BH Recap 21-50

Ball Hawk Recap

• Uncle Tommy tells the narrator that Indians invented baseball.

• The narrator and Uncle Tommy are sitting at the top of the stands, enjoying the view.

• The narrator is wearing his baseball glove and thinking about the game.

• Uncle Tommy explains that early explorers found Native Americans playing team sports like lacrosse and basketball.

Ball Hawk Recap

• An eagle flies overhead while they talk, and Uncle Tommy seems to have a special connection with birds.

• Uncle Tommy helps injured birds, even without a federal license, by letting them fly free if they can.

• The narrator says he's not good at baseball, especially at catching fly balls and batting.

Ball Hawk Recap

• He gets frustrated and says he wants to quit, throwing his glove onto the field.

• Uncle Tommy calmly asks why he doesn't quit and why he kept playing for so long.

• The narrator admits he keeps playing because his mom wants him to, believing Native Americans should play baseball because of teams with Indian names.

Ball Hawk Point of View

1. "I knew he had to get back to his place and check on the hawks before dark..."
   (The narrator is telling us what they know.)

2. "I just pounded my glove a little harder."
   (The narrator describes their own actions.)

3. "I wondered how Uncle Tommy could do that."
   (The narrator is expressing their own thoughts.)

4. "I quit!" I yelled, standing up and throwing my glove out onto the field.
   (The narrator is sharing their own words and actions.)

5. "I hate this game!"
   (The narrator is directly expressing their feelings.)

Tracking Themes

1. Self-Doubt and Struggling with Identity
   The narrator struggles with feeling inadequate in baseball, expressing frustration with their own abilities and questioning their place in the game.

2. Wisdom and Mentorship
   Uncle Tommy offers guidance and wisdom throughout the story, using calmness and experience to help the narrator think through their struggles.

3. Cultural Heritage
   The idea that being Native American should somehow connect to playing baseball (due to teams with Indian names) is explored, highlighting the complexity of cultural identity and stereotypes.