A Drive To Win

by Doreen Greenberg, Michael Greenberg, Michael A. Greenberg (Joint Author)

Overview

A tomboy who was better at baseball and as fierce as any boy onthe football field, Nancy Lieberman had always been a sports nut. But when she discovered basketball, she knew she had found her sport. Overcoming her mother's objections and the other kids' taunts, Nancy played every chance she got. When the announcement went out that the U.S. Women's team was holding tryouts for the Olympic team, she snuck out to the tryouts - but even if she made the team, would her mom let 15-year old nancy play?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781930546400
Publisher:	Wish Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/2000
Series:	Anything You Can Do. . .Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	0.27(w) x 5.50(h) x 8.50(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

Editorial Reviews

The story itself is very simply written and will appeal to younger girls just approaching adolescence, at precisely the age when girls need a little extra encouragement in their sport. The author conveys a sense of struggle girls facein pursuit of excellence, emphasizing the hard work necessary to develop skills and the ability to compete fearlessly.

Diane Masla

Once upon a time, a fierce little red-haired tomboy fell in love with the game of basketball. She lived basketball, working her way through one barrier after another, until at the age of eighteen, she became the youngest American basketball player to win an Olympic medal when her team won the silver in 1976. She is Nancy Lieberman. Another young girl, this one tall and gangly, with enormous glasses, tentatively decided to try out for her high school fencing team. She picked up the fencing moves quickly. Before she turned eighteen, she competed at the National Fencing Championships, finishing in the top twenty. She is Sharon Monplaisir. These two inspiring stories kick off a new series, Anything You Can Do: New Sports Heroes for Girls. Each book begins with a preface by current soccer star Julie Foudy and an introduction by track and field athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Both stories conclude with discussion questions and answers for teachers and parents, listings of the accomplishments of the featured sports heroine and of other women in the sport, and resources for further investigation. The stories themselves are very simply written. They will appeal to younger girls just approaching adolescence, at precisely the age when girls need a little extra encouragement in their sport. The authors convey a sense of the struggle each girl faced as she pursued excellence, emphasizing the hard work necessary to develop skills and the ability to compete fearlessly. Most compelling is the story of Monplaisir, who was so poor that she had to hitchhike back from her first National Fencing Championship. Hers is also an intriguing story because it opens the door to the world of competitive fencing, alittle publicized sport that requires incredible concentration and skill. The books are illustrated with line drawings of events that were significant but not photographed, but readers might find themselves wanting photographs. The covers are only moderately enticing; Lieberman-Cline is portrayed more as a businessperson than a basketball player. Nevertheless the books serve their purpose well, as expressed by Olympian Teresa Edwards: "I think little girls need to have big girls to look up to!" Here are some wonderful women for girls of all ages to emulate. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2000, Wish Publishing, 112p, Trade pb, Glossary, Illus., Source Notes, Appendix. Ages 12 to 15. Reviewer: Diane Masla VOYA, February 2001 (Vol. 23, No.6)

VOYA

This biography of Nancy Lieberman-Cline, an Olympic basketball player, The story depicts the issues of dealing with competition, handling the lack of family support, coping with difficult coaches, and appreciating a strong body. The text is easy-to-read and the message is powerful for female athletes. Part of the "Anything You Can Do..New Sports Heroes for Girls" series. 2000, Wish Publishing, $9.95. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: S. Latson SOURCE: Parent Council, September 2001 (Vol. 9, No. 1)

Gr 4-8-Informative, instructive, and motivational biographies on basketball-star Lieberman-Cline and Olympian-fencer Monplaisir. Written to promote girls' participation in sports, each biography is based on interviews with the athlete and stresses the gender challenges that she had to overcome. Irrepressible Lieberman-Cline never wavered from her competitive "tomboy" determination to excel on the playground and later on the basketball court despite objections from her mother. Timid, loner Monplaisir found her niche with a supportive high school fencing coach who encouraged her to expand her horizons and to develop her talent. A concluding "Sports Talk" section addressed to adults offers a discussion guide on topics from "Body Image," "Competing against the Boys," and "Lack of Family Support" to "Difficulties with the Coach" (Lieberman-Cline) and "Temper Tantrums" (Monplaisir). Research and understanding are enhanced by a career-highlights chronology and specific sport chronology. Both volumes serve a clear educational purpose. The childlike black-and-white drawings do not enhance the realistic, factual presentations, but the upbeat, conversational tone may inspire readers.-Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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