* “Pimentel tenders the story of Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to (surreptitiously) run the classic Boston Marathon, with illustrations that pay close attention to the route along the way. . . . It is as though Gibb is on one long runner’s high, and it’s good fun to run along with her. . . . [Archer’s] artwork is an eyeful, a deep-dish mixture of oil paint and collage with tissue paper and hand-stamped patterned papers as materials. In addition, she adds mile markers and elevation notes to convey the runners’ toils and why it is called “Heartbreak Hill.” . . . A bright salutation of a story, with one determined woman at its center.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Bobbi Gibb found joy in running before it was an activity women were encouraged or even allowed to participate in. Faced with enormous obstacles (including having available running gear), Gibb went on to become the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon, blazing the trail for thousands of women to come. The story does justice to Gibb’s dream. . . . The lush collage-style illustrations are a highlight, specifically the clever mile marker and elevation indicators which stretch across the pages as Gibb runs the race. The closing image nicely incorporates the names of other female marathoners as a tribute. An inspiring addition to picture book biography collections.”—School Library Journal
“Pimentel introduces Bobbi Gibb, who in 1966 became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, in an affectionate portrait informed by interviews with Gibb herself. In textured collages, Archer creates a cozy community of autumn leaves, spring fields, and quaint rooftops, against which Gibb trains for the marathon. . . . Gibb finishes the race to acclaim, opening the door for other dedicated women runners. A triumphant story of an athlete and spirited individual.”—Publishers Weekly
“The illustrations are brightly colored collages that fill the pages from edge to edge. . . . The artist has included mile markers and notes about the course elevation to help the reader understand how difficult the marathon is. This simple story will leave all types of readers cheering for a woman who believed in herself and worked hard to make her dreams come true. This would be a great addition to a story time about sports or successful women.”—School Library Connection
“Pimentel delivers a sharply focused, hard-pounding narrative, and Archer supplies inventive oil and collage artwork worthy of the text. . . . An afterword on Gibb’s subsequent marathons, notes on the use of her maiden name and on quotation sources, and a selected bibliography are appended, and the final spread featuring the names of women marathon winners gives viewers leads on other stories worth investigating.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Clear on Gibb’s determination to overcome discrimination in order to follow her passion. . . . Pimentel’s straightforward text builds drama and suspense, becoming appropriately staccato and urgent when describing the race. Archer’s vibrant mixed-media and collage art portrays a variety of settings, seasons, and situations; a nice touch is the bottom-of-the-page border marking the miles as we follow Bobbi’s progress along the marathon route.”—The Horn Book
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