IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN by Kaia Alderson

This review was published in the November 2024 issue of Historical Novels Review

This fictionalized account fills in some gaps in the life of Effa Manley, a trailblazing woman who did extraordinary things in early 20th-century Harlem. Due to her light skin tone, Effa experienced situations where doors opened for her but were closed to other Black people. In the years between the world wars, she joined the activist community and helped lead the “Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work” boycott until Harlem retail stores relented and hired Black sales clerks. Effa married Abe Manley, a man who came into his wealth somewhat mysteriously. Abe purchased a Negro League baseball team and handled baseball decisions. Effa ran the business of the club, eventually earning her the respect of other owners, including major league baseball owners as racial barriers came down in the post-World War II years. She currently is the only woman inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

It can be tricky to write about a real historical figure with a relatively sparse historical record, and the writing has a slow-burn feel to it. The book is well-researched, bringing to light a lot of interesting detail on Harlem’s activist community and the workings of the Negro League. A story that very much deserved to be told and will be enjoyed by fans of strong and determined female protagonists and those interested in baseball’s Negro League. This is author Kaia Alderson’s second historical novel focused on little known stories of real-life women who lived extraordinary lives.