Wings of an Eagle

By Billy Mills, Donna Janell Bowman, S.D. Nelson (Illustrator)

An orphan's dream defies odds to reach Olympic glory.

4.4/5 Goodreads · 184 ratings

48 pages· 1,545 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud

$19.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Billy Mills, once an orphan on the Pine Ridge Reservation, faces poverty and racism in his quest for Olympic gold. Guided by his father's wisdom and inspired by his ancestors, Billy battles through adversity, transforming broken wings into a soaring triumph at the 1964 Olympics. Will his dream heal the wounds of his past?

From the publisher

Just in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics, here is a dramatic and inspiring autobiographical tale of overcoming odds by Native American gold medalist Billy Mills, with stunning illustrations by acclaimed Lakota artist SD Nelson. Billy Mills was once an orphan on the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation. But before his father was called to the ancestors, he told Billy how to conquer his suffering: You have broken wings, son. You have to dig deeper, below the anger, the hurt, the self-pity. The pursuit of a dream will heal you. Despite poverty, racism, and severe health challenges, Billy raced toward his goal of becoming an Olympic athlete, inspired by his indigenous ancestors who stood strong when the odds were against them. Though at times he felt like his wings were clipped–a lone bird falling from the sky–he adapted and overcame, finally earning his place at the 1964 Olympics. This autobiographical tale of Billy Mills’s awe-inspiring flight to a record-breaking gold medal, breathtakingly illustrated by award-winning Lakota artist SD Nelson, is a soaring testament to Billy’s legacy and the Lakota prayer: we are all related.