Night Golf

Set in the 1950s, this inspiring picture book stars an African-American boy whose love of golf helps him rise above the racial prejudice that would keep him off the links. When young James discovers a rusty, cast-off golf club in the trash, nothing matches ""how good the club felt in his hand."" But the town's only golf course is open exclusively to white men. Longing to be near the game even if he can't play it, James takes a job as a caddy. As he lugs golf bags, the boy forges a bond with wise African-American caddy Charlie, who introduces him to ""night golf,"" a way to play the course--and perfect their game--after hours. James's games of night golf pay off when one day he's asked to prove his athletic prowess to a pair of white golfers. In his hefty but well-paced text, Miller (Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree) draws a smooth parallel between the old-boys'-club world of golf and racial prejudice. James's frustration is nearly palpable as he watches others enjoy his dream game while he silently stands by, and his ultimate success will surely gratify readers. Lucas's (Frederick Douglass: The Last Day of Slavery) creamy, textured pastel-and-colored-pencil compositions shift from hazy sunshine to shadowy moonlight with ease. His portraits of James clearly convey all the boy's determination. A timeline of notable achievements by African-American golfers rounds out the uplifting story. Ages 6-up. (May)