Trailblazers: The Unmatched Story of Women’s Tennis, Young Readers Edition

Gr 2-7–Brief context at an elementary school–friendly level makes this book accessible even to those without any tennis knowledge. Opening notes frame the history of tennis and the grand slam, title IX, and tennis today, stating “the history of tennis is women’s history. It is also American history, Black history, and international history.” While King is listed as a coauthor, the front and back matter and the biographical sketch of King are written in an informational third-person style, placing the book squarely into the category of collected biography. The featured players comprise many nationalities, ethnicities, and racial identities, as well as players who use wheelchairs and who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Although the tone is celebratory of all identities, barriers to players with marginalized identities are noted, particularly Black women stymied by segregation and the racism that continues to the present, and all women who played in the early 20th century. The personal and non-athletic professional lives of players are often included, such as education, marriages, children, and charitable work. The authors highlight players who use tennis notability for activism, such as Alice Marble advocating for desegregation and Naomi Osaka for bringing attention to causes like Black Lives Matter and mental health awareness. The brevity of profiles limits the depth of exploration of historical and social context but offers an invitation to further learning. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and appealing.