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Synopsis
Muhammad Ali has long been a source of inspiration. In this new book from Walter Dean Myers, we see a story of determination, energy, pride, and strength. From a daring young boxer to man at war with a disease, Myers covers Ali's life with prowess and honesty.
VOYA
Mention of Muhammad Ali makes most young people today recall the man named the Greatest Athlete of the Twentieth Century by Sports Illustrated magazine. As a young African American searching for racial pride in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, Ali's influence extended beyond the boxing ring into arenas of race, politics, and religion. This public Ali touched Myers most. The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement affected Ali's life tremendously. Ali, born Cassius Clay, would not confine his remarks to boxing. In 1964, after becoming world heavyweight champion, he stunned America as he changed his religion and his name, joining the Nation of Islam. Harshly criticized for this affiliation, he openly opposed the Vietnam War and refused to be inducted into the army in 1967. As a result, he was stripped of his heavyweight title and was banned from boxing for two and a half years. Ali came back, but unfortunately, he was not the same. His legs were older, and he could no longer "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!" The Frazier and Foreman fights would exact a tremendous toll, forcing him to adopt the "rope-a-dope" tactic in which he rested against the ropes while his opponent wore himself out swinging. After losing his last boxing match in 1981, Ali faced an even deadlier opponent Parkinson's disease. Readers will enjoy the fast-paced action, crisp writing, photographs of significant events and personalities, and the vivid fight scenes. Myers paints an unforgettable Ali here. Although the boxer could have taken the easy route, Ali instead exhibited the courage to follow his convictions and his heart, becoming a symbol respected by all races, religions, and ideologies. VOYA CODES: 4Q4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, Scholastic, 155p, Photos. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Bill Mollineaux VOYA, February 2001 (Vol. 23, No.6)