Fast Pitch

Nic Stone's 'Fast Pitch' is a compelling middle-grade novel that blends the excitement of sports with a heartfelt family mystery. Shenice Lockwood, a talented softball player, is determined to lead her all-Black team to a championship while navigating the subtle biases they face. Her focus is shaken when her great-uncle reveals a decades-old family secret involving a potentially wrongful accusation that ruined a relative's career. This dual narrative explores themes of identity, justice, perseverance, and the importance of family and teamwork. It's a fast-paced story that will appeal to young readers who love sports and a good mystery, while also offering valuable lessons about standing up for what's right and believing in oneself.

From #1 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. Shenice Lockwood, captain of the Fulton Firebirds, is hyper-focused when she steps up to the plate. Nothing can stop her from leading her team to the U12 fast-pitch softball regional championship. But life has thrown some curveballs her way. Strike one: As the sole team of all-brown faces, Shenice and the Firebirds have to work twice as hard to prove that Black girls belong at bat. Strike two: Shenice’s focus gets shaken when her great-uncle Jack reveals that a career-ending—and family-name-ruining—crime may have been a setup. Strike three: Broken focus means mistakes on the field. And Shenice’s teammates are beginning to wonder if she’s captain-qualified. It's up to Shenice to discover the truth about her family’s past—and fast—before secrets take the Firebirds out of the game forever.