Step up to the Plate, Maria Singh
by Uma Krishnaswami
Tu Books, 2017
Set in Yolo County California in the 1940s. The top story features Maria Singh, a girl from a mixed marriage (India/Mexico) who loves baseball, but woven into the story are multiple subplots. The rich layers include: a heartfelt story on how the family and community made up of different cultures support each other during important challenges, even when they may not normally support each other; old laws where people not from America can’t purchase their own land; interracial marriages are not allowed; and baseball for girls. It includes insights on women working during World War II when men were on the battlefields.
I heard Uma Krishnaswami speak at a picture book bootcamp and she gave a talk like no other I have heard. I felt empowered to write. She detailed several of her journeys to publication, sharing how the stories started, evolved and ended. Insightful and meaningful.