The Man Who Ran Faster than Everyone: The Story of Tom Longboat cover

The Man Who Ran Faster than Everyone: The Story of Tom Longboat

Author: Batten, Jack

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 8.2
Points 5.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Nonfiction
Word Count 26415
Points per Word 0.000189
Page Count 104
Points per Page 0.048077

Description

This book chronicles the life of turn-of-the-century long distance runner Tom Longboat, discussing how he overcame many hardships and disappointments to become one of the sport's greatest legends.

Quick Summary

Tom Longboat wasn't just a runner, he was a legend who went from being a poor kid on a reserve to beating the world's best athletes in an era when people doubted Indigenous athletes could compete. The book is packed with race-by-race drama, moments where everything seemed lost, and the jaw-dropping victory that made Longboat the first Indigenous athlete to win a major international marathon. If your kid loves underdog sports stories like those in "Seabiscuit," they'll be cheering for Longboat from the first pages. This is perfect for kids in grades 4-8 who enjoy true stories about athletes who refused to give up.