Basketball Belles: How Two Teams and One Scrappy Player Put Women's Hoops on the Map

by Sue Macy, Matt Collins (Illustrator)

Overview

Raised on a cattle ranch, Agnes Morley was sent to Stanford University to learn to be a lady. Yet in no time she exchanged her breeches and spurs for bloomers and a basketball, and in April 1896 she made history. In a heart-pounding game against the University of California at Berkeley, Agnes led her team to victory in the first-ever intercollegiate women's basketball game, bringing national attention to women's basketball.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823441754
Publisher:	Holiday House, Inc.
Publication date:	03/19/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	200,844
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Matt Collins has illustrated many children's books, including Basketball Belles by Sue Macy. His art appears in The New York Times, Scientific American, and other publications. He lives in Wilton, Connecticut.

Sue Macy loves to write about sports and fearless women. Her books have been named ALA Notable Books, Best Books for Young Adults, and Booklist Editors’ Choices. She lives in Englewood, New Jersey.

Editorial Reviews

In this rousing picture book, Macy and Collins take readers to the (very) early days of women's basketball through the eyes of Agnes Morley, who offers a play-by-play account of an 1896 game between Stanford and Berkeley—the first ever between two women's basketball teams. Agnes's first-person account is laced with information about how the game was played at the time, as well as her confident inner thoughts ("I think that a lady can be tough and strong as well as refined and polite"). Whether Agnes is wrangling with a calf on her family's ranch or diving for a loose ball, her determination shines through in Collins's dynamic, painterly digital spreads. Ages 6–10. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 2–5—In 1896, female athletes faced two foes: their on-court rivals, and the rigid code of ladylike behavior. In this engaging picture book, Macy recounts the first basketball game played between two women's college teams through the eyes of a participant, Stanford's Agnes Morley. High-spirited Agnes grew up on a New Mexico cattle ranch, where "getting dirty came with the territory." Since it was considered not "proper for women to perspire in front of men" by the UC Berkeley team, the game took place before an all-female crowd. In a comedic intermission, two male workers came out to repair a basket; in Laurel and Hardy-like fashion, one stared so much, he almost knocked the other off a ladder. Playing guard, Agnes wondered how she could prevent her taller opponents from scoring and found herself in an intense struggle. With the players confined to rigid sections of the court, the game hinged on the outcome of two foul shots. Collins's colorful, exuberant digital illustrations capture all the high-spirited drama and fun. Macy adds authenticity with a fact-filled author's note. This excellent book offers plenty of teaching possibilities, and it should delight a wide audience.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

In 1896, a historic basketball game was played between the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. It was the first women's intercollegiate game, played five years after basketball was invented. Agnes Morley, a rancher's daughter, narrates the story and excels as a Stanford player during the groundbreaking event. The focus is on the play-by-play of the game, which had different rules for women and was attended by 500 cheering female spectators. Collins' digitally created artwork captures the dynamic game and develops the characters, from Morley's determination as she brands a calf on her ranch to her team's exuberance at their victory in the game. While seemingly meant to introduce readers to the history of women's basketball, the story is so brief as to seem slight. Readers will crave more information: What types of shoes do the players wear? Why are the nets closed? How did this particular game come about? What happens next? An author's note fleshes out some biographical details about Morley and the other players and discusses women's basketball in America. A timeline is included, but unfortunately it ends in 1997 with the introduction of the WNBA. A resource section lists books and places to visit, and a photograph of the 1896 Stanford women's basketball team concludes the book. The excellent backmatter, however, doesn't compensate enough for the too-slim story.(Nonfiction 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews - Kikus Reviews

In 1896, a historic basketball game was played between the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. It was the first women's intercollegiate game, played five years after basketball was invented. Agnes Morley, a rancher's daughter, narrates the story and excels as a Stanford player during the groundbreaking event. The focus is on the play-by-play of the game, which had different rules for women and was attended by 500 cheering female spectators. Collins' digitally created artwork captures the dynamic game and develops the characters, from Morley's determination as she brands a calf on her ranch to her team's exuberance at their victory in the game. While seemingly meant to introduce readers to the history of women's basketball, the story is so brief as to seem slight. Readers will crave more information: What types of shoes do the players wear? Why are the nets closed? How did this particular game come about? What happens next? An author's note fleshes out some biographical details about Morley and the other players and discusses women's basketball in America. A timeline is included, but unfortunately it ends in 1997 with the introduction of the WNBA. A resource section lists books and places to visit, and a photograph of the 1896 Stanford women's basketball team concludes the book. The excellent backmatter, however, doesn't compensate enough for the too-slim story.(Nonfiction 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews