¡VIVA VALENZUELA!

In a tiny town in northern Mexico, a young pitcher winds up and sparks a cultural phenomenon.

The youngest of 12 children in Etchohuaquila, Mexico, Fernando Valenzuela loves playing baseball. Later, pitching in the Mexican League, he catches the attention of a Los Angeles Dodgers scout; he’s signed to the team in 1979. At 18, Fernando heads to California to chase his dream. On opening day, the nervous rookie fills in for an injured teammate and begins an unprecedented streak of complete games due to his famous screwball pitch, giving rise to “Fernandomania.” Latine baseball fans who face discrimination in Southern California rejoice in seeing an immigrant on the pitcher’s mound. Far from home, navigating a new language, and even left without work during a players’ strike, Fernando nevertheless keeps his composure on the field. A tense, pitch-by-pitch finale captures Fernando leading the Dodgers from behind to defeat the Yankees and clinch the World Series in his rookie season. Despite uneven pacing that skims Fernando’s early life in favor of a suspenseful final game, this book is a grand slam for young baseball fans. Parra’s acrylic illustrations have a retro Americana feel, using muted, dusty pastels balanced with a few bold, primary-adjacent accents, giving them a sun-faded warmth that complements Fernando’s inspirational journey.

A well-pitched celebration of talent, perseverance, and the power of representation.