Danilo Was Here

Baseball has always been the thing that made Black Panamanian middle schooler Danilo Osorio feel close to his beloved papá, who dreamed of becoming a pro baseball player. But when Papá immigrates to the U.S. for work and severs contact, Danilo loses interest. He instead worries for his overworked mamá, whose job at a supermercado leaves him responsible for his younger sister Amara. Home conditions worsen in mid-December 1989, when the U.S. military invasion to oust Panamanian leader Noriega devastates Danilo’s neighborhood. The family is forced to move to a refugee camp, from which Danilo is granted a temporary escape: Danilo travels to San Diego following a white American baseball recruiter’s offer of a two-month spot on a U.S. Little League team. All the while, Danilo hides his true intention to locate Papá. Burgess (Sincerely Sicily) utilizes Danilo’s stay with a wealthy white family—whose lavish lifestyle heightens the reality of Danilo’s personal struggles—and depictions of the ethnocentrism inherent among Danilo’s teammates to craft a compelling narrative. Emotive text tackles enduring themes surrounding prejudice while accessibly highlighting the protagonist’s struggles with his mental health, particularly with PTSD. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)