Last Girl In: Kerry-Ann Fights to Stay in the Game

By Author / Illustrator

Cheryl Diane Parkinson

Genre

Representation & Inclusion

Age range(s)

Publisher

Dinosaur Books Ltd

ISBN

9781999336370

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

01-05-2023

Synopsis

Kerry-Ann loves cricket - it's in her DNA - her Jamaican grandpa taught her to play as soon as she could hold a bat! Whenever she can, Kerry-Ann heads to the local club with her friends - including her best friend, Amardeep. But now some of the club's older players - those in the elite First XI - have decided that the cricket club belongs to them only - and that Kerry-Ann and her team are not welcome. So Kerry-Ann devises a daring plan - a brilliant way to beat the bullies. And unbeknown to her, she's about to get some very unexpected help with her battle.

A time slip tale with a touch of magic, Kerry-Ann experiences what life was like for her Jamaican grandpa when he first arrived in England - and discovers how to follow in his footsteps to continue playing the game she loves. A celebration of family, friendship, cricket, British Caribbean culture and women's sport.All children who like cricket - girls and boys - will love the cricketing theme of the story and the detailed match descriptions. It particularly resonates with Black Caribbean families - supporting girls and boys to understand the importance of cricket to the Caribbean, and to their heritage.

This is the perfect chapter book for ages 8+ for readers who want to celebrate #Windrush75 - the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Windrush - which is being celebrated in June 2023.

Reviews

Last Girl In is an exciting new sports adventure from Cheryl Diane Parkinson. This book is a celebration of Black British history and women's sport. We are first introduced to the main character - Kerry-Ann - as she is secretly escaping from her bedroom window to meet her best friend at their local cricket club. Kerry-Ann loves cricket, it is in her DNA. From a young age, Kerry-Ann's grandpa taught her how to handle a bat and love the game. When Kerry-Ann arrives at the grounds she finds that the rules have changed for practice and that the First XI teams captain (Moose) has decided that the likes of Kerry-Ann and her friends are not welcome at the club. Kerry-Ann is devastated because she lives for cricket, so she devises a brilliant plan to beat the bullies and ensure that her team can practice at the club like everybody else.

Kerry-Ann's passion for cricket was ignited by her grandpa, SeeBee, but he has not been feeling well lately and after church one Sunday, Kerry-Ann goes back with her Nana for lunch. This is where she first encounters the stories from her Jamaican grandpa's past and what his life was like when he first arrived in England. Whilst looking in her mom's old room, she discovers a badger but this is no ordinary badger because it creates a time-slip whereby Kerry-Ann is transported back to 1958 and gets to relive the story that Nana has just told her about Seebee.

Whilst stuck in the past, Kerry-Ann meets her great grandma and aunt. She also learns the true love of cricket from Seebee and his friends as well as the struggles they faced during Teddy-Boy attacks on people marching in Notting Hill. Her strength and bravery allows to her to understand Seebee's story and realise that winning is not always going to happen, but standing up to what you believe in will inevitably help to change the situation.

This story really is a true celebration of British Caribbean culture, friendship and family. The love of cricket and its deep roots within Jamaican heritage are woven into this story beautifully. It highlights the gender issues of sport that once existed and allows the reader to understand why characters like Kerry-Ann are so powerful in promoting change.

I really enjoyed reading this story, the time-slip was written differently from anything I had previously read. Children in KS2 and beyond will enjoy reading this book as it promotes a passion for women in sport and highlights the hardships faced by the Windrush generation that arrive 75 years ago.

150 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher