Night Golf

January 1, 2002
Set in the 1950s, this inspiring picture book stars an African-American boy whose love of golf helps him rise above the racial prejudice that would keep him off the links. When young James discovers a rusty, cast-off golf club in the trash, nothing matches "how good the club felt in his hand." But the town's only golf course is open exclusively to white men. Longing to be near the game even if he can't play it, James takes a job as a caddy. As he lugs golf bags, the boy forges a bond with wise African-American caddy Charlie, who introduces him to "night golf," a way to play the course--and perfect their game--after hours. James's games of night golf pay off when one day he's asked to prove his athletic prowess to a pair of white golfers. In his hefty but well-paced text, Miller (Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree) draws a smooth parallel between the old-boys'-club world of golf and racial prejudice. James's frustration is nearly palpable as he watches others enjoy his dream game while he silently stands by, and his ultimate success will surely gratify readers. Lucas's (Frederick Douglass: The Last Day of Slavery) creamy, textured pastel-and-colored-pencil compositions shift from hazy sunshine to shadowy moonlight with ease. His portraits of James clearly convey all the boy's determination. A timeline of notable achievements by African-American golfers rounds out the uplifting story. Ages 6-up.

June 1, 1999
Gr 1-3-Based on the experiences of African Americans in the late 1950s, this book tells of a young boy who loves golf. The game comes naturally for James, but he is not allowed on the all-white courses. However, his interest in the sport soon leads him to become a caddy, and he is befriended by Charlie, another African American, who has been a caddy for some 20 years. When Charlie observes Jamess passion for the sport, he invites the boy to join him for a round of golfat night, when they can sneak onto the course. With instruction, James hones his skills and eventually gets to display them during the daytime, when he accepts a challenge from one of the club members. Large, pastel and colored-pencil illustrations of average quality are presented in frames throughout the text. While the narrative is heavy-handed at times, the story of Jamess perseverance to overcome prejudice rings true.Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.