The Brooklyn Nine

The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel in Nine Innings is a work of middle grade historical fiction written by Alan Gratz. The novel is told in nine innings, or parts, and each “inning” contains three chapters, just as an inning in a baseball game has three outs per team. The novel is told in a series of linked short stories about different generations of the Schneider family, starting in 1845 and ending in 2002. All the stories involve baseball in some way.

This guide was created using the 2009 Kindle Penguin Group version of the novel.

Content Warning: The novel depicts numerous instances of racism against Black, Jewish, and Indigenous people. Racial slurs are used against numerous different groups. Alcohol abuse is also depicted as are serious injuries in fire and injuries and deaths in war.

Plot Summary

In 1845, Felix lives with his Uncle Albert and his Aunt Jenell. Felix was a stowaway on a boat from Germany to America, and he came to America to make money, then bring his family over, and create a better life for them all. He loves playing “Three-Out, All-Out,” an early form of baseball. One day, a fire breaks out in New York, and he goes with the volunteer firefighters to help put out the fire.