{"product_id":"9780063159686_danilo-was-here","title":"Danilo Was Here","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2026-2027 Texas Bluebonnet Award List \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003e2026 Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Award Longlist  Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2025 A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eSincerely Sicily, \u003c\/i\u003eTamika Burgess, comes a timely coming-of-age story about a young boy’s fight to save his family \u003ci\u003eand\u003c\/i\u003e his dreams in the aftermath of the US military invasion of Panamá. Perfect for fans of Janae Marks, Adrianna Cuevas, and Chrystal D. Giles!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDanilo Osorio Jr.’s baseball skills were once the pride of his father and entire hometown of El Chorrillo, Panamá. But that was then, and this is now…\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing 1989's Operation Just Cause, a US military invasion that left his neighborhood decimated, Danilo couldn’t care less about baseball or the father who abandoned him for opportunities in the States. Now Danilo’s focus is taking care of his mamá and sister and trying to save them all from needing to relocate to a refugee camp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Danilo unintentionally catches the eye of a baseball recruiter and is offered the opportunity to visit and train in California—the same place as his father’s last known address—he is tasked with deciding to go or stay. But if playing baseball could help him find his father and secure the extra funds his family needs, Danilo is willing to travel anywhere, even to the very country responsible for destroying his home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBetween his tough-as-nails baseball coach, ultracompetitive teammates, and overly enthusiastic host family, Danilo’s plans encounter some curveballs. And when his turn to bat finally comes, he’ll have to decide what \u003ci\u003eand\u003c\/i\u003e who he’s actually fighting for.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBased on Real Historical Events:\u003c\/b\u003e Set during the aftermath of the 1989 US invasion of Panamá, this novel explores a pivotal moment in history through the eyes of a young boy fighting for his family in the ruins of his El Chorrillo neighborhood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMore Than Just a Baseball Book:\u003c\/b\u003e Danilo was once a baseball prodigy, but with his father gone and his home destroyed, the game has lost its meaning. Can a chance to train in America reignite his passion, or is it just a means to an end?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Story of Healing and Hope:\u003c\/b\u003e Confronting the trauma of the invasion and the pain of abandonment, Danilo’s journey is a heartfelt exploration of finding your way back to yourself and discovering what’s truly worth fighting for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFinding Your Own Dream:\u003c\/b\u003e Pressured to follow his father’s baseball dreams, Danilo must navigate a new country and new challenges to decide if he’s playing for his father’s approval, his family’s survival, or a future he can truly call his own.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tamika Burgess","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46922350887061,"sku":"9780063159686","price":14.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0484\/3175\/9509\/files\/9780063159686_7f1eac2d-10c6-4706-a756-2cfa84fb58a6.jpg?v=1776889972","url":"https:\/\/harpercollins.com.au\/products\/9780063159686_danilo-was-here","provider":"HarperCollins AU","version":"1.0","type":"link"}