Silent Star

Review
By Booklist

In a dramatic opening scene, this picture-book biography recounts a brilliant play by outfielder William Hoy and the subsequent crowd reaction—cheers followed by confetti and the waving of arms and hats, visually expressing their appreciation to Hoy, who was deaf. Describing his struggles with illness induced deafness and his remarkable nineteenth-century baseball career, this also gives a sensitive explanation for his nickname “Dummy.” Succinctly told, the biography provides both a vivid sense of the time and the obstacles confronting Hoy. Realistic, period illustrations, rendered in oil on paper, exhibit as much research as the text. Additional information appears in the afterword. Along with attracting baseball fans, this perceptive portrait of an athlete overcoming a physical disability will also enrich curricula.