Publication Date: 1 May 2023

The Blurb

Kerry-Ann loves cricket – of course she does! Her Jamaican grandpa taught her to play as soon as she could hold a bat. Whenever she can, Kerry-Ann heads to the local club for a match with her friends. But now some of the club’s elite cricketers want to keep the ground for themselves – and keep out Kerry-Ann and her team. So Kerry-Ann devises a daring plan to beat the bullies – and she’s about to gain inspiration from a very unexpected place. In this time-slip tale with a touch of magic, Kerry-Ann finds out about the obstacles that her grandparents faced when they first arrived in England as part of the Windrush generation…and how she must follow in their footsteps to fight for fair play, and to keep enjoying the game that both she and her grandparents love.

The Review

A brilliant mix of women in cricket, intergenerational family relationships, British Carribean Culture, and an uncomfortable look at life faced by the Windrush Generation setting up home in Britain, all in a fast-paced quick read.

Kerry-Ann is devoted to her sport, but has to recognise her own fault in the stand off that leads to her team being forced off the cricket pitch. Only when she walks a few days in her Grandpa Seebee’s life does she see that some fights need to happen and everyone must take responsibility for their actions, and face the consequences with humility.

Hard hitting in places*, Last Girl In doesn’t shy away from the horrors of the 1958 Notting Hill Race Riots. Within living memory, it shows how important building an empathetic, welcoming generation is, and by learning about the struggles and triumphs of her grandparents generation, Kerry-Ann is inspired to fight for change and equality for her generation of young women in sport.

Huge thanks to Dinosaur Books for sending me a copy.

*Some children may find one of the scenes particularly upsetting. Whilst discussing why black people are marching for equal rights, Sandra tells Kerry-Ann this: “Them…” she said, “Teddy Boys. I heard this story once where they strapped this black man to the back of their car and then drove at speed ’til his body just…” Sandra shook her head.