Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, including enslavement and racist violence.



Through Charley’s journey, the author illustrates the importance of pursuing one’s dreams with resolve. More than any other character, Charley embodies this theme through her relentless ambition to become a professional baseball player. Despite doubts from her mother, she stays committed, as shown in her defiant thoughts after Momma says that she has “no future” with a baseball: 

Do you have a crystal ball, can 

you see what’s coming, where 

my life is gonna go, how free 

it would feel to just be 

whatever it is I choose, including 

a professional baseball player? (106). 

Charley’s dream is bold, but she perseveres, refusing to stop playing the “rough” sport despite skepticism from Momma. Even Willie, who supports her, knows her dream is a long shot: “Maybe I’ll be the first girl pitcher to play professional. / Keep dreaming, Charley. / I will, Willie” (29). Charley’s straightforward response underscores the fact that she will keep striving for success despite skepticism. Later, the symbolic glove signed by L.G., a successful Black female player, strengthens her belief that she can succeed. During a time when both her gender and race create immense barriers, her determination never wavers.