Babe Conquers the World.

Wallace, Rich, and Sandra Wallace.  Babe Conquers the World.  Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek  2014  272p  $16.95  ISBN 978-1-59078-981-0 ms/hs  Biography  E-BN 

Fiction sports writer Rich Wallace and his sports-journalist wife Sandra collaborate to present an in-depth biography on the woman who challenged the sports world to include women.  Babe’s intensity, both on and off the sports arena, reveals a woman who would not take “no” for an answer.  Her determination, hard work and outspokenness served her well as she conquered a variety of sports, including basketball, track and field, tennis, and golf.  Realizing she was better suited to sports where individual prowess was featured, she became an Olympian in track and field and a golf champion. Her ability to relate to fans increased her popularity even if that adoration was not always returned by competitors. Her love of family is discussed, including her closeness to her sister and the fact that she provided consistent financial support to her throughout her athletic career.  Few may know of her efforts to educate people about cancer and the ability to live a full life after diagnosis.  The book includes a timeline, chapter notes, an index, a list for further reading, and a question-and-answer section about what happened after her untimely death due to cancer.  This is a well-thought-out book that will appeal to young readers as well as teenagers, with sidebar pages that explain historical events referenced in the preceding chapter.  This is a truly remarkable book about a very remarkable woman.           

Summary: Biography of Babe Didrikson Zaharias that delves into her athletic accomplishments as well as who she was as a person. Numerous black-and-white photos add to the text that flows like an interview with the legendary Babe. Grades 5-12.     

Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Women athletes                     --Lois McNicol