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_aurora_'s review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and War
katiegrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
I found this really interesting and mind of terrifying to how much our country is resembling what was happening in 1936.
labtracks's review
4.0
I don't even like basketball but this was a surprisingly interesting story! There's a lot to this book and I can tell the author put a lot of time and research into it. I have NO idea the history of basketball let alone that it's Olympic debut was in 1936. This was a quick audiobook while I was on a road trip and it did not disappoint. I always have more than one book ready in case one puts me to sleep, but this one kept my attention the whole time. This was one of those books that the library "recommends" by highlighting on the main page. I'm glad they did and I'm glad I picked it up.
sparksofkell's review against another edition
5.0
“Olympic basketball was born in Nazi Germany.
Nazi Germany died on a basketball court.”
This book blew me away! I learned so much about basketball and about world politics leading up to WWII—which isn’t talked about that often.
Andrew Maraniss has compiled extensive research and presents a very poignant look into this period of history.
I highly recommend!
Nazi Germany died on a basketball court.”
This book blew me away! I learned so much about basketball and about world politics leading up to WWII—which isn’t talked about that often.
Andrew Maraniss has compiled extensive research and presents a very poignant look into this period of history.
I highly recommend!
resslesa's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book -details the history of basketball and Hitler’s Germany before WWII. Notes the racial injustices of the time and details the other track stars besides Jessie Owens. Great sports details mixed with history and the author keeps the story moving -overall great for dormant readers with action and details. Not Steve Sheinkin but definitely reads like him. A great addition to HS and MS libraries for all the nonfiction sports readers!
christinajleaf's review against another edition
4.0
Not my genre at all, but I found it very interesting. I liked how it highlighted other sports and aspects of the Games
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
This is a non-fiction book that looks at the origins of basketball, exploring its religious, racial and political beginnings as a sport, culminating in it being played for the first time as an Olympic sport in Germany, 1936 when Hitler hosted the Olympic games.
It doesn't delve quite as deeply into the players' backgrounds as The Boys in the Boat does. But you do get a sense, albeit brief, of the white, Christian, prejudicial beginnings of the sport and the YMCA, where it took off.
You also get a pretty good sense of how some players who were chosen to go to the Olympics, early on, grappled with the antisemitism displayed by the US Olympic committee head and how he courted Hitler and his minions to get basketball included as a sport in the games. You learn of a team that refused to give their tacit endorsement of such prejudices via their participation in the games and voted not to compete in the qualifying games. And at least one of the US basketball team's players who did go was openly Jewish, unlike the US rowing crew, whose Jewish team member hid his belief and grappled with that decision.
It's one of those books I wish had a good educator's guide, or a publisher-offered free teaching guide, but it doesn't. Therefore I can't recommend it in Teachers. But it is a high-interest topic that many of your students may be interested in reading and would make a great addition to a classroom or home bookshelf.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
It doesn't delve quite as deeply into the players' backgrounds as The Boys in the Boat does. But you do get a sense, albeit brief, of the white, Christian, prejudicial beginnings of the sport and the YMCA, where it took off.
You also get a pretty good sense of how some players who were chosen to go to the Olympics, early on, grappled with the antisemitism displayed by the US Olympic committee head and how he courted Hitler and his minions to get basketball included as a sport in the games. You learn of a team that refused to give their tacit endorsement of such prejudices via their participation in the games and voted not to compete in the qualifying games. And at least one of the US basketball team's players who did go was openly Jewish, unlike the US rowing crew, whose Jewish team member hid his belief and grappled with that decision.
It's one of those books I wish had a good educator's guide, or a publisher-offered free teaching guide, but it doesn't. Therefore I can't recommend it in Teachers. But it is a high-interest topic that many of your students may be interested in reading and would make a great addition to a classroom or home bookshelf.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
thehmkane's review against another edition
3.0
Great intro to a lot of different things - Olympic history, Nazi Germany, racism in America, and of course basketball.