From the series Greatest Moments in Sports
Going for Gold
Reading Level Grades 3-4Interest Level Grades 3 – 8Copyright 2024
Reviewed
From the series Greatest Moments in Sports
Reading Level Grades 3-4Interest Level Grades 3 – 8Copyright 2024
ReviewedFrom a young age, Wilma Rudolph faced many challenges. A childhood polio survivor, she was unable to walk without support for many years. In the segregated South, her family faced many obstacles to getting her treatment. Despite the difficulties, Wilma eventually sprinted her way to the Olympic gold! This graphic nonfiction title explores Wilma’s path to the podium through colorful illustrations, informative captions, and engaging dialogue featuring historical quotes. Readers will be inspired to go for the gold!
A graphic novel format gives readers a firsthand perspective on sports history in this engaging series. Before Billie Jean King took on (and defeated!) Bobby Riggs, she was a little girl who wanted to be the best tennis player in the world. Her athleticism and activism made her a role model. King isn’t the only activist in this series—Muhammad Ali’s firm stance as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War stripped him of his titles and license to box, forcing him to fight his way back to the top as Heavyweight Champion of the World at the Rumble in the Jungle. The well-known events depicted in each graphic novel are real, and while all the facts are accurate and the text in speech bubbles indicates historical quotes, many more quotes throughout are conjecture. As long as readers are here for infotainment, it’s a truly inviting series. VERDICT Inspiring sports stories? Score!
School Library Journal
