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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
I initially intended to rate this book 4 stars because I wanted a more in-depth story of the suffering of thousands of Native Peoples that took place at Carlisle Indian School and other schools like it. I wanted more on that history rather than Pop Warner and Eisenhower. But in the end, the final chapter the author touched on this and many issues that still exist today so I decided to give this the five stars that it deserves. After all, it is a book about Jim Thorpe and the athleticism that was shown by the early football players of Carlisle and their contribution to what is today’s football. It is a history lesson about an unrecognized group of Native men that, as usual, has gone unrecognized by American Society.
I hope millions read this book and realize what true honor, respect, and pride truly is. It is not the name of a certain Washington D.C. team.
I hope millions read this book and realize what true honor, respect, and pride truly is. It is not the name of a certain Washington D.C. team.
This is the story of Jim Thorpe and the start of America’s long running obsession with football.
I’m not a sports person, but this book definitely held my attention. It was interesting to learn about the early versions of the game and how things changed. It was also interesting to see different perspectives on early indigenous schools in the US while still framing the horror of the schools. Even while talking about students who got preferential treatment, the message that the Carlisle school was not a good place came through.
I found this book very interesting for something far outside my comfort zone.
I’m not a sports person, but this book definitely held my attention. It was interesting to learn about the early versions of the game and how things changed. It was also interesting to see different perspectives on early indigenous schools in the US while still framing the horror of the schools. Even while talking about students who got preferential treatment, the message that the Carlisle school was not a good place came through.
I found this book very interesting for something far outside my comfort zone.
Wonderful read, although the conclusion is very true - Jim Thorpe's life did end up being very greek tragedy.
I don’t love football. I don’t even really like it. But this book was as much about American and Native American history (the awful, not-often-talked-about times) as it was about the history of football and the amazing athlete in Jim Thorpe. It was a great book!
This was an incredible piece of history -- the intersection of the beginning of football with the horrors of the Indian boarding schools, and a close look at the lives of Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner. Sheinkin does not shy away from calling out the racism and the atrocities, and the story is richer for it. This is a must read for anyone who loves football. Highly recommended for grades 6 & up.
I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much! Through photos, newspaper clippings, and Sheinkin's spectacular research, the reader is drawn in to the very early stages of what is now American football.
The story of the Carlisle Indian School Football Team and Jim Thorpe needs to be told more often. Sheinkin reminds of us of the deep prejudice against Native Americans at the turn of the 20th century through this captivating story.
I can't wait to share it with middle grade readers this fall.
The story of the Carlisle Indian School Football Team and Jim Thorpe needs to be told more often. Sheinkin reminds of us of the deep prejudice against Native Americans at the turn of the 20th century through this captivating story.
I can't wait to share it with middle grade readers this fall.
A fairly quick read and a great summary of Carlisle Indian School, coach "Pop" Warner, and Jim Thorpe. Chapters were short and mostly focused on one aspect of the history each. I would classify this as an excellent young-adult book, highly recommended.
After finishing Joseph Bruchac's [b:Jim Thorpe, Original All-American|799553|Jim Thorpe, Original All-American|Joseph Bruchac|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309198519s/799553.jpg|785518], I was left wanting to know more about Pop Warner and Carlisle. This book scratches that itch, while also providing a good overview of Jim Thorpe.
The book starts by focusing on Warner, Thorpe, and Carlisle in roughly equal measures. Relevant US history (Indian wars and the subsequent land grab) are also touched on. Later in the book Jim's story takes over, with only occasional appearances by other characters (e.g. Eisenhower).
It also glosses over a few things, compacting the story to fit those short chapters. The many photographs are excellent accompaniment, but also shrink the word count.
After finishing Joseph Bruchac's [b:Jim Thorpe, Original All-American|799553|Jim Thorpe, Original All-American|Joseph Bruchac|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309198519s/799553.jpg|785518], I was left wanting to know more about Pop Warner and Carlisle. This book scratches that itch, while also providing a good overview of Jim Thorpe.
The book starts by focusing on Warner, Thorpe, and Carlisle in roughly equal measures. Relevant US history (Indian wars and the subsequent land grab) are also touched on. Later in the book Jim's story takes over, with only occasional appearances by other characters (e.g. Eisenhower).
It also glosses over a few things, compacting the story to fit those short chapters. The many photographs are excellent accompaniment, but also shrink the word count.
Steve Sheinkin writing about Jim Thorpe? You had me at hello.
Sheinkin pays homage to football legend Jim Thorpe with his signature compulsively readable style and tons of archival photographs. It's obvious that Sheinkin is taking great care to write of indigenous nations with respect, always identifying the nations to which people belong. Beyond that, I don't have the expertise to evaluate Sheinkin's treatment of culture here. He condemns the use of boarding schools to "civilize" indigenous people and raises questions for teen readers to consider throughout the book (example: would anyone have dared to take away Thorpe's Olympic medals if he had been white?).
This is a must-read for sports fans - there is a ton of play-by-play football action and fans of the sport will be fascinated by how many modern-day conventions of the sport were started by the Carlisle team. But even readers who are not huge sports fans (read: me!) will be fascinated by this true story of a little-known American sports legend.
Last year, I listened to the audiobook of Joseph Bruchac's "novelized" biography of Jim Thorpe, which is written in first person. I loved that book, too, but I'm glad to have a stricter nonfiction look at Thorpe from such a well-regarded author. Undefeated is just as compelling a read.
Highly recommended; a must-purchase.
Sheinkin pays homage to football legend Jim Thorpe with his signature compulsively readable style and tons of archival photographs. It's obvious that Sheinkin is taking great care to write of indigenous nations with respect, always identifying the nations to which people belong. Beyond that, I don't have the expertise to evaluate Sheinkin's treatment of culture here. He condemns the use of boarding schools to "civilize" indigenous people and raises questions for teen readers to consider throughout the book (example: would anyone have dared to take away Thorpe's Olympic medals if he had been white?).
This is a must-read for sports fans - there is a ton of play-by-play football action and fans of the sport will be fascinated by how many modern-day conventions of the sport were started by the Carlisle team. But even readers who are not huge sports fans (read: me!) will be fascinated by this true story of a little-known American sports legend.
Last year, I listened to the audiobook of Joseph Bruchac's "novelized" biography of Jim Thorpe, which is written in first person. I loved that book, too, but I'm glad to have a stricter nonfiction look at Thorpe from such a well-regarded author. Undefeated is just as compelling a read.
Highly recommended; a must-purchase.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced