She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game

She Persisted

by Chelsea Clinton, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

From Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, the #1 New York Times bestselling team behind She Persisted , comes a new book featuring women athletes who overcame and inspired--perfect for fans of the Olympics!

Throughout history, women have been told that they couldn't achieve their dreams, no matter how hard they tried. Women athletes have faced their own unique set of challenges, across countless sports and levels of play. In this third She Persisted book, Chelsea Clinton introduces readers to women who have excelled in their sports because of their persistence. 

She Persisted in Sports is a book for everyone who has ever aimed for a goal and been told it wasn't theirs to hit, for everyone who has ever raced for a finish line that seemed all too far away, and for everyone who has ever felt small or unimportant while out on the field.

Alexandra Boiger's vibrant artwork accompanies this inspiring text that shows readers of all ages that, no matter what obstacles come their way, they have the power to persist and succeed.

This book Margaret Ives Abbott, Gertrude Ederle, Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias, Wilma Rudolph, Jean Driscoll, Mia Hamm (and the 1996 Olympic soccer team), Kristi Yamaguchi, Venus and Serena Williams, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, Diana Taurasi, Simone Biles, Ibtihaj Muhammad and Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux.

Praise for She Persisted in Sports :

"An appealing reminder that, with perseverance, girls can be athletes—or whatever else they choose." -- School Library Journal

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Sports, Biography, History, Childrens, Womens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 22, 2020

About the author

Chelsea Clinton has always been interested in making the world a better place. When she was a child in Little Rock, Arkansas, one of her favorite books was 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth, and as a teenager in Washington, D.C., she led her school’s service club. While at Stanford, Chelsea worked as a reading and writing tutor and volunteered at the Children’s Hospital. Today, she is Vice Chair of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation where she helps lead the work of the Foundation across its various initiatives, with a particular focus on work related to health, women and girls, creating service opportunities, and empowering the next generation of leaders. Chelsea holds a BA from Stanford University, an MPH from Columbia University, and an MPhil and doctorate degree in international relations from Oxford University. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, their daughter, Charlotte, their son, Aidan, and their dog Soren.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great outing for the ‘She Persisted’ series. In this book, they share the quick tale of famous female American athletes. they are:

Margaret Ives Abbot - Golf
Gertrude Ederle - swimming English Channel
Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias - baseball and track
Wilma Rudolph - track
Jean Driscoll - paralympic games - many things
Mia Hamm - Soccer
Kristi Yamaguchi - Skating
Venus & Serena Williams - Tennis
Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh Jennings - Volleyball
Diana Taurasi - Basketball
Simone Biles - Gymnastics
Ibtihaj Muhammad - Fencing
Jocelyne & Monique Lamoureux - Hockey

The common thread of all these women is they all worked hard, they never listened to the naysayers and they fiercely believed in themselves. They are indeed good role models and it’s an inspiring book. It’s great to see some of these names.

The artwork seems a little simple, but it’s fine.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen women are featured in this new "She Persisted" book, written by Chelsea Clinton and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. Not only did these amazing women have to fight hard due to their sex, but they faced such things as: being hard of hearing (from measles), growing up in leg brace after surviving polio, being born with spina bifida and confined to wheelchair, being born with clubfoot, competing while pregnant, and facing rampant racism.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

American women who were first or set records in a variety of sports -- tennis, golf, swimming, fencing, gymnastics, track and field, and more.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was familiar with many of the women in sports featured in this book, but I enjoyed learning about some who were new to me. One thing that struck me was that there wasn’t even professional women’s basketball in the 1980s (Diana Taurasi’s page). I had to look it up. The WNBA wasn’t formed until 1996! I remember playing soccer as a young girl in the 1970s, and we were among the first girl teams in our county. It’s hard to believe the resistance and obstacles that these female athletes faced. I’m glad they persisted!

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers women from a wide variety of sports, time periods (within the modern Olympic period), races and ethnicities, and disabilities (with some disabled athletes who competed in the Paralympics and some who competed in the Olympics).

I know it's the motivation/framing, but I don't love the "she persisted" bit here; it didn't always work well.

The incorporation of all the athletes and their quotes into the illustrations near the beginning was fun.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children’s RA 👶🏻

[donna backshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a staggeringly important series. I can't believe it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I even found it. Now I'm devouring every book in the series I can find.

Many, many thanks to Chelsea Clinton and all the women of The Persisterhood for their contributions here. I am a better sister and voice for the women of the world for having read these books, including the inspiring She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game

[R Waterfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best picture books:
- introduce you to someone new
- inspire you
- have unique / beautiful illustrations

This one had all of these! I loved learning about woman athletes who made history!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her book, “She Persisted,” Chelsea Clinton wrote about 13 American women who achieved great things with persistence. In this companion, “She Persisted in Sports,” 16 American women who accomplished many things in sports with persistence are highlighted. As is the first book, it is short and simple, but very powerful. I like that a variety of sports are represented. It is inspirational and encourages all kids not to give up.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, as in all of the "She Persisted" books, Chelsea included have different profiles of, this time, athletes and different powerful quotes. This one was one of my favorites from Jean Driscoll: "A champion is someone who has fallen off the horse a dozen times and gotten back on the horse a dozen times. Successful people never give up." I feel like this is so fundamental to your whole message of She Persisted, and on every page, saying again, "She persisted. She persisted." Persistence is central to our ability to do anything in life that hopefully can give us meaning, whether learning a new skill or trying something new.

In my interview, Chelsea said something that has stuck with me. She said, "We can practice persistence. The more that we persist, the more we don't give up, the less likely we will give up in the future. I think that is just such a fundamental life skill for all of us. Hopefully, it gives us the courage and the bravery to try new things because we know that we're going to have the grit and the fortitude to push through whether we're good at them or not, candidly, and also hope to enjoy the journey. I think persistence is one of the most important aspects of life."

To listen to my interview with Chelsea Clinton, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/che...

[Ellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weirdly, because I’m not a very sporty person, I think this was my favorite of the She Persisted so far. I learned about people I never knew about and learned more about people I did. Clinton does a great job highlighting the difficulties that these women overcame along with celebrating their accomplishments. The book really left me with a “girls can do ANYTHING” feeling.

I also appreciate Clinton’s process after watching her panels at the National Book Fest. She talked about how she researched woman and had a long list before she picks the ones she features. Then she researches each one in depth and had pages of information about them that she has to whittle down to a small enough amount of text for a picture book.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewing as a part of my Fall 2020 kids' books reviews!

I feel like you can't go wrong with a book with profiles of people in history. There were quite a few athletes in the book that I was unfamiliar with, so it was just as informative to me as I assume it would me to the middle/upper elementary reader who picks it up.

Hardcover from my place of work, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that Clinton included a variety of sports.
Disappointed in the lack of paralympic athletes (only one shown, some that were included overcame a physical challenge but still competed as able bodied - celebrates ableism).

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several books in this series and I have liked them all (even though I don't care for the Clinton's and their politics)
I love that it is preaching "Girls can do it" and "Keep going" Great message!

I am a fan of Kerri was pregnant! WOW! She is in incredible shape!

[Paul Vogelzang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chelsea is bright, intuitive, and an excellent historian. Great writer, too. I've read the series and love this one, too. The publisher shared the book with me and I've interviewed Chelsea, too. An important book for our times, no question.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues with introductions to several American women who changed their sports. They persevered and conquered odds to excel and be role models.
Language level geared for elementary level readers.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many stories I had never heard of! I like the report on of “she persisted” throughout, in each story. Short paragraph stories, with highlights of each career - even the highlights of when they were young children. It can start early! With anything.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mix of athletes and sports, both historical and present day.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing women showing our children to persist!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had a good mix of women I knew of and women I didn't

[Kirin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This latest compellation in the She Persisted series focuses on American Olympians who changed the game. The cover is a bit misleading with it featuring a #muslimintheillustration as a tennis player, I think it is meant to show young readers that they too can excel in any sport regardless of race, religion, mobility, but none-the-less among the 16 real athletes introduced within the text is the phenomenal, Ibtihaj Muhammad. The book is an AR 6.2 but I think early elementary and middle grade will also enjoy the easy reading story style used to present the famous athletes in American history. #islamicschoollibrarian #muslimsintheillustrations #nonfiction

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read any of the “She Persisted” books before, but I read this one tonight solely based off me missing Olympic fever and I loved it???? It was obviously very inspirational, but I also loved how it presented the historical information within the book. It didn’t dumb anything down for children and, in doing so, made it to where adults could enjoy this as well. I have to check out more of these just because they introduce you to stories you do & don’t know. For example, I knew Kristi Yamaguchi was an extremely famous ice skater… But I had no idea that she grew up with a club foot? This book also made me reach out and research others that I’d like to read. I added one on Gertrude Ederle swimming the English Channel and the two hockey twins (Jocelyne & Monique Lamoureux) making their way to gold.

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game is a children's picture written by Chelsea Clinton and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger which focus on one word: persisted. The word is literally highlighted on every page and is defined through thirteen different women from the United States who are Olympians that changed the sport. This is the companion book to She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World and She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History.

Clinton's text is simplistic and easy to understand and demonstrated what these amazing women did through their adversities and persevered when the world was against them. Boiger's art is simply wonderful and colorful, which keeps the young reader captivated.

The women featured in this book are: Margaret Ives Abbott, Gertrude Ederle, Mildred Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Wilma Rudolph, Jean Driscoll, Mia Hamm (and the 1996 Olympic soccer team), Kristi Yamaguchi, Venus and Serena Williams, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, Diana Taurasi, Simone Biles, Ibtihaj Muhammad, and Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux. A rather good selection of women that made the book somewhat balanced and a somewhat decent representation.

All in all, She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game is a wonderful children's book targeted mainly for young girls, but it is relevant for young boys too and adults alike. It teaches children to be persistence no matter the odds, while learning about these amazing women and perhaps creates some new heroes.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "She Persisted" series is generally pretty cute, but I have to say that one of my biggest issues with it is right in the title. I feel like they're trying to say if you persist enough then you can achieve anything, but it always has this weird tone. I've had this issue since I read the first one and someone "persisted" their way out of being enslaved, and that's all kinds of yuck. This book doesn't do that, but shoehorning in "persistence" is so frustrating because it feels like a dangerous oversimplification, even in a children's book.

Anyway, She Persisted in Sports is a cute little introduction to USAmerican women Olympians, which isn't a subject I am deeply knowledgeable in, so I was unfamiliar with a few of them, but most of them are famous enough athletes from my own lifetime. There's a decent bit of racial diversity, as well as positive disability rep (as a disabled person I find "person with a disability" really irritating, but I understand it's the accepted term in the broader public so I'm trying not to judge too harshly based on that usage) although some of the tone veered a bit too close to inspiration porn for my tastes.

Overall, it's a decent book that's worth a read, but it's far from the first I would recommend if I were suggesting books about important women of the past and present.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entry in the She Persisted series talks about women who became olympians and helped to change the perceptions about women playing sports. The women included within the title include Margaret Ives Abbott, Gertrude Ederle, Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias, Wilma Rudolph, Jean Driscoll, Mia Hamm, Kristi Yamaguchi,Venus and Serena Williams, Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Diana Taurasi, Simone Biles, Ibtihaj Muhammad and Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux. These women were involved in sports ranging from golf to track and field to tennis to hockey to name just a few. Each spread of the title gives a snippet of information about the woman and the achievement she made to change the world of sports. Each woman is also quoted, giving the reader a pearl of wisdom. This is a great title for collections looking to beef up their women studies materials and to offer more empowerment titles for their female readers. I would add this book to most juvenile collections. The women included in the title are diverse in ethnicity, religion and favorite sports. It gives a great way to show a wide variety of examples of women who have changed the world.

[Carrie Hamstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of GREAT women Olympians. It was written by Chelsea Clinton so I was really hoping it would be amazing. It was just okay, the illustrations were also just okay. The book is a way to familiarize kids with several female athletes at once. Chelsea has multiple books in this "She Persisted" series.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good idea in theory but omg could they just have added maybe another page of writing for each athlete, grrrrr. As an adult reading this, it was great, I hadn't heard of a few of these women (sorry, golfers) but if you're old enough to read this book, then you probably want more information than is given about its subjects. But I guess it's a good, diverse place to start.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Another title in the She Persisted series, this time focusing on women athletes. Highlights sixteen female athletes from all types of sports with short biographies and watercolor illustrations.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A book about successful women atheletes who didn’t give up on their dreams!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love this series! I hope the readers find longer biographies of each of these incredible athletes. Thank you Chelsea Clinton for bringing these amazing short biographies to young readers