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Inaugural Ballers

Name: Inaugural Ballers
Price: 12.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Andrew Maraniss
ISBN: 9780593351260

Paperback $12.99

Published on Mar 05, 2024 | 368 Pages

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$12.99

Published on Mar 05, 2024 | 368 Pages

Buy from Other Retailers:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside comes the inspirational true story of the birth of women’s Olympic basketball at the 1976 Summer Games and the ragtag team that put US women’s basketball on the map.

“A winning look at the creation and legacy of a team that went from underdogs to unstoppable.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“The underdog story of America’s first women’s Olympic basketball team plays out in this thoughtful exploration of social change.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Twenty years before women’s soccer became an Olympic sport and two decades before the formation of the WNBA, the 1976 US women’s basketball team laid the foundation for the incredible rise of women’s sports in America at the youth, collegiate, Olympic, and professional levels.

Though they were unknowns from small schools such as Delta State University, the University of Tennessee at Martin, and John F. Kennedy College of Wahoo, Nebraska, at the time of the ’76 Olympics, the American team included a roster of players who would go on to become some of the most legendary figures in the history of basketball. Led by coach Billie Moore, Pat Head, Nancy Lieberman, Ann Meyers, Lusia Harris, and their underdog teammates took on the world and proved everyone wrong.

Packed with black-and-white photos and thoroughly researched details about the beginnings of US women’s basketball, Inaugural Ballers is the fascinating story of the women who paved the way for girls everywhere.

“Andrew Maraniss, known for his prolific narrative nonfiction writings focused on disenfranchised and often forgotten athletic heroes . . . now seeks to chronicle the 1976 US National Women’s Basketball team’s triumph in the Montreal Olympics. More than just a history or collection of biographies, this title presents a sociological study about the role of women in US sports . . . Not only ideal for sports historians or basketball enthusiasts, this book would also make great fodder for read-alouds about underdogs and strong females.”—School Library Connection, starred review

“The underdog story of America’s first women’s Olympic basketball team plays out in this thoughtful exploration of social change…a book that will stick with readers long after they put it down . . . A winning story full of heart, camaraderie, and power.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“An inspiring, comprehensive look at the first U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team . . . A triumphant account for any sports fan.”—Booklist, starred review

“A winning look at the creation and legacy of a team that went from underdogs to unstoppable. . . . Maraniss, a master of narrative-nonfiction, creates an immersive and emotional story . . . An inspirational look at remarkable athletes breaking boundaries. An exceptional read and an essential purchase.”—School Library Journal, starred review

ISBN9780593351260

Published onMar 05, 2024

Published byViking Books for Young Readers

Pages368

Dimensions5-1/2 x 8-1/4

Age Range12 and up

GradeGrade 7 & Up

Reading LevelLexile: 1240L

Author

Andrew Maraniss

New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss writes sports-and history-related nonfiction, telling stories with a larger social message. His first book, Strong Inside, received the Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize for social justice, becoming the first sports-related book ever to win either award. His young readers adaptation of Strong Inside was named one of the Top Biographies for Youth by the American Library Association and was named a Notable Social Studies Book by the Children’s Book Council. His acclaimed second book for kids Games of Deception was a Sydney Taylor Book Award Middle Grade Honor Recipient, a Junior Library Guild selection, and was praised by authors Steve Sheinkin and Susan Campbell Bartoletti. Andrew is a contributor to ESPN’s sports and race website, TheUndefeated.com, and is a visiting author at the Vanderbilt University Athletic Department.

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