Danilo Was Here
Written by Tamika Burgess
Published by HarperCollins
Danilo Osorio Jr.’s baseball skills were once the pride of his father and entire hometown of El Chorrillo, Panamá. But that was then, and this is now…
Following 1989’s Operation Just Cause, a US military invasion that left his neighborhood decimated, Danilo couldn’t care less about baseball or the father who abandoned him for opportunities in the States. Now Danilo’s focus is taking care of his mamá and sister and trying to save them all from needing to relocate to a refugee camp.
When Danilo unintentionally catches the eye of a baseball recruiter and is offered the opportunity to visit and train in California—the same place as his father’s last known address—he is tasked with deciding to go or stay. But if playing baseball could help him find his father and secure the extra funds his family needs, Danilo is willing to travel anywhere, even to the very country responsible for destroying his home.
Between his tough-as-nails baseball coach, ultracompetitive teammates, and overly enthusiastic host family, Danilo’s plans encounter some curveballs. And when his turn to bat finally comes, he’ll have to decide what and who he’s actually fighting for.
Primary ISBN: 9780063159662
Publication Date: January 2025
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older
Community Represented: Panamanian/Panamanian American
Themes: Accolades & Awards, Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Coming of Age, Discrimination: Microaggression, Discrimination: Racial, Family Relationship: Parents, Family Relationship: Siblings, Family Separation: Different Immigration Status, Format: Audiobook, Genre: Historical, Immigrant: Economic, Mental Health, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Refugee: War/Conflict, Setting: Home Country, Setting: Refugee Camp, Sports, Welcoming by Individual
Setting: Panamá (El Chorrillo), California
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Home Country, Refugee, Immigrant
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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Source: www.tamikaburgess.com