ABOUT THIS BOOK

ALTHEA IS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! Everyone agrees: her mama, her daddy, her teacher, even the policeman. But when Buddy Walker, the play leader on Althea's street in Harlem, watches her play paddle tennis, he sees something more: pure possibility. Buddy buys Althea her very own stringed tennis racket, and before long, she's on her way to becoming a great athlete - and to proving that she's more than just trouble.

Althea Gibson, born in 1927, was the first African American ever to compete in and win the Wimbledon Cup. Sue Stauffacher's lively text, paired with vibrant paintings by artist Greg Couch, captures the exuberance, ambition, and triumph of this remarkable woman.


REVIEWS

Starred Review, School Library Journal, September 2007:
"The prose is rhythmic and has the cadence of the street, and it's a treat to read aloud ... [T]his is an affecting tribute to a great athlete, and a story to both enjoy and inspire."

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, August 27, 2007:
"[A] sharp evocation of her spirited and appealingly pricky personality. Boys and girls of all levels of athleticism will find much inspiration in these pages."


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Stauffacher is a professional journalist and has been writing a children's book review column for 10 years. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Greg Couch is the illustrator of many children's books. He has received two Society of Illustrators Silver Medals. He lives in Nyack, New York.


AWARDS

WINNER 2007 - New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
WINNER 2008 - NCSS/CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
WINNER 2008 - NAACP Image Award



RELATED LINKS

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