Babe Didrikson Zaharias bu Russell Freedman - OPTIONAL

Freedman, Russell  Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The Making of a Champion, 166 pgs.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1999.  $10.99  Content: Language: PG; Violence: G; Mature Content: G.   

Babe Didrikson was an amazing woman athlete who excelled at every sport that she tried.  She was in the 1932 Olympics and played amateur basketball before she became heavily involved in golf.  She won “Woman Athlete of the Year” six different times.  She revolutionized the role of women in the sports industry and was a great example of independence and believing in yourself—even at a time when the world didn't always go along.  

I LOVE Russell Freedman because he writes such succinct and inspiring biographies—this is no different.  The many pictures throughout the book help paint a clear picture as to Babe’s charismatic ways and success in the world of sports.  Although I think Babe is an inspiring athlete, I didn’t necessarily like her personality—she was very cocky and at times seemed to be in it for herself, which I think makes it hard to recommend this book.  The cover wouldn’t attract too many young adult readers, which is too bad because it is an interesting look at women’s roles in history.  

MS, HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.