Welcome to SPORTY GIRL BOOKS. At SPORTY GIRL, we want to give all girls the chance to love, watch, play, read, and write about any sport that interests them. We look forward to the day when the words, "You play like a girl," is the biggest compliment anyone can receive.
The holidays are typically a happy occasion to spend quality
time with family and friends. If you’re like my family – there’s always some
competitive activity going on whether it was ice skating on the Pine River while growing up in Michigan, running a Christmas Town Dash, or taking a brisk
walk after New Year’s dinner to “make room for dessert.” Participating in sports
always makes me happy. HAPPY LIKE SOCCER is a picture book with marvelous watercolor illustrations and is a story about more than just a love of playing soccer. Sierra, the main
character, doesn’t have family members able to come
cheer her on at soccer games since her team plays in the suburbs far from where
she lives in the city. Reading this made me recall my senior year in high
school when (due to my father’s illness) my parents were absent most of the swim
season. It was tough to glance at the bleachers from the starting block and see
other parents cheering for their daughters but no one able to be there for me. I
recall feeling very alone, and I had forgotten about that sad time until I read this
book. In this story, Sierra lives with her Auntie who works at Café Garcia on Saturdays
and can’t take time off to watch her games.One weekend, however, her boss allows her to switch shifts from Saturday
to Sunday so she can attend her niece’s game, but darn luck would bring a storm
that causes it to be canceled. What transpires after that, however, is an
uplifting solution that brings to light the impact sports have on inner city neighborhoods
and communities. Children of all backgrounds deserve to have an opportunity to
play where they live and have access to safe playing fields.They also deserve to be cheered on by family members and neighbors and to hear their name called out as they dribble down the
field, get a block on a shot, or score a goal. I highly recommend HAPPY LIKE
SOCCER for a holiday read or gift for sporty girls who like soccer or any other
sport.
I'm so excited to see that all three 2017 Connecticut Nutmeg Award Lists have sporty girl books. We have spoken about Roller Girl (Immediate List) on this blog before, so today I'm going to introduce you to Queen of the Diamond (Elementary List) and A Time to Dance (Teen List). Both books are about girls that never let anyone stop them from following their dreams.
Queen of the Diamond is the true story of Lizzie Murphy. Here's the blurb from IndieBound: Lizzie Murphy was good at baseball. In fact, she was better than most of the boys. But she was born in 1900, and back then baseball was not a game for girls. Lizzie practiced with her brother anyway, and then she talked her way onto the local boys' team, first as a batboy, then as a player. Everyone was impressed by her hard catches and fast pitches. By the time she turned fifteen, she was playing for two different amateur boys' teams. When she turned eighteen, Lizzie did something else that women weren't supposed to do: she signed up with a professional baseball team, determined to earn her living playing the game.
I read A Time to Dance this summer and fell in love with this book.
Here's the blurb from IndieBound: Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India, lives and breathes dance so when an accident leaves her a below-knee amputee, her dreams are shattered. For a girl who's grown used to receiving applause for her dance prowess and flexibility, adjusting to a prosthetic leg is painful and humbling. But Veda refuses to let her disability rob her of her dreams, and she starts all over again, taking beginner classes with the youngest dancers. Then Veda meets Govinda, a young man who approaches dance as a spiritual pursuit. As their relationship deepens, Veda reconnects with the world around her, and begins to discover who she is and what dance truly means to her. Good luck to all three sporty girl books. If you are a kid in Connecticut, make sure to read your Nutmeg list so you can vote for your favorite in April!
Seems like we just welcomed the autumn equinox and already
the holiday shopping season is officially upon us. Do you have any particular
shopping habits? I have a tendency to get sidetracked while doing research and come
across one link that leads to another and then I land on a website and buy something for myself OR I have been
known to shop with this method: buy something for a friend or family member and then buy one for me. Which
leads to my purchase of a Missy Franklin Signature Speedo swimsuit for myself. How
did I get to this online purchase? Well, I’ll go backward to Tuesday morning
and share my chain of thoughts/actions:
* Need to write an entry for Sporty Girl Books blog.
* Hmmm, are there any female sporting news
or events happening around this time of the year? It's a little early for recommending holiday book picks, isn't it?
* Scanning my Twitter feed I see that Monday night, the
Golden Goggle Awards were presented by the USA Swimming Foundation to honor
outstanding U.S. swimmers and their achievements from this past year. Simone
Manuel won Female Race of the Year – watching that "live" this past summer was incredible and I knew
the historical victory would inspire so many girls who see themselves in Simone.
* Who were the other women winners? They were all deserving
honorees: Elizabeth Beisel (Team Leadership), Lilly King (Breakout Swimmer of
the Year) and Katie Ladecky (Female Swimmer of the Year).
* I recently reviewed a book by Missy Franklin and recall she
won a few Golden Goggle honors. A quick reference check reveals she was awarded
Female Athlete of the Year (2011, 2012) and Breakout Performer of the Year
(2010).
* I pause, get a coffee refill, and peruse my email and whaddya know, there’s a
notice from Booklist Online so I check to see if my latest review has been published.
Yep! The November 15, 2016 issue of Booklist has my review of RELENTLESS SPIRIT: THEUNCONVENTIONAL RAISING OF A CHAMPION by Missy Franklin and her parents, DA and
Dick Franklin. This up-beat memoir by Missy along with her parents is
inspirational and a thoughtful reflection on how - together as a family - they achieved a healthy
balance in life and sports. It may be subtitled unconventional but it's a model that worked successfully for their family.
To read the Booklist review: www.booklistonline.com/
* I’m curious if Missy went to the Golden Goggles and what
she’s up to so I check her Twitter feed.
* Interesting! SpeedoUSA
has launched the “Missy Franklin Signature Series” of swimwear. So naturally,
I’ve got to check ‘em out!
And, that’s how it happens . . . from deciding on a topic to
writing a blog entry to buying a new swimsuit or the other way around. RELENTLESS
SPIRIT is scheduled for release in early December – keep an eye out for it! And I guess it's not too early to share this as an ideal
gift to give to a sporty girl or yourself - a book by a delightful, grounded role model raised by two extraordinary parents!
Sporty Girl Books is looking for a new contributor! Our goal at SPORTY GIRL BOOKS is to give all girls the chance to love, watch, play, read, and write about any sport that interests them. We look forward to the day when the words, "You play like a girl," is the biggest compliment anyone can receive.
If you are a writer with an interest in athletics and children's books, we'd love for you to apply. Send an email to Sporty Girl Books founder Stacy Mozer that discusses why you'd like to blog for Sporty Girl Books and let us know why you are qualified. Paste in a sample Sporty Girl Books blog post into your email: a book review, an industry/author interview, or an athlete interview. Stay positive. We'll be choosing a new blogger by the end of the year and would love your submission!
Flipping through TV channels this past weekend I caught some
of the Progressive Skate America, a good preview of the 2017 U.S. Nationals
coming up on January 14-22 in Kansas City. Then yesterday, I came across this video interview with Olympic gold medalist and beloved figure skating commentator,
Scott Hamilton, who is now battling his third brain tumor.As a longtime fan, my heart sank.His courage and matter-of-fact demeanor are not
surprising to anyone who has followed his career.
In the interview, he references fellow Olympic gold medalist
Kristi Yamaguchi, and they show a clip from the 1991 U. S. Figure Skating
Championships where she took a hard fall at the beginning of her program and
immediately got up, continued her routine, and finished with a joyful smile. Hamilton
noted the life lesson which he shares with beginner ice-skaters: you will fall and
make mistakes, but the more times you get up, the stronger you will be for each
future obstacle.
Since retiring from the sport, Yamaguchi has added children’s
book writer to her impressive resume, beginning with her delightful picture book, DREAM BIG LITTLE PIG about Poppy the Pig who discovers not every
activity (ballet, singing) is going to be her calling yet she follows her bliss and pursues ice-skating, which leads to mastering jumps and spins. She attracts a
huge fan club and even makes the cover of the “New Pork Times.”
Life obstacles may sideline us, and we may stumble while attempting
to twirl through unforeseen circumstances, but as Hamilton shares, it’s how
many times you get up that makes you stronger. He chooses to celebrate life. Yamaguchi’s
Poppy reminds us to dream big, never to give up, listen to your personal fans (family and
friends who believe in you) and keep pursuing your passions.
I've been lucky to be able to know prolific author Stacy McAnulty. She's the author of many books for children, but this is the book that has my heart. This is the book, and the reminder, that picture books are for ALL ages. This book was for me. This book was for my 11-year-old daughter on her birthday. We both cried when I read it to her. I make the world beautiful. My daughter makes the world beautiful. Each of you, readers, make the world beautiful. I'm so grateful for Stacy and her powerful book. Below I've included excerpts from her newsletter. I hope you'll get your hands on BEAUTIFUL and read it to all the females, old and young, in your life.
"BEAUTIFUL breaks barriers by showing girls free to be themselves: splashing in mud, conducting science experiments, and shooting baskets. This book will encourage all girls to embrace who they are and realize their endless potential."
Beautiful: Simple Yet Complicated
Beautiful (written by me and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff) is a book of few words. But the topic of beauty and how it impacts girls is incredibly complicated. My editor Lisa wrote me a four-page letter while we were revising this book, and I sent her back the polished manuscript and an essay. I believe it's the first time she'd ever received an essay with a picture book manuscript.
I'd love to share with you some of the things Lisa and I learned while creating this book. (Don't worry. It's not the full essay.)
We compliment little girls on their looks and not other strengths. I've noticed that I do this often. Meeting a young girl, I might say, "You're so cute," or "I love your hair." ... I need to stop making appearances the first part of the conversation. Compliments are great, but I now try to look deeper.
The mirror is different for everyone. Women often use the mirror to study flaws: wrinkles, gray hairs, bags under the eyes... Young children can consider a mirror a toy and enjoy making goofy faces or trying to outwit their reflection. Is there a way to keep young girls from seeing the mirror as a tool for self-criticism?
My definition of beauty. My editor asked me to create a definition for this book. What did I want to convey? After reading countless articles, blog posts, and research, this is my definition of what it means to be BEAUTIFUL.
True beauty is a confidence found in what you do and how you feel. When a girl is doing something kind or challenging or fun, her inner beauty overwhelms her exterior, no matter what she wears or how her hair looks. When a girl feels empowered or strong or smart, the same thing happens.
Learn more about BEAUTIFUL and Stacy McAnulty here
I am always looking for interesting nonfiction for my third grade classroom so I was very excited to see this new book for kids about the past, present, and future of women's pro sports.
Here's the blurb from IndieBound:
The experience of being a professional athlete is very different for men and women. While men's pro sports command throngs of fans, media attention, and money, many of the world's top professional female athletes aren t valued or recognized equally for their talent even though female athletes prove time and time again that they have all the skill, drama, and rivalries of their male counterparts. Level the Playing Field examines the root of these issues by taking readers through the history of women's pro sports, exploring how far we have come in a relatively short time and exposing what ground is left to gain. The book provides first-person insight through exciting interviews with professional female athletes, including Canadian hockey player Cassie Campbell, American MMA fighter Miesha Tate, and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne. Along the way, author and sports journalist Kristina Rutherford covers important topics like opportunity, female role models, and stereotypes. Drawing on examples from a wide range of sports, and complete with sidebars, photographs, sources, and an index, this is an informative and authoritative book that makes an important contribution to the movement for women's acceptance in professional sport.
I enjoyed many things about this book. It had a clear and concise way of explaining the history and current experience of women in sports. The layout was easy to follow and there was a good mix of sports (even though I would have loved to see more baseball). Throughout the book were interviews with sports stars, which give a first hand look at the experience. Last, I liked that even when discussing the difficulties and inequities, the book still has a very positive outlook and makes sure to detail all the strides that have been made. Overall, I think this book is a perfect addition to any classroom or school library.
September 25 through October 1, 2016 marks Banned Books Week, a celebration of the
freedom to read and an opportunity to create awareness about the issues of book
censorship and the importance of our first amendment. Yep, it’s 2016, and
it's hard to believe but there are still challenges to have books removed from libraries and schools. Here’s
a statistic from the American Library Association: more
than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982 when Banned Books Week was
launched.
It still boggles my mind when I see the
long list of award-winning titles from classics to
contemporary bestsellers on lists of Banned Books. When I share these lists with my bibliophile friends they
are typically aghast. I wondered if there were any sports-related
titles and noticed on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990-1999”
down at #63 was a young adult (YA) title: ATHLETIC SHORTS by Chris Crutcher.
Crutcher’s body of work is outstanding
and typically involves male athletes and sports, but the themes are universal and relevant to
sporty girls, too. I downloaded a copy of ATHLETIC SHORTS and re-read a story
featuring a female athlete, “The Other Pin.” The main characters are from Crutcher’s
book, THE CRAZY HORSE ELECTRIC GAME. In this short story, Petey Shropshrire is a
high school wrestler who is goaded by a friend into agreeing to wrestle an
opponent no one else wants to take on, Chris Byers.Why? We learn a few pages into the story that
Chris is not a typical competitor. Chris is a girl. She developed an interest in wrestling because her older brothers were state champions. In
fact, she learned takedowns before she was in kindergarten and by middle school
was recruited to join the boy's team. Petey and Chris discover something else they have in common: both have faced ridicule for being the one to wrestle
a girl and a girl who has faced ridicule for being a wrestler and not afraid to take on a boy. I'm not sure if I
agree with the ending and their match, but it is an interesting story.
While “The Other Pin” may not be the story
that provokes challenges in this six-story collection, here’s something to
think about: if ATHLETIC SHORTS were to be removed from a library book shelf or
recommended reading list, how many girls who are wrestlers or who are
interested in wrestling and want to read about someone like themselves, would be
deprived of this opportunity? Something to reflect upon during Banned Books Week, as when
we celebrate free expression and the freedom to read.
"Before Title IX, one in 27 girls played sports. Today that number is two in five. While we still have far to go before every girl has equal access to sports, especially girls of color, it is clear that we are making headway. This summer at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the world watched as woman after woman broke barriers, shattered records and won titles across a multitude of sports."
Now that the Olympics are over, it would be easy to forget all of the amazing female athletes featured over the summer. The quote above is from an article shared on the She Network on the role of Title IX and female athletes in America.
The article, called "Title IX and The Rise of Female Athletes in America," connects to a number of other articles about female athletes. In one from the LA Times, it states, “It’s not perfect,” swimmer DiRado said. “But the more girls can grow up and watch Olympics like this, knowing they’re just as good as the men’s teams, it’s goes a long way.’’
It continues, "Can it carry over to an increase in U.S. women’s sports popularity during non-Olympic years? So far, no good. The only stable women’s pro sports league is the WNBA, but that basketball league has benefited from the support of the powerful NBA." So the fight for increased attention on women's sports continues, but things continue moving in the right direction.
For more about the role of Title IX, check out this book:
Kathryn Bertine might not be a household name, but if you
support girls + sports + books, she’s someone to know. Not only is Bertine a professional
cyclist, but she has competed at a professional level in: ice-skating, triathlon, and
rowing. In addition to being a versatile athlete, she’s also an activist –
fighting for equality on and off the playing field. But wait . . . she’s also a
documentary filmmaker capturing the “passion, pitfalls, and power of women’s
professional cycling” in her documentary film, “Half the Road.” And, oh yeah, add
author of two books, AS GOOD AS GOLD (2010) and THE ROAD LESS TAKEN: LESSONS FROM A LIFE SPENT CYCLING (2014).
I was fortunate to meet Bertine at a screening of her
documentary, “Half the Road” at the College of William & Mary a few years ago
and treasure my autographed copy of THE ROAD LESS TAKEN. Today marks the start
of September and that means many teachers and students are trading their flip-flops
for laced up shoes and heading to the classroom instead of the seashore. Here’s
a gentle reminder: settling down with a good book doesn’t have to end with
summer vacation.
THE ROAD LESS TAKEN is a thoughtful, provocative collection
of essays and espnW features that are short, making for an easy read. Bertine shares
lessons gleaned from her years as a professional cyclist, a tough existence
with meager pay; where the stresses of finding a homestay and couch to sleep on
in a foreign country are typical for female professional cyclists. Many chapters
revolve around the sport of cycling and trying to qualify for a spot at the
Olympic games, but several are about personal, everyday experience that young adult
readers and older will enjoy.
A few of my favorite chapters include the humorous, “A
Cyclists Letter to Santa,” and a thoughtful reflection on Lance Armstrong in,
“The Guy in Yellow” where I found myself nodding in agreement. How is it
possible to feel so much dislike and yet empathy for someone who is so
polarizing? She shares her perspective as a cyclist, a female cyclist, a journalist,
and a person and sums it up: he is a flawed human being. I agree.
You don’t have to squeeze into spandex bike shorts and maneuver
cobblestones to appreciate the moving chapter, “The Bonus Wife,” which shares how
she fell in love with her husband, newly widowed and the treatment by mutual
friends that led her to study how society deals with grief. Many chapters explore
aspects of inequality in sport, but an inspirational article on retired NBA
player, Adonal Foyle, teaching ‘growl power’ to young girls – that is, take
charge, be confident, and go after what you want.
Bertine reveals her vulnerabilities alongside unwavering passion
for sport, equality, and tackling life’s many hills. There’s plenty of ‘growl
power’ in these pages to inspire readers to attack athletic challenges and move beyond everyday
obstacles.
Wendelin Van Draanen came into my radar when I won her book FLIPPED from Liesl Shurtliff's book contract party. (You can check out Liesel's MG fairytale retellings here). But back to FLIPPED, it's a little book with a big, big heart. Years later, as I do little things like admire an old-growth tree or tend my chickens, I think of Bryce being afraid of Juli’shome-grown eggs. For the record, fresh eggs, with their wonderful dark yokes, cannot be beat;)
My fifth-grade daughter handed me THE RUNNING DREAM and informed me I had to read it, and now. It's part of North Carolina's Battle of the Books for the 2016-2017 school year, so tons of middle schoolers will be reading this incredible book, and that makes me all kinds of happy.
An award-winning and inspiring novel. When Jessica's dreams are shattered, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before. Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She's not comforted by the news that she'll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run?
As she struggles to cope with crutches and a first cyborg-like prosthetic, Jessica feels oddly both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don't know what to say, act like she's not there. Which she could handle better if she weren't now keenly aware that she'd done the same thing herself to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she's missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her.
With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that's not enough for her now. She doesn't just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her
When I contacted super famous Wendelin, I was amazed at her kindness, quick response, and willingness to be interviewed on Sporty Girl Books.
THE RUNNING DREAM was reviewed here back in March by Anna, (click here for her take). This book is deeper and more satisying than I expected. It didn't only focus on main character Jessica and her struggles to run again, but it focused on seeing people, not their condition. Before the accident, Jessica lived in her world of athletes and carb loading, practices and meets. But once she's forced to slow down, she sees people she hadn't even noticed before. She makes friends with Rosa, a younger student with cerebral palsy, and their relationship is the sweetest part of the story for me.
This story felt realistic, from not knowing who she was anymore, to battling insurance, to clueless people trying to be helpful, and her struggle to trust anyone's true interest in her. I'd expected Jessica to run again, but I hadn't expected what she'd achieve by the end of the book. Her story of doing something so much harder for someone else and in the process making herself into a better runner fills me with happiness.
Let's welcome our author. Wendelin, thank you for being on Sporty Girl Books! From your website, "My stand-alone novels have each come from an idea that gripped me and wouldn't let go. In some cases, the idea shot straight through my heart. When it happens, it's like I have no choice but to face the characters and write their stories." Can you tell us about that experience with THE RUNNING DREAM?
I ran the New York City marathon as part of the Exercise the Right to Read literacy/fitness campaign and was really touched by the incredible display of spirit and determination present at the finish line. People in all sorts of physical conditions and people with incredible physical challenges willed themselves to finish that 26.2 miles. Witnessing their willpower and determination was so inspiring. It took everything I had to get over the finish line myself, and that was under regular conditions. How could you go that distance as an amputee, or with muscular dystrophy; or blind?
So the seed was planted there, and watered by my experience as a classroom teacher. A big goal among educators is inclusion, but it’s not always easy to get students to go from the theory of inclusion to the actions required to bring outsiders into their circle—or at least make them a real presence in the broader community. So the notion of a “regular girl” who hadn’t given much thought to the special needs kids on campus finding herself as part of the special needs community really resonated with me. She could become a powerful voice for inclusion—and convey what it feels like to sit at that table.
What grew from that was a desire to model friendship—what would a real friend do to get someone through their dark days? When we’re young we don’t have much experience with this. What do you do when a friend goes through something awful, is depressed, or acts like she wants the world to leave her alone? It’s natural to feel out of your depths or awkward, or just lost. It’s natural to find more comfortable friendships away from all that. So the Fiona character shows us what a good friend does. At some point we will all need a Fiona in our lives—and at some point we’ll likely be called upon to be a Fiona for someone else. It’s helpful to get ideas on how to be that.
I'm always impressed with marathon runners and the inner strength they have to have. I'm glad that experience planted a seed. What events did you run in high school? Did you have a favorite? Could you talk about your own experience with Rigor Mortis Bend?
I ran the 400, 200, and relays which included those distances. I guess the 400 was “my” race, even though it is a killer, and there is a Rigor Mortis Bend. Jessica runs the 400 because I know it intimately.
I'm not surprised one bit that the 400 was your event. As I watched Olympics track and field, I thought of Rigor Mortis Bend. I appreciated Jessica’s tough math teacher, Mrs. Rucker and wonder if she or Vanessa’s mom was the anonymous contributor. Did you have a teacher like Mrs. Rucker?
I will not give up the identity of the anonymous donor in print! After all, she wanted to be anonymous, right? And although I taught math, I didn’t have the tough exterior Ms. Rucker has. It’s interesting to draw from experiences from both having been a student and having been a teacher. When you’re a student you don’t realize your teachers have real lives and their own drama outside the classroom. They’re mostly just homework-generating machines. When you’re a teacher, you’re reminded daily of your own trials and tribulations growing up and there are things you wish you could convey to your students, but because you’re an adult your words will likely not sink in. And so, despite your best efforts, you watch them learning things the hard way. Flipped was mentioned in the introduction—it was very much a case of wanting to talk to my students. So is The Running Dream and Swear to Howdy. I’m careful not to let what I want to convey override the story, but it’s definitely there, nudging contemplation.
Back in April you blogged Bust Through and Bloom, about the three year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing where you spotlighted two girls who lost limbs and have overcome, Heather Abbott, and Adriane Haslet-Davis. Heather Abbott wears stilettos and has a foundation to help other amputees have customized prosthesis and Adrianne completed the Boston Marathon this year. In the post you said "Adrianne and Heather show us that there's a choice you make in your heart when faced with the cruel things life may throw at you." Could you talk more on this point that resonates so much with me?
I personally know people who have experienced setbacks much smaller than Heather or Adrianne and have let those setbacks poison their lives. It really is true that it’s not what happens to us in life, it’s how we react to what happens to us. Most of us will face hard days in one form or another. Part of getting through them requires a vigilant fending-off of negative thoughts because, in the long run, it’s the negative thoughts -- resentment, bitterness, hatred and the like — that will destroy you.
Well said. As someone who's been trying to become published for 6 years, it's a comfort reading that it took you 10 years to publish--and look at you now with 30 solid books and a multitude of awards. Can you tell us what kept you going during that time? It would seem that's a similar spirit and drive that Jessica needed to keep pushing.
To be honest, if I’d known it was going to take me 10 years of getting up at 5 AM to write for an hour before going to work, I might have decided to sleep in. But I didn’t know! And every day I told myself, Today could be the day! until, finally, it was. I have an incredibly supportive and optimistic husband (Mark Parsons, who is also a writer), and that helped a lot. It was during this Time of Rejection that we developed the philosophy of keeping “Hope in the Mail” – we actively submitted our work and in doing so created a steady stream of rejection letters back to our mailbox. But by having work out there, we could face each day with the notion that Today could be the day!
I love the concept of Hope in the Mail. I might take on Hope in the Email, myself. What was your favorite book growing up?
I loved books with humor, adventure, and mystery. And I loved series books! Each new title was like spending time with a good friend. I read a lot of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys when I was growing up. The Sammy Keyes mysteries are influenced by that, as well as by seeing girls like Sammy as students in my classroom. Sammy is the girl I wish I’d had as a friend growing up. She’s in middle school, an outsider, funny, tough, and smart. She’s the character who got me out of bed at five in the morning to write. The series – 18 books and its overarching storyline – just wrapped up last year. New covers are coming in 2017 – something I’m super excited about.
Wow, an 18 book series. That is an accomplishment. Do you have a favorite sporty read?
Since I’ve just talked about Sammy, what springs to mind are Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy – Sammy plays softball and there’s a lot of it in this title. Also Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things – a backpacking /camping adventure that is very active and funny, and also shines a light on the value of protecting Earth’s endangered species.
Anything else you'd like to share with our Sporty Girl Community?
Keep working toward your dreams! Take it step by step, page by page, day by day…you’ll be amazed how far you go!
Thank you so much for taking the time to be on our blog!
My pleasure!
I love that you and Robin McKinley both have whippets!
I didn’t know that! Whippets are awesome J
Wendelin not only writes and runs, but she's also in a Rock-N-Roll band. Here's Wendelin with her band, Risky Whippet, playing at a Sammy Keyes Party.
Wendelin Van Draanen came into my radar with I won her book FLIPPED from Liesl Shurtliff's book contract party. (You can check out Liesel's MG fairytale retellings here). But back to FLIPPED, it's a little book with a big, big heart. Years later, as I do little things like admire an old-growth tree or tend my chickens, I think of Bryce being afraid of Juli’shome-grown eggs. For the record, fresh eggs, with their wonderful dark yokes, cannot be beat;)
My fifth-grade daughter handed me THE RUNNING DREAM and informed me I had to read it, and now. It's part of North Carolina's Battle of the Books for the 2016-2017 school year, so tons of middle schoolers will be reading this incredible book, and that makes me all kinds of happy.
An award-winning and inspiring novel. When Jessica's dreams are shattered, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before. Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She's not comforted by the news that she'll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run?
As she struggles to cope with crutches and a first cyborg-like prosthetic, Jessica feels oddly both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don't know what to say, act like she's not there. Which she could handle better if she weren't now keenly aware that she'd done the same thing herself to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she's missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her.
With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that's not enough for her now. She doesn't just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her
When I contacted super famous Wendelin, I was amazed at her kindness, quick response, and willingness to be interviewed on Sporty Girl Books.
THE RUNNING DREAM was reviewed here back in March by Anna, (click here for her take). This book is deeper and more satisying than I expected. It didn't only focus on main character Jessica and her struggles to run again, but it focused on seeing people, not their condition. Before the accident, Jessica lived in her world of athletes and carb loading, practices and meets. But once she's forced to slow down, she sees people she hadn't even noticed before. She makes friends with Rosa, a younger student with cerebral palsy, and their relationship is the sweetest part of the story for me.
This story felt realistic, from not knowing who she was anymore, to battling insurance, to clueless people trying to be helpful, and her struggle to trust anyone's true interest in her. I'd expected Jessica to run again, but I hadn't expected what she'd achieve by the end of the book. Her story of doing something so much harder for someone else and in the process making herself into a better runner fills me with happiness.
Let's welcome our author. Wendelin, thank you for being on Sporty Girl Books! From your website, "My stand-alone novels have each come from an idea that gripped me and wouldn't let go. In some cases, the idea shot straight through my heart. When it happens, it's like I have no choice but to face the characters and write their stories." Can you tell us about that experience with THE RUNNING DREAM?
I ran the New York City marathon as part of the Exercise the Right to Read literacy/fitness campaign and was really touched by the incredible display of spirit and determination present at the finish line. People in all sorts of physical conditions and people with incredible physical challenges willed themselves to finish that 26.2 miles. Witnessing their willpower and determination was so inspiring. It took everything I had to get over the finish line myself, and that was under regular conditions. How could you go that distance as an amputee, or with muscular dystrophy; or blind?
So the seed was planted there, and watered by my experience as a classroom teacher. A big goal among educators is inclusion, but it’s not always easy to get students to go from the theory of inclusion to the actions required to bring outsiders into their circle—or at least make them a real presence in the broader community. So the notion of a “regular girl” who hadn’t given much thought to the special needs kids on campus finding herself as part of the special needs community really resonated with me. She could become a powerful voice for inclusion—and convey what it feels like to sit at that table.
What grew from that was a desire to model friendship—what would a real friend do to get someone through their dark days? When we’re young we don’t have much experience with this. What do you do when a friend goes through something awful, is depressed, or acts like she wants the world to leave her alone? It’s natural to feel out of your depths or awkward, or just lost. It’s natural to find more comfortable friendships away from all that. So the Fiona character shows us what a good friend does. At some point we will all need a Fiona in our lives—and at some point we’ll likely be called upon to be a Fiona for someone else. It’s helpful to get ideas on how to be that.
I'm always impressed with marathon runners and the inner strength they have to have. I'm glad that experience planted a seed. What events did you run in high school? Did you have a favorite? Could you talk about your own experience with Rigor Mortis Bend?
I ran the 400, 200, and relays which included those distances. I guess the 400 was “my” race, even though it is a killer, and there is a Rigor Mortis Bend. Jessica runs the 400 because I know it intimately.
I'm not surprised one bit that the 400 was your event. As I watched Olympics track and field, I thought of Rigor Mortis Bend. I appreciated Jessica’s tough math teacher, Mrs. Rucker and wonder if she or Vanessa’s mom was the anonymous contributor. Did you have a teacher like Mrs. Rucker?
I will not give up the identity of the anonymous donor in print! After all, she wanted to be anonymous, right? And although I taught math, I didn’t have the tough exterior Ms. Rucker has. It’s interesting to draw from experiences from both having been a student and having been a teacher. When you’re a student you don’t realize your teachers have real lives and their own drama outside the classroom. They’re mostly just homework-generating machines. When you’re a teacher, you’re reminded daily of your own trials and tribulations growing up and there are things you wish you could convey to your students, but because you’re an adult your words will likely not sink in. And so, despite your best efforts, you watch them learning things the hard way. Flipped was mentioned in the introduction—it was very much a case of wanting to talk to my students. So is The Running Dream and Swear to Howdy. I’m careful not to let what I want to convey override the story, but it’s definitely there, nudging contemplation.
Back in April you blogged Bust Through and Bloom, about the three year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing where you spotlighted two girls who lost limbs and have overcome, Heather Abbott, and Adriane Haslet-Davis. Heather Abbott wears stilettos and has a foundation to help other amputees have customized prosthesis and Adrianne completed the Boston Marathon this year. In the post you said "Adrianne and Heather show us that there's a choice you make in your heart when faced with the cruel things life may throw at you." Could you talk more on this point that resonates so much with me?
I personally know people who have experienced setbacks much smaller than Heather or Adrianne and have let those setbacks poison their lives. It really is true that it’s not what happens to us in life, it’s how we react to what happens to us. Most of us will face hard days in one form or another. Part of getting through them requires a vigilant fending-off of negative thoughts because, in the long run, it’s the negative thoughts -- resentment, bitterness, hatred and the like — that will destroy you.
Well said. As someone who's been trying to become published for 6 years, it's a comfort reading that it took you 10 years to publish--and look at you now with 30 solid books and a multitude of awards. Can you tell us what kept you going during that time? It would seem that's a similar spirit and drive that Jessica needed to keep pushing.
To be honest, if I’d known it was going to take me 10 years of getting up at 5 AM to write for an hour before going to work, I might have decided to sleep in. But I didn’t know! And every day I told myself, Today could be the day! until, finally, it was. I have an incredibly supportive and optimistic husband (Mark Parsons, who is also a writer), and that helped a lot. It was during this Time of Rejection that we developed the philosophy of keeping “Hope in the Mail” – we actively submitted our work and in doing so created a steady stream of rejection letters back to our mailbox. But by having work out there, we could face each day with the notion that Today could be the day!
I love the concept of Hope in the Mail. I might take on Hope in the Email, myself. What was your favorite book growing up?
I loved books with humor, adventure, and mystery. And I loved series books! Each new title was like spending time with a good friend. I read a lot of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys when I was growing up. The Sammy Keyes mysteries are influenced by that, as well as by seeing girls like Sammy as students in my classroom. Sammy is the girl I wish I’d had as a friend growing up. She’s in middle school, an outsider, funny, tough, and smart. She’s the character who got me out of bed at five in the morning to write. The series – 18 books and its overarching storyline – just wrapped up last year. New covers are coming in 2017 – something I’m super excited about.
Wow, an 18 book series. That is an accomplishment. Do you have a favorite sporty read?
Since I’ve just talked about Sammy, what springs to mind are Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy – Sammy plays softball and there’s a lot of it in this title. Also Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things – a backpacking /camping adventure that is very active and funny, and also shines a light on the value of protecting Earth’s endangered species.
Anything else you'd like to share with our Sporty Girl Community?
Keep working toward your dreams! Take it step by step, page by page, day by day…you’ll be amazed how far you go!
Thank you so much for taking the time to be on our blog!
My pleasure!
I love that you and Robin McKinley both have whippets!
I didn’t know that! Whippets are awesome J
Wendelin not only writes and runs, but she's also in a Rock-N-Roll band. Here's Wendelin with her band, Risky Whippet, playing at a Sammy Keyes Party.
