2nd Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Second Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Double Play by Robert B. Parker. The Berkley Publishing Group, 2004.
Genre: Historical Fiction

Double Play is about Joseph Burke, a World War II veteran protecting one of the most famous Major League Baseball players ever, Jackie Robinson, as well as recollections of the author’s childhood. The story takes place in many cities with Major League Baseball teams during the 1940’s (Chicago, Boston, Brooklyn, etc.). During the story there are many attempts to kill Robinson and Burke because of Robinson’s race. This story shows how racist people were towards African Americans during the early and mid 1900’s. This story shows how tough Jackie Robinson was being the first African American to play in what was an all white person sport even though everywhere he went, people were ridiculing him and insulting him.


“Intriguing...a well crafted novel about honor, responsibility, redemption, and triumphs. The beauty of this novel is how Parker mixes history with fiction, winds his characters around the periphery of baseball and then gives the story real depth with Bobby’s memories.
-Edmonton Journal


Double Play is a fictional novel about Jackie Robinson’s first year in the Major Leagues. The story shows how wherever Robinson went, there were going to be people who believed he didn’t belong. Also, that he had to follow the same rules as other African Americans (eating in African American restaurants, going to African American hotels, using African American restrooms, etc.). This reminds me of when I learned about the civil rights movement and how African Americans had to use different doors, restrooms, etc., than white people. This story also shows how brave Jackie Robinson was to go out and prove all the doubters wrong and open the door for other African Americans to play Major League Baseball with white men.

Double Play also reminds of when I first started to like baseball, when the author writes short little anecdotes and mixes them into the story. The author talks about how he would listen to the as many games as he could on the radio when they were on. He talks about how he listens to the scores as they are read over the radio. All of which, as a big baseball, I do whenever there’s a game.


“ The man stared straight ahead, as he drove slowly, without speaking. Burke watched him for a moment. He was a thick pale-faced man with a lot of flesh around his neck. He was wearing a tan golf jacket and a white broadcloth shirt. He was having trouble swallowing. Burke was silent. As they went under a streetlight Burke could see the sweat on the man’s face.” (p. 167)

I am a really big baseball fan and I like reading books about historical events in baseball, or articles about important baseball games, so this book was perfect for me. This story helped me realize how hard it was on Jackie Robinson being the first African American baseball player to play in the Major Leagues. By reading this book I learned how much the game has changed