to like about Fast Pitch. With increasing (and overdue) recognition of the Negro Leagues’ significant contributions to baseball history, Fast Pitch’s will strike a chord with young readers interested to learn more. It’s a history that needs to be taught because the lessons of the past shine light on the present and can shape meaningful action for the future. Fast Pitch offers that prism. Coupled with a deep exploration of history and eager students, educators will have an all-star team capable of hitting it out of the park in the classroom.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers, for an eARC of this book.

Another solid middle-grade novel by Nic Stone. Shenice Lockwood is a fourth generation "Bat-ball" player (in her case, fast-pitch softball). Sherice's team is on track to be the first all-black girl's team to win the regional championship--but only if Sherice can keep it together. But Sherice has a lot on her mind, as she's just discovered a family mystery she's determined to get to the bottom of. Sherice is a feisty, likeable character, and Nic Stone does a good job weaving historical (and, sadly, current) information about racism naturally into the story. Where the book falters a bit is that this realistic story often stretches the limits of credulity. For the most part, though, readers will not mind.

A great book for sports fans! And lovers of family fiction. Great character development, plotting, and pacing. Pure joy for readers of middle grade fiction.

Shenice Lockwood is talented athlete and part of a all-Black softball team. Her family has a long history of baseball. After meeting her great uncle she learns the real reason why her grandfather stopped playing and sets out to clear his name.

The powerful and heartbreaking juxtaposition of the racism Shenice’s grandfather faced with the racism Shenice and her teammates face provides an important lesson for middle grade readers. This story about friendship, teamwork, and standing up for what’s right will appeal to many. There are so many compelling characters that I wouldn’t be surprised if it surpasses Clean Getaway in popularity. I love that Nic Stone was able to pull inspiration from The Sandlot and create a book brimming with black girl magic.

As a middle school librarian I want to spend my limited budget and my own money on books that fill gaps in the collection and that students will read. Building my diverse collection has been rewarding as I see my students seeking out the new titles and getting excited to see themselves represented in books. Fast Pitch is a definite purchase. It is not only a diverse book. It is about girls playing a sport - Black girls. They aim for excellence and seek truth about the past. They deal with racism- casual and intentional. Books with female characters who play sports is an area in fiction that is frequently lacking. The way Ms. Stone includes racism in her book, both present day and historically fits so well and feels so real. I look forward to recommending this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Crown Books for Young Readers for Random House Children’s for the opportunity to review this title. It is a must have for my Title I middle school library. .

Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for an early E-ARC of this book.

I really love Nic Stone's writing, and her gift with middle grade is superb! In Clean Getaway and now Fast Pitch she takes a modern character and story and folds in history in a way that will appeal to fans of both realistic and historical fiction. She keep the length of her books relatively short and I know that will also draw in lots of my middle grade readers. The cover art is absolutely incredible as well.

Fast Pitch is the story of a young girl, Shenice Lockwood, who is the captain of her fastpitch softball team. There is nothing she wants more than to lead her team of Black and brown players to the FastPitch World Series and to beat their rich, white opponents. But Shenice becomes distracted by a mystery surrounding her great grandfather who played in the Negro Leagues, and was falsely accused of a crime that changed the family baseball fame trajectory forever. She is determined to learn the truth and clear her great grandfather's name, but will she be able to remain focused enough on her own game to win the World Series? Powerful characters, fast-faced can't put it down story, and a whole lot of heart makes this a middle grade powerhouse. Nic Stone hit it out of the park with this one, and I am excited to share it with my students.

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
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“… we all know Black girls are magic…”
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Seeing all of Nic Stone’s post on instagram about the release of this book sold me on it before I even started. I mean who didn’t grow up loving The Sandlot?
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In true Nic Stone fashion this book included a plot related to racism in the past and how it is still relevant and prominent today.
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I do not know anything about “Batball” (baseball/softball… although I did play t-ball where i enjoyed chasing butterflies in the outfield), but this book was still super enjoyable for a YA / middle grade audience!
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It kept reminding me of Holes as well! The need to find the treasure to break the family curse and restore the name!
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I loved this one and can definitely see it being used in classrooms!

Shenice is a girl with a family baseball legacy. Now it has caused a huge weight on her young shoulders. The weight involves a scandal surrounding her great-grandfather. She feels it’s her job to try and clear his name all the while trying to win a historic title as the captain of her softball team.

Twelve-year-old Shenice “Lightning” Lockwood has baseball in her blood and plans to lead her all-Black fast-pitch softball team (a first in the Dixie Youth Softball Association), the Fulton Firebirds, to victory at the district championship. In the attempt to cheer his daughter after a disappointing loss, her father shows her memorabilia from her family’s baseball lineage. This event prompts him to take Shenice to visit her great-uncle Jack. He tells her the story of her great-grandfather’s rise from the Negro Leagues to the majors and how racial prejudice played a part in his being framed for the theft of a famous baseball glove. Here is where Shenice feels compelled to seek answers.

This middle-grade novel discusses race at a level readers will understand and many can relate. The story is filled with images of positive Black girls without downplaying the historical realities of her family playing baseball in the American South. And how sadly enough it still affects her in the present as she attempts to make history herself.

Notably, her coach is a White woman in a same-gender marriage.
The mystery is compelling but for a non spirts follower, at times, I was ready to get through the softball stuff to get more into the intrigue.

All in all, Fast Pitch is quite an adventure.

Another excellent and timely book by Nic Stone. I loved Shenice and her family and the intertwining story of the Negro League, especially now that they’re finally getting their due after all these years. I can’t wait to recommend this book to kids!

Batter up! 'Fast Pitch,' Nic Stone’s next book, is almost here, and there are no strikes, fouls, or outs in sight. The bases are loaded, and she’s poised to make a game-winning hit. In Fast Pitch, Stone brings readers to the dugout. Shenice Lockwood is the captain of her softball team, the Fulton Firebirds. She’s focused and ready to win regional championships until life throws her a curveball. When Shenice’s great-uncle tells her about a crime a family member allegedly committed, she decides to pursue her own investigation. But at what cost? As she works to uncover the mystery, the regional championships hang in the balance.

Once again, Stone doesn’t shy away from tough topics. She continues to include the pervasiveness of racism. However, she doesn’t allow it to overwhelm the story. Rather, it sits naturally within the story; it exists in the book’s world as it does in our world. (Which, frankly, I found to be just as unsettling.)

Stone also explores the significance of legacy – through Shenice’s family and the Firebirds. While they are separate from each other, Shenice exemplifies their connection. Readers learn the family reasons why Shenice pursued softball. Additionally, those reasons extend beyond softball, as Shenice reckons with her family’s name on a larger scale. She begins to consider what it means for the Firebirds as well. They make history in more ways than one. As team captain, Shenice begins to realize how hefty her burden becomes. Stone uses the time to really delve into it. She reveals Shenice’s thought processes and answers a looming question: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?

Shenice truly drives the story. (Of course.) Throughout the book, she shines as a character readers will instantly adore. She is multi-faceted and compelling. First, her love of softball is clear and ever-present, and that isn’t lost – even while solving the mystery. It’s easy to see how deeply Shenice cares about her team. Meanwhile, readers see the weight of legacy bearing down on Shenice. Thus, Stone establishes a character not without her flaws. She grants Shenice the freedom to be flawed and grow from her mistakes and her triumphs. Despite the pressure Shenice endures, she’s still a kid, and readers can bask in that experience with her – from delightfully ridiculous friends and a loving family to sweet little crushes.

'Fast Pitch' is nothing short of a home run. The significance of softball flourishes; it’s clear this is a subject Stone cares about passionately. As with all her books, Stone retains her charismatic style. The book oozes humor, emotion, and heart. Stone works in small details that avid readers of her books can appreciate. Her characters are dynamic, and her ability to integrate multiple subjects into one story remains unwavering. Like Clean Getaway, Stone holds a clear understanding of her younger audience. She brings her writing to their level without talking down to them. Readers will delight in Shenice’s story as Stone continues to bring much-needed and beloved rep to the page.

I love Nic Stone (who doesn’t??), so I was thrilled to download an e-galley of her newest novel, Fast Pitch.

Here’s what I loved:
--A sports story about strong girls
--There’s a fun mystery element
--Scoob from Clean Getaway makes an appearance
--Black girl magic!

Here’s the set-up: As the captain of the Fulton Firebirds, an all black girl softball team, Shenice is determined to get them to the regional championship. Shenice comes from a long line of ball players, and she’s excited to take her team to the next level. Things are going well until Shenice meets her great uncle Jack, who shares family secrets and sends her on a quest to clear her great grandfather’s name. Nic Stone does a great job examining racism (both in the past and in the present) while telling a great tale that will engage middle grade readers.