Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges In Their Youth To Become Stars Read Free Books and Download eBooks
Discover inspirational real-life stories of superstar athletes in this collection of sports biographies featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Tim Howard, and more! Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry was told he was too small, too weak, and too slow to even receive a scholarship to play college basketball. He outworked everyone and went on to become MVP of the National Basketball Association. Jim Abbott was born without his right hand, yet he refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues.Athlete after athlete in this book found discipline, hope, and inspiration on the playing field, rising above their circumstances. Filled with first-hand accounts from stars who exemplify the idea of enduring at all costs, this collection of sports biographies will serve as a must-read source of inspiration for kids and sports fans of all ages.Praise for Rising AboveA Scholastic Teacher magazine Summer Reading List selectionA Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Summer Reading List selection"An easy pitch for middle school sports lovers."--School Library Journal“This collection of mini-bios about athletes who overcame major obstacles packs a powerful message—perseverance and passion pay off. Even non-sports fans will cheer for superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.”--Scholastic Teacher"So many of the obstacles that these athletes share are retold using personal interviews and primary source material that young readers will find very relatable. [T]heir stories have morals that are easily transferred to life off the court or the field. The highly relevant message is that no situation is too dire or insurmountable with the right attitude and that young people shouldn't allow setbacks to define them."--Booklist"[O]ften inspiring . . . The underdog stories reveal that dedication and perseverance pay off, as well as that sports can serve as needed outlets and refuges."--Publishers Weekly"I would rate this a 9 1/2 . . . it touch[es] your heart very often with the ways these athletes turn[ed] their lives around."--Colorado Kids
Lexile Measure: 1010 (What's this?)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Philomel Books (May 3, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 039917382X
ISBN-13: 978-0399173820
Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #213,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #108 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Difficult Discussions > Abuse #131 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Sports & Recreation #1046 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Outdoors
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Summary: 11 athletes in different sports are profiled. Each one had a very difficult childhood. Tim Howard was diagnosed with OCD and Touretteâs at age 10; Dwayne Wade grew up in poverty with a drug-addicted mother; coach Jacques Demers was so traumatized by his abusive father that he never learned to read or write. Yet each one made a decision at some point to work hard and stay positive, and this led to a successful and lucrative sports career. An afterword explains how the author came to write the book, inspired and assisted by his two sons.Pros: The stories are fast-paced and fun to read, as well as extremely inspiring. The trials that each athlete faced are pretty severe, yet their positive attitudes and hard work are the common threads running through each narrative.Cons: Only one woman was profiled, Althea Gibson whose career was in the 1950âs, unlike the more contemporary male athletes. Also, there were no pictures.
If you know a child who is a burgeoning sports fan, but may not read at the higher levels usually reserved for such titles, âRising Aboveâ needs to be in his/her hands right now!The concept of âRising Aboveâ is simple enough, in that it collects 11 athlete stories of overcoming severe adversity in their childhoods. There are two main things that impress me about the experience:It uses ultra-relevant athletes. Names like Lebron James, Steph Curry, Tim Howard, & Dwyane Wade will initially draw young readers in just on name-recognition alone. The stories of all 11 athletes are great, but they wouldnât get read if not for the âbig namesâ drawing eyeballs.The book is written at a level of very easy comprehension. It isnât âdumbed downâ, by any means, but it is just an easy-to-read book that could be enjoyed even by an upper-elementary school reader.To be honest, even adults might be able to enjoy âRising Aboveâ. The level of complexity (low) might turn some off, but the strength of the material crosses all age boundaries. The concept of fighting through adversity and coming out on top is universal.So, I have to give high marks to author Gregory Zuckerman (as well as children Elijah & Gabriel) for the concept behind âRising Aboveâ. It presents compelling sports stories in an easy-to-digest format, without simplifying them to the point of boredom. Perfect for struggling readers (without alienating more sophisticated bibliophiles) This one could (and probably should) be in every school library and every childhood bedroom bookshelf.
I read the chapter about Althea Gibson to my grand-daughter who is 8 years old. She was really interested. Iâm going to give a copy to my neighbor across the street, a young teen who aspires to be a major league baseball player. Parents and kids alike would enjoy this.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book--kids in particular will love it but anyone who enjoys sports or motivational reading. Greg and his sons did a great job assembling these stories. Once you start the first chapter, you won't be able to put the book down-I highly recommend this, especially for people who play sports and can read about the major challenges that many of their heroes had to overcome.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Greg a few weeks ago, and he told me all about his book. Sixty minutes later, at the local Barnes & Noble, I bought a copy and immediately sat down to start reading. I was really interested in Tim Howard's story. Seeing how bad his case of tourettes is/was and watching how he's coped with it and seeing how it got him to where he is now, that set the tone for the next ten chapters.This is one of the best books pertaining to sports, that I've ever read. As a lifelong basketball fan, it was very interesting to read about the stories of Serge Ibaka, Caron Butler, Steph Curry, LeBron James, & Dwyane Wade. And then to baseball and RA Dickey, a pitcher I've always admired.The content is put together extremely well, and I loved every second I spent reading Greg's book. I also feel this is a great tool to help kids who are interested in the game to understand how their favorite stars came to be where they are now. The adversity they went through. Taking a look inside their minds. They can relate to the players they admire on a more personal level, which almost creates a sort of commonality between them.I'm very happy to have picked up a copy of this story, and I highly recommend that you do the same. 5/5, would read again tomorrow.
I bought this book for our grandsons, ages 11, 8 and 6. To say that they love it would be an understatement. It is written in a style and a voice that communicates directly with them, and the examples are timely and inspiring. The 11 year old and the 8 year old take turns reading a chapter to each other and the 6 year old enjoys listening to the stories. It is a great birthday present and every school library should have a copy.
What a fantastic book. My son, who is totally not a reader, is loving it and can't put it down. It's written in an engaging, easy to follow, style, and the messages are both beautiful and inspiring! Thank you for aharing these stories with the world.
Very interesting stories that had me turning the pages. Excellent story teller & a few of the individuals I would have never known.
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