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Description
A biography of the New Jersey son of track-coach parents, holder of world records as a sprinter and long jumper who won the Jesse Owens Award in 1982 and three medals in Helsinki in 1983.
Quick Summary
For kids who are into track and field or just love a good underdog story Rosenthal's biography of Carl Lewis is a quick, inspiring read. It traces Carl's journey from a young kid in New Jersey, raised by track-coach parents, to the world stage where he shattered records and won medals at the 1983 Helsinki meet. The book is packed with vivid race moments and personal tidbits that make you feel like you're right there on the track, and it shows how Carl's hard work and love for the sport helped him become the "second Jesse Owens." Because it's only about 3,000 words and written at a 4th-grade reading level, even reluctant readers can blaze through it in one sitting. Parents will find the tone positive and age-appropriate, with no scary or overly intense scenes just the thrill of competition and the importance of perseverance. If you've enjoyed other kid-friendly sports bios like the "Who Was?" book on Jesse Owens, you'll love this one too.