Out of Left Field

By Ellen Klages

Book #3 in the The Gordon Family Saga series

A girl challenges baseball's gender rules, uncovering forgotten female players.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,141 ratings

352 pages· 56,662 words· Est. 8 hour read

$9.99Save 4%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In 1957, young Katy Gordon faces a challenge when she's barred from Little League for being a girl. Determined to change minds, she embarks on a journey to uncover the hidden history of female baseball players. With the help of librarians and her own research, Katy questions why these women were forgotten and how she can prove girls belong on the field. As she battles for equality, Katy's story unfolds against the backdrop of a changing America, where civil rights and societal norms are being questioned. Can one determined girl make a difference in a boy's world?

From the publisher

A story about the fight for equal rights in America’s favorite arena: the baseball field!Every boy in the neighborhood knows Katy Gordon is their best pitcher, even though she’s a girl. But when she tries out for Little League, it’s a whole different story. Girls are not eligible, period. It is a boy’s game and always has been. It’s not fair, and Katy’s going to fight back. Inspired by what she’s learning about civil rights in school, she sets out to prove that she’s not the only girl who plays baseball. With the help of friendly librarians and some tenacious research skills, Katy discovers the forgotten history of female ball players. Why does no one know about them? Where are they now? And how can one ten-year-old change people’s minds about what girls can do? Set in 1957–the world of Sputnik and Leave It to Beaver, saddle shoes and Heartbreak Hotel–Out of Left Field is both a detailed picture of a fascinating historic period and a timelessly inspiring story about standing up for equality at any age.

At a glance