Athletes

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-The lives of 10 top women sports stars are covered in short, readable biographical sketches. Familiar names such as Bonnie Blair, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Florence Griffith Joyner are found here, as well as those slightly less well known, e.g., Julie Krone, Diana Nyad, and Lynette Woodard. The information highlights the subjects' triumphs and tribulations in their athletic careers, with less space devoted to their personal lives. This book focuses on women who are still competing or only recently retired. However, the coverage of some of them (such as Monica Seles and Kim Zmeskal) ends about a year ago, leaving out crucial information about their careers. Each chapter begins with a full-color, action photograph, but there are no other pictures. Extensive source notes are included for each chapter. Sue Macy's Winning Ways (Holt, 1996) presents women athletes from a historical perspective, while this offering looks at the present and/or very recent past.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL