Book Review: “Women In Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win” by Rachel Ignotofsky

“Women In Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win” by Rachel Ignotofsky (2017)

Genre: Non-fiction, Sports, Feminism Biography, History

Page Length: 128 pages (hardcover pages)

Synopsis:

Women in Sports highlights notable women’s contributions to competitive athletics to inspire readers young and old. Keeping girls interested in sports has never been more important: research suggests that girls who play sports get better grades and have higher self-esteem–but girls are six times more likely to quit playing sports than boys and are unlikely to see female athlete role models in the media. A fascinating collection full of striking, singular art, Women in Sports features 50 profiles and illustrated portraits of women athletes from the 1800s to today including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than 40 different sports. The book also contains infographics about relevant topics such as muscle anatomy, a timeline of women’s participation in sports, statistics about women in athletics, and influential female teams. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

I was so psyched to read this book after reading Ignotofsky’s first book Women in Science. I learned about so many amazing women in the STEM field that were new to me. Women in Sports focuses on women in athletics around the globe. I commend Ignotofsky by not only putting the book in chronological order so that readers can see how women’s sports have evolved over time, but all the research she does into making a comprehensive biography for each athlete.

Like with her first book, the pages are filled with colorful illustrations of powerful female athletes who have made great strides in their sports. It shows how overcoming their obstacles made them stronger and how it paved the way for future generations. This book is a great resource for adults and children alike. I enjoyed reading about some of my favorite athletes such as Michelle Kwan, Serena Williams, and Lisa Leslie. I also learned about a lot athletes such as Toni Stone, Violet Palmer, and Valentina Vezzali too. Their stories of perseverance gives the readers a uplifting feeling!

I think this book is a great resource that could be used inside and outside of the classroom and I hope that Ignotofsky will continue to make more books such as this!

Final Verdict: