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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
A great informative read. The story gives lots of background information on the formative years of football and the Carlisle Indian team interwoven with Jim Thorpe's tumultuous childhood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Prior to reading Undefeated by Steve Sheinkin, I was vaguely familiar with the Carlisle Indian School. I only knew about Jim Thorpe as a crossword puzzle clue. And my only knowledge about Pop Warner was that there are youth football leagues named in his honor. I'm not even a huge football fan. But, none of that stopped me from really enjoying this book. From the very first page, I was taken on a fast-paced historical journey that had multiple layers. There's the story of Jim Thorpe's incredible athletic career in not only football, but also as an Olympic track star. (and why did I never know that he was Native American?). There is the history on the evolution of football, and the impact legendary coach Pop Warner and the Carlisle Indian School football team had on the way the sport is played today. The book also tells the story of an underdog team that took on some of the Elite colleges while facing racism and other challenges eventually becoming one of the winningest teams in football history. (Why they aren't a more widely known and lauded team is a mystery to me.) And lastly, the reader gets a glimpse into the Carlisle Indian School itself, which was a boarding school whose aim was the deculturalization of Native Americans while "helping civilize" them to fit in with the "American" way. Using tons of newspapers, magazines, books, and other sources, Sheinkin does a wonderful job of recreating the action and the climate of the time. You'll find yourself rooting for the team, although the outcomes have long been settled.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I'm not what you would consider a "football person," and had no idea who Jim Thorpe was, so this story is new to me. Regardless of my normal disinterest, I read this in one day. How could I not? Sheinkin's obvious enthusiasm for the topic was contagious: his hero-worship of Jim Thorpe occasionally had me wondering if everything was strictly true, but regardless, I was swept up in the story.
The main threads of the story include the life of Jim Thorpe, the history of the Carlisle Indian School, the beginnings of American Football as we know it, and relations between the United States government and members of the American Indian Sovereign Nations. All these threads intertwine to create a fascinating story that both inspired me and broke my heart. It's hard not to be uplifted by the Carlisle Indian School football team: they spawned so much of what is now modern football while being slammed with racist reporting and expectations. Individual athletes, among them Jim Thorpe, exemplified determination, hard work, and commitment to their teammates. At the same time, the treatment of this team and the existence of the school itself clearly exhibit all of the stereotypes and bigoted attitudes that remain on display today.
I would highly recommend Candace Fleming's [b:Presenting Buffalo Bill: The Man Who Invented the Wild West|25689028|Presenting Buffalo Bill The Man Who Invented the Wild West|Candace Fleming|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453061011l/25689028._SX50_.jpg|45517433] as an equally engaging book that takes place during the same time frame as Undefeated, but provides additional context for the world as it was in the late nineteenth century. It was very interesting to have read these two back to back.
The main threads of the story include the life of Jim Thorpe, the history of the Carlisle Indian School, the beginnings of American Football as we know it, and relations between the United States government and members of the American Indian Sovereign Nations. All these threads intertwine to create a fascinating story that both inspired me and broke my heart. It's hard not to be uplifted by the Carlisle Indian School football team: they spawned so much of what is now modern football while being slammed with racist reporting and expectations. Individual athletes, among them Jim Thorpe, exemplified determination, hard work, and commitment to their teammates. At the same time, the treatment of this team and the existence of the school itself clearly exhibit all of the stereotypes and bigoted attitudes that remain on display today.
Spoiler
I love the title. I spent the greater part of the book waiting for the undefeated season to come, only to have it never quite materialize. But then in the end, Sheinkin includes a fantastic quote from Carlisle halfback Frank Cayou, who claimed the team was undefeated nonetheless: "Our greatest glory consists not in never failing... but in rising every time we fall. Let that be our motto!" (222) Truly an inspiring philosophy that seems to exemplify not just Jim Thorpe, but also the entire Carlisle team.I would highly recommend Candace Fleming's [b:Presenting Buffalo Bill: The Man Who Invented the Wild West|25689028|Presenting Buffalo Bill The Man Who Invented the Wild West|Candace Fleming|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453061011l/25689028._SX50_.jpg|45517433] as an equally engaging book that takes place during the same time frame as Undefeated, but provides additional context for the world as it was in the late nineteenth century. It was very interesting to have read these two back to back.
A compelling look at an amazing athlete, a revered but flawed coach, and a time period in the early 20th century that irrevocably harmed countless Native Americans. [a:Mark Bramhall|15011468|Mark Bramhall|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1498216235p2/15011468.jpg] brings the narrative to life in the audio version. But don't forego the print version-- you don't want to miss the photos and documents. Who knew that football had such an exciting past?
I'm not a football fan, but I am a fan of Sheinkin's work, so I gave this book a go. I'm glad I did. Learning about the early days of football, and how the Carlisle players changed the game, was really very interesting, even to someone who is not the least bit into football. Learning about life at Carlisle, and about Jim Thorpe's life, was even better.
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
This book was amazing from start to finish. I admired author, Steve Sheinkin, for his wonderful book, "The Port Chicago 50", but "Undefeated" has turned me into an unabashed mega-fan. Sheinkin's writing style is amazing. I don't give a crap that his non-fiction is intended for young adults, they're easily accessible, filled with pictures, great writing, and eloquence, perfect for adults too. I learned SOO MUCH from this book. I had heard of Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner but I didn't really know diddly squat about them, let alone anything about the Carlisle Indian School Football Team. I'm not huge into sports, but that didn't matter, everything in this book was fascinating, from the beginnings of football, the ill treatment of Native Americas to the awful boarding schools forced on many of their children that wiped out language, dress, and cultural ties to their heritage; this book was a sports and history lesson rolled into one. WONDERFUL!
Steve Sheinkin is one of my favorite narrative non-fiction authors and this book doesn't disappoint! I knew that Jim Thorpe was a gold medalist, but I had no idea that he played football at the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. This book was fascinating as it taught me history about people and places.