Althea Gibson

In this biography of tennis champion Althea Gibson, Gibson is a naturally gifted athlete who grows up dominating games of basketball, stickball, and anything else played during the summer recess on the streets of her Harlem neighborhood. Neighbors, recognizing her raw talent, help her join the Cosmopolitan Tennis Club. As she excels at the club, she set her sights on becoming a world champion, but in addition to actually beating opponents, she also has to overcome racial barriers preventing her from competing on the biggest stages against the best players in tennis. With help and support from fellow athletes and journalists who recognize her talent and know she needs to compete at the highest levels, Gibson ultimately is allowed to compete at Wimbledon and becomes the first black person to ever win a Wimbledon championship. In addition to sharing Gibson’s successes, Reid covers some of her faults, like how early in her career her competitiveness led her to actions that did not show good sportsmanship, which helps the authenticity of the biography. Freeman’s (Hidden Figures, illustrator) recognizable style is in full force in the digital illustrations, though her depiction of Gibson seems to vary noticeably between pages, and the page design feels busy. While Reid’s narrative is rough at moments, it commendably brings Gibson’s remarkable and important story to a larger audience.