A High Five for Glenn Burke, Phil Bildner
A High Five for Glenn Burke, Phil Bildner
List: $14.95 | Sale: $10.47
Club: $7.47

A High Five for Glenn Burke

Author: Phil Bildner

Narrator: Michael Crouch

Unabridged: 4 hr 49 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/16/2023


Synopsis

A heartfelt and relatable novel from Phil Bildner, weaving the real history of Los Angeles Dodger and Oakland Athletic Glenn Burke—the first professional baseball player to come out as gay—into the story of a middle-school kid learning to be himself.When sixth grader Silas Wade does a school presentation on former Major Leaguer Glenn Burke, it’s more than just a report about the irrepressible inventor of the high five. Burke was a gay baseball player in the 1970s―and for Silas, the presentation is his own first baby step toward revealing a truth about himself he’s tired of hiding. Soon he tells his best friend, Zoey, but the longer he keeps his secret from his baseball teammates, the more he suspects they know something’s up―especially when he stages one big cover-up with terrible consequences.A High Five for Glenn Burke is Phil Bildner’s most personal novel yet―a powerful story about the challenge of being true to yourself, especially when not everyone feels you belong on the field.

About Phil Bildner

Phil Bildner is a former New York City public school teacher who lives in Newburgh, New York. The author of many picture books and novels, he speaks at numerous schools and libraries every year. PhilBildner.com

About Michael Crouch

Michael Crouch is an actor based in New York City. His audiobook narration has won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, and Best of the Year accolades from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. He can also be heard on national commercials, cartoons, video games, and the animé series Pokémon XY and Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Paul on October 03, 2019

I was seven years old in 1977. I might have collected baseball cards if they were on sale at Kmart and I may have actually had a box of Kmart baseball cards that I mixed with Star Wars cards in order to build elaborate card houses that would take up the living room of our mobile home in northern Mic......more

Goodreads review by Laura on September 19, 2021

Though this writing style is consistent with the intended audience (tweens and younger teens), the subject matter was DEEP. I'm going to need some time to gather my thoughts, and a book review isn't the place for my to air them. In a nutshell- grab this book and read it like your English teacher wou......more

Goodreads review by Maura on May 02, 2020

How much do I love this book? It's a home run. It's free box seats in the second row behind home plate (first row would be pretentious) at a minor league baseball game on a clear & sunny April day, and your favorite batter has just hit a line drive. But more importantly, how much does my 7 year old......more

Goodreads review by Laura on October 09, 2020

5 for High Five for Glenn Burke by @philbildner . . . I think this is now my #1 favorite book about coming out for the middle school audience. Silas is such a fabulous character--he's likable, funny, and oozes authenticity. He loves pranks, is obsessed with YouTube, and is terrified of people figuring o......more

Goodreads review by Lynn on July 04, 2021

An important middle grade novel disguised as a baseball book. Silas Wade's voice rings at times strong and at other times scared, but it always rings true. The acknowledgments made me cry. Author Phil Bildner was sharing his own story all mixed up with major leaguer Glenn Burke's and with sixth grad......more


Quotes

“A terrific fictional story invoking the outfielder from the 1970s who wound up being a trailblazer.” 

New York Post

“In giving Burke a place to shine, this book is worthy of several high fives, forearm bashes, chest bumps, daps, and any other celebrations baseball players invent as the game continues to advance.”

OutSports.com

“The story…speaks to the importance of creating a welcoming community―whether on a baseball field or in a classroom…for all readers, not just baseball fans, about friendship, acceptance, and self-confidence.”

Booklist (starred review)

“Beleaguered tolerance strikes out; loud, proud love wins the game.”

Kirkus Reviews

“A home run of a middle grade novel―a crackerjack story about the love and acceptance that everyone deserves.”

Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak