Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Stars

by Gregory Zuckerman, Elijah Zuckerman, Gabriel Zuckerman Narrated by JD Jackson

Overview

Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in sixth grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry was told he was too small, too weak, and too slow to even receive a scholarship to play college basketball. He outworked everyone and went on to become MVP of the National Basketball Association. Jim Abbott was born without his right hand, yet he refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues.



Athlete after athlete in this book found discipline, hope, and inspiration on the playing field, rising above their circumstances. Filled with first-hand accounts from stars who exemplify the idea of enduring at all costs, this collection of sports biographies will serve as a must-listen source of inspiration for kids and sports fans of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Rising Above: 

A Scholastic Teacher magazine Summer Reading List selection
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Summer Reading List selection

"An easy pitch for middle school sports lovers."—School Library Journal

“This collection of mini-bios about athletes who overcame major obstacles packs a powerful message—perseverance and passion pay off. Even non-sports fans will cheer for superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.”—Scholastic Teacher

"So many of the obstacles that these athletes share are retold using personal interviews and primary source material that young readers will find very relatable. Though the people chronicled are all athletes, their stories have morals that are easily transferred to life off the court or the field. The highly relevant message is that no situation is too dire or insurmountable with the right attitude and that young people shouldn't allow setbacks to define them."—Booklist 

"[O]ften inspiring . . . The underdog stories reveal that dedication and perseverance pay off, as well as that sports can serve as needed outlets and refuges."—Publishers Weekly 

"I would rate this a 9 1/2 . . . it touch[es] your heart very often with the ways these athletes turn[ed] their lives around."—Colorado Kids 

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"An easy pitch for middle school sports lovers." —School Library Journal

Kirkus Reviews

2016-03-02
Stories of 11 athletes overcoming adversity to become the cream of their sports, from Wall Street Journal writer Zuckerman and his two sons. Some of these athletes' stories are well-known, how they excelled despite the most serious obstacles, be it having only one hand and dreaming of being a baseball player (Jim Abbott) or standing down the racism that attended tennis, as Althea Gibson did. Others may be more obscure. Soccer goalie Tim Howard had to struggle with Tourette's and obsessive-compulsive behavior; Stephen Curry was small enough that he had to be a walk-on at Virginia Tech to even get a chance at basketball. There is poverty, sexual abuse, physical abuse, abandonment, illiteracy, and even civil war in Congo. While the subjects can carry almost any weight, the Zuckermans struggle to bring them to life. Often luck was the key to success: being in the right place at the right time and seen by someone who got and kept the ball rolling. And while it is never easy to explain transcendent sporting ability, quotes like "It was like I was floating on air," from Tim Howard, or—without diminishing LeBron James' mother's influence—"He had his mother to love and comfort him" have little insight to offer. There is both solace and inspiration in these 11 heroes, but it doesn't take much to imagine that for each of them, there were dozens who didn't get the break. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170690848
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	10/24/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Read an Excerpt

Stephen Curry
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Rising Above"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Zuckerman.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Young Readers Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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