The Matchless Six

June 1, 2006
Gr 7 Up -Hotchkiss provides detailed information on the six Canadian athletes who won the track-and-field event in 1928, the first Olympics that included women. The personalities and accomplishments of Jane Bell, Myrtle Cook, Bobbie Rosenfeld, Ethel Smith, Ethel Catherwood, and Jean Thompson are highlighted with biographical information, including how they were chosen, how they trained, the effects of the journey to Amsterdam, and the joys and challenges they faced. The experiences of the -Matchless Six - that led to the competition, along with details about their growth as a team, show how remarkable their accomplishments were. Average- to poor-quality black-and-white photographs of the women, and of the men who both assisted and hindered their progress, dot the book. Accuracy is supported by quotes from newspapers, sports writers, coaches, and managers. The immense emotion of the team watching the Canadian flag and hearing -The Maple Leaf Forever - is felt through the clear style of writing. Anyone interested in the history of the Olympics, the history of women in the Games, or of track and field will find the book worth reading." -Janice C. Hayes, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2006
Gr. 5-8. Six women represented Canada at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. After experiencing both heartbreaking losses and triumphs, they beat the competition by earning the most medals in track-and-field events. In fact, women's participation at the competitions was a trial, but immediately afterward, the decision was made to keep women's events on the program. Despite some controversial protests and votes made by Canadian officials at the games, the women's team was well received by the crowds and lionized upon its return to Canada. Hotchkiss does a good job of introducing each athlete as an individual as well as recording the making of the team and its experiences before, during, and after the event. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, the book provides a fresh slant on the history of the Olympics and on women's athletics in the early twentieth century.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)