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The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel in Nine Innings by Alan Gratz 

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The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel in Nine Innings by Alan Gratz 

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This book follows nine generations of a family that immigrated from Germany to New York and share the love of baseball. Characters in this novel tell their stories in separate "innings." Baseball comes across as the tie that binds this family beginning with the first "inning" character Felix Schneider. Felix makes a baseball from the burned leather of his shoes after being injured in the 1845 Great Fire of New York City. He was fighting the fire with the Knickerbocker Volunteer Fire Brigade. The story continues through innings as more is learned about the lives of Lewis Schneider, Arnold Schneider, Walter Snider, Frankie Snider, Kat Flint, Jimmy Flint, Michael Flint, and finally Snider Flint. Snider discovered his family history while researching about an old ball and bat. Reading about the family members from 1845-2002 takes you through major historical events in American history, helps to understand why baseball is considered the All-American pastime and shows how traditions can carry down from generation to generation.

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German immigrants board a ship for America

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In 1845, Felix Schneider and his parents immigrated from Germany to New York. They lived in very crowed New York City where immigrants from all over the world lived together as Americans while staying in small communities based on where they came from. The next generation of Schneider's fought in the Civil War on the side of the Union. Some soldiers were just kids and loved baseball no matter which side they were on. World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II took place during the time frame of this book. During World War II, Kat Flint 6th generation Schneider played women's professional baseball since so many men went to war. By the end of the story in 2022 kids are searching the internet.

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Print by Currier and Ives depicting the Crocker and Warren Warehouse explosion

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The Great Fire of New York 1845 began in a whale oil store. This fire was made worse when a warehouse full of salt petre exploded. Felix Schneider was fighting this fire with the Knickerbocker Volunteer Fire Brigade when his legs were badly burned in the explosion. Still loving baseball he used the strips of leather from his old shoes to make a ball.

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Red Legged Devils Brooklyn NY Volunteers 

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Red Legged Devils Brooklyn NY Volunteers 

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During World War II, Kat Flint 6th generation Schneider, played women's professional baseball. Since so many men were fighting in the war there were not enough left to play baseball at home. Women were given the chance to play professional baseball. After the war ended, Kat was lucky and became a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers. She passed her love her of baseball down to her son.

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The Year Women Saved Baseball | WHAT THE PAST?

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Union army volunteer, photograph by Mathew Brady, 1861.

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During the American Civil War Felix's son, Louis, was part of the Brooklyn NY Volunteers called the "Red Legged Devils." He kept his father's baseball with him while he fought. He traded his ball to a Confederate solider for a bat that solider's father had made for him.

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In 2002 with the help of the internet Snider Flint researched a box of family "heirlooms." In hopes of selling some items as antiques, he soon learned about the rich history of the cards, ball and bat. He learned it was much harder to part with the items once he knew their history. His uncle helped him to understand by saying "But from now on, you'll know exactly what it's story is, because you'll be living it." (p 318)

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This story helped me to understand more about American history and immigration. It also made me want to learn more about my own family genealogy and what traditions might be passed down to us. Reading about the characters in this book, I saw how the love of baseball was passed down through the generations even though not everyone got to play. I love softball and learned that my great-grandmother's brother was an outstanding baseball pitcher. He did not get to try out to play professional ball since he had to help work on the family farm during the Great Depression. I will probably never play professional sports but will always enjoying watching. I might even be interested in doing sports photography in the future.

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Does This Report Make You Wanna Read This Book?