Game Changers

By Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome (Illustrator)

Two sisters defy odds and prejudice to become tennis legends.

4.8/7 Bookroo expert·4.3/5 Goodreads · 755 ratings

48 pages· 2,069 words· Est. 16 min read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

Venus and Serena Williams, inseparable sisters and fierce competitors, rise from early morning practices to tennis stardom. Facing cheers and jeers in a predominantly white sport, they remain unstoppable. Discover their journey of resilience and triumph, where sisterhood and ambition collide on the courts. How did they overcome the challenges and redefine the game?

From the publisher

Venus and Serena Williams. Two peas in a pod. Best friends. Sisters. Six days a week they awoke before the sun came up to practice their serves and returns, to learn to run faster and hit harder. They were unstoppable. At age fourteen, Venus played her first professional match. Three years later, it was Serena’s turn. It wasn’t easy. Some tennis fans cheered for these two fresh faces, while those who were unhappy to see two black girls competing in a nearly all-white sport booed and taunted them. But they didn’t let it stop them. With vibrant mixed media art, nonfiction superstars Lesa Cline-Ransome and Coretta Scott King Honor winner James E. Ransome share the inspirational story of two tennis legends who were fierce competitors on the courts, but close sisters above all.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 48
Words: 2,069
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: 1030L

Themes & topics

Books about being famous Books about siblings Books about sisters Books about historical figures Books about sports and recreation

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.8

out of 7

4.8

“Venus and Serena Williams are sports icons who set the standard for professional tennis for years. Many biographical picture books are uninteresting and difficult to make it through, but this one was fascinating. I learned so many things about these athletes I had never heard before, and theirs is a story that can be an inspiration. It is definitely long, each page packed full of 2-4 large paragraphs, so young children may have a difficult time staying focused through the story. There is enough interesting detail though, that it's manageable.”

Lemony Snickers

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one