46 pages • 1 hour read
A High Five for Glenn Burke
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
288
Novel • Fiction
Oakland, California • Contemporary
2020
Middle grade
9-12 years
690L
Super Short Summary
In A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner, sixth-grade baseball enthusiast Silas Wade grapples with his sexual identity while trying to find acceptance among his teammates. Inspired by Glenn Burke, the first openly gay Major League Baseball player, Silas navigates the challenges of coming out, maintaining friendships, and confronting discrimination within the sports community. This book contains discussions of anti-gay bias and discrimination.
Inspirational
Heartwarming
Emotional
Hopeful
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
848 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Phil Bildner's A High Five for Glenn Burke presents a heartfelt, inspirational story about embracing one's true self through baseball. Reviews praise its blend of sports and LGBTQ+ themes, remarking on its accessibility for young readers. Criticisms focus on occasionally simplistic character development. Overall, it is celebrated for promoting inclusion and courage.
Who Should Read A High Five for Glenn Burke?
A reader who would enjoy A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner is likely a middle-grade student interested in baseball, LGBTQ+ themes, and coming-of-age stories. Fans of novels like The Crossover by Kwame Alexander and George by Alex Gino will find this book particularly engaging.
848 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Zoey Picharo
Zoey Picharo
Silas’s best friend, Zoey is intelligent and part of a robotics team, offering Silas friendship and support even through challenges.
Coach Webb
Coach Webb
Silas's supportive baseball coach, Webb encourages his players to be their best selves both on and off the field.
Silas’s Family
Silas’s Family
Including his parents Erica and Gil, and sisters Haley and Semaj, Silas's family is busy and chaotic but ultimately loving and supportive.
Ms. Washington
Ms. Washington
Silas and Zoey’s English Language Arts teacher, Ms. Washington is a positive influence who encourages authenticity and truth-seeking.
The Renegades
The Renegades
Silas’s baseball teammates, they are a source of camaraderie and friendship, contributing to his journey of self-acceptance.
288
Novel • Fiction
Oakland, California • Contemporary
2020
Middle grade
9-12 years
690L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.