Women Athletes Who Rule!

May 1, 2018
Tributes to 101 women who made names for themselves in sports or other athletic endeavors.Grouped in chapters but really arranged arbitrarily, the gallery begins about a century ago with figure skater Sonja Henie and swimmer Gertrude Ederle and continues (while growing more nationally and racially diverse) up to teenage pitcher Mo'ne Davis. In between it highlights select achievements of women in sports from bowling (Marion Ladewig) to roller derby (Anne Calvello) and mixed martial arts (Ronda Rousey). "Firsts" for women, such as climbing Mount Everest (Junko Tabei), also receive nods, as do athletes who overcame childhood disabilities (Wilma Rudolph) or excelled at the Paralympic Games. Each entry focuses on career highlights and comes with a color action photo. Many also feature a quote or "Wow Factor" inset trumpeting some signal feat. The abbreviated narratives frequently leave out "women's" as a qualifier for other significant information, so that readers who don't know what a basketball "dunk" is may be unimpressed that Cheryl Miller made two and will come away with the impression that Kathrine Switzer won the New York Marathon outright in 1974 (she was the first woman but came in 59th overall). Still, younger readers looking for athletic role models will find plenty to choose from.Best suited for quick hits or casual browsing but unusually broad in scope and cast. (Collective biography. 9-11)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2018

Gr 3-8-How do you get eight tennis superstars all into the same sports book? By asking the right questions. One hundred and one women athletes and their individual feats are gathered together in 120 or so pages. Who was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game? Lisa Leslie. Who shot the lowest round in LPGA tour history? Annika Sorenstam. The book is divided into chapters-"Superstars," "Wonder Women," "Trailblazers," "Record Breakers," and "Champions"-but many of the women featured could appear in any or all of the sections. Major sports are covered, so readers will find their favorite gymnasts and soccer players, but games like roller derby, bowling, and polo are also included. The main draw of the book is the action-packed photography on bright, colorful pages. The arresting images of women in motion will hook readers. Pages are dotted with elements such as "fast facts" and "wow factor" info boxes and quotes from the players. The slight back matter includes an index. VERDICT An inspiring and browsable selection for most nonfiction collections.-Marie Drucker, Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.