The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson
Hi, my name is Sebi. I am eleven years old and I am entering middle school. I do freestyle skiing, I also play soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and football.
Compelling is the first word I would use to describe this book. Can you imagine having your hero live on your street? This is what happened to Steven Satlow in Brooklyn, New York in 1948. Steven is a huge baseball fan and is amazed when he finds that his hero, Jackie Robinson, a legendary African American baseball player and his family, moved two doors down from him while playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
A friendship builds between the families. Jackie helps Steven through some hard times with school. One example is when Steven faces bullying. Jackie tells Steven that he will always have to deal with bullies, he should ignore them, and do not let them win. The building of friendships and learning from his hero made lasting memories for Steven and helps him through hard times in the future.
Even if you are not a baseball fan, there are many interesting topics in this book. Steven is taught some valuable lessons on friendship, perseverance, racism, racial injustice, and religious difference. The book teaches you an understanding of what it was like to be an African American back at that time in everyday life and that friendship should not be based on the color of your skin.
