Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

by Steve Sheinkin

Overview

A great American sport and Native American history come together in this true story for middle grade readers about how Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner created the legendary Carlisle Indians football team, from New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Award recipient Steve Sheinkin.

“Sheinkin has made a career of finding extraordinary stories in American history.” —The New York Times Book Review

A Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor Book
A New York Times Notable Children's Book
A Washington Post Best Book

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team is an astonishing underdog sports story—and more. It’s an unflinching look at the U.S. government’s violent persecution of Native Americans and the school that was designed to erase Indian cultures. Expertly told by three-time National Book Award finalist Steve Sheinkin, it’s the story of a group of young men who came together at that school, the overwhelming obstacles they faced both on and off the field, and their absolute refusal to accept defeat.

Jim Thorpe: Super athlete, Olympic gold medalist, Native American
Pop Warner: Indomitable coach, football mastermind, Ivy League grad

Before these men became legends, they met in 1907 at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, where they forged one of the winningest teams in American football history. Called "the team that invented football," they took on the best opponents of their day, defeating much more privileged schools such as Harvard and the Army in a series of breathtakingly close calls, genius plays, and bone-crushing hard work.

This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum.

“Along with Thorpe's fascinating personal story, Sheinkin offers a thought-provoking narrative about the evolution of football and the development of boarding schools such as the Carlisle Indian School.” —The Washington Post

Also by Steve Sheinkin:

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion
King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution
Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War
Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596439542
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	01/17/2017
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	276,969
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	980L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Steve Sheinkin is the award-winning author of fast-paced, cinematic nonfiction histories for young readers. The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, was a National Book Award finalist and received the 2014 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Nonfiction. The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery, won both the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award and the YALSA award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal-the World's Most Dangerous Weapon was a Newbery Honor Book, a National Book Award Finalist, and winner of the Sibert Award and YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War was a National Book Award finalist and a YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award finalist. Sheinkin lives in Saratoga Springs, New York, with his wife and two children.

Table of Contents

Tryout 1

First Half 4

The Star 6

The Coach 13

The Game 17

The School 24

Alien World 32

The Team 41

Restless Disposition 46

Carlisle vs. the Big Four 53

Charlie 60

The Carlisle Rut 62

Football Imagination 69

New Team 73

Carlisle vs. Pennsylvania 79

Wild Horses 86

Haughty Crimson 89

Before and After 96

Football on Trial 102

High Jump 107

Second Half 112

The Forward Pass 114

Carlisle against the World 122

Modern Football 128

Crossroads 136

The Quarterback 141

All In 149

Carlisle vs. Harvard 156

All-American 163

Stockholm 171

One More Year 179

Into the Whirlwind 184

Football Evolution 193

Carlisle vs. Army 199

Last Games 208

Brutal Business 213

Undefeated 220

Epilogue: Back on Top 223

Source Notes 234

Works Cited 260

Acknowledgments 267

Photo Credits 269

Index 271

Editorial Reviews

Sheinkin has made a career of finding extraordinary stories in American history, researching them exhaustively and recounting them at a nimble pace for readers aged 10 and up…It's hard to know which of Thorpe's exploits are accurately remembered and which have become embellished into tall tales over time, but for the modern young reader, Sheinkin's telling holds the kind of hearty inspiration that Old West tales used to nurture in the kids of earlier eras. Thorpe's greatness may be aspirational, but Sheinkin's brisk and forthright delivery makes it seem entirely possible.

The New York Times Book Review - Carvell Wallace

★ 02/01/2017
Gr 6 Up—Proclaimed "the greatest all-around athlete in the world" by legendary football coach Glenn "Pop" Warner, Jim Thorpe dominated sports in the early 1900s. His natural athleticism, in tandem with Warner's innovative coaching style, helped establish the Carlisle Indian Industrial School's football program as one of the nation's best, eclipsing perennial gridiron powerhouses Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Despite the fame and attention Carlisle received because of its winning team, a stark reality existed: the cultures of these same young men were being systematically eradicated by the school (e.g., prohibiting students from speaking Native languages, forcing them to cut their hair). Operating under the premise that the "Indian problem" could be solved by stripping students of their cultural identities, Carlisle founder and superintendent Richard Henry Pratt, a U.S. Army captain, vowed to "Kill the Indian; Save the Man" through any means necessary. Sheinkin has created a rich, complex narrative that balances the institutionalized bigotry and racism of the times with the human-interest stories that are often overshadowed by or lost to history. Within this framework, he brings to life the complicated, sometimes contentious relationship between a coach and a star athlete, their rise to glory, and the legacies they left behind. VERDICT A thoroughly engrossing and extensively researched examination of football's first "all-American." Highly recommended for U.S. history collections.—Audrey Sumser, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, OH

School Library Journal

★ 2016-10-26
Young readers of this biography may be surprised that Jim Thorpe, an athlete they may never have heard of, was once considered "the best athlete on the planet." Most students at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania were shocked by the treatment they received under superintendent Richard Henry Pratt, who believed white American culture was superior and to "help" his students meant to "kill the Indian in him, and save the man." New students were given new names, new clothes, and haircuts and were allowed to speak English only. It was a harsh, alien world, and only a small percentage of students ever graduated. The child of a Sac and Fox/Irish father and Potawatomi/French-Canadian mother, Jim Thorpe grew up in a mix of white and Indian culture and was better prepared than many when he entered Carlisle at the age of 15. Sheinkin weaves complicated threads of history—the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the story of Carlisle, the early days of football, and the dual biographies of Thorpe and his coach Pop Warner—with the narrative skills of a gifted storyteller who never forgets the story in history. He is unflinchingly honest in pointing out the racism in white American culture at large and in football culture, including headlines in the newspapers ("INDIANS OUT TO SCALP THE CADETS"), preferential officiating, and war whoops from the stands. Sheinkin easily draws a parallel in the persisting racism in the names of current football teams, such as the Braves and Redskins, bringing the story directly to modern readers. Superb nonfiction that will entertain as it informs. (source notes, works cited, acknowledgments, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-16)

Kirkus Reviews

Sheinkin has made a career of finding extraordinary stories in American history, researching them exhaustively and recounting them at a nimble pace for readers aged 10 and up . . . Thorpe's greatness may be aspirational, but Sheinkin's brisk and forthright delivery makes it seem entirely possible.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Along with Thorpe's fascinating personal story, Sheinkin offers a thought-provoking narrative about the evolution of football and the development of boarding schools such as the Carlisle Indian School.” —The Washington Post

“Sheinkin has created a rich, complex narrative that balances the institutionalized bigotry and racism of the times with the human-interest stories that are often overshadowed by or lost to history . . . A thoroughly engrossing and extensively researched examination of football’s first 'all-American.' Highly recommended for U.S. history collections.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“A model of research and documentation as well as of stylish writing that tells an always absorbing story.” —Booklist, starred review

“A gifted storyteller who never forgets the story in history. He is unflinchingly honest in pointing out the racism in white American culture at large and in football culture . . . bringing the story directly to modern readers. Superb nonfiction that will entertain as it informs.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Brief, action-packed chapters evince Sheinkin’s consistently multilayered approach, as he connects various subplots . . . and uses genuine cliffhangers for a propulsive reading experience.” —Horn Book, starred review

“With contagious excitement, Sheinkin enthralls . . . [and] compels readers to learn, admire and bear witness to the 'world's greatest athlete.'” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

“A new work of nonfiction as riveting as any historical novel you are likely to read this year.” —Book Page

Most Dangerous:
“Easily the best study of the Vietnam War available for teen readers.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

The Port Chicago 50:
“Sheinkin delivers another meticulously researched WWII story.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Bomb:
“This is edge-of-the-seat material.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

The Notorious Benedict Arnold:
“American history is brought to life in this engaging story of revolution and treason.” —School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

Narrator Mark Bramhall delivers this historical account of Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School football team. His steady delivery and intense tone will make listeners feel like they’re part of every game. Bramhall expertly portrays the brash coach “Pop” Warner as he works to build the passion of his players to create a stronger team. Listeners will cheer for the Native American team and for Thorpe as they prove their greatness by defeating some of the best college teams of their time. This story of sports underdogs describes the struggles and triumphs of these resilient football players. M.D. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2017 - AudioFile