Ibtihaj Muhammad Muslim American champion fencer and Olympian

Along with being the first Olympian to compete for the U.S. wearing a hijab, the first female Muslim American to win a medal in any event, and a woman of color excelling in a predominantly white sport, Muhammad is a role model for minority athletes in multiple respects. Faust outlines her athletic pursuits from the time she took up fencing in 1999 to the 2016 Summer Games. He devotes more attention to explaining her values than giving her life, and, keeping the tone positive, mentions that she has faced discrimination, without providing any detail. Side panels address topics ranging from the Paralympic sport of wheelchair fencing to Islamophobia. This paint-by-numbers entry in the Breakout Biographies series is virtually the only profile of Muhammad for young readers, and the author makes a strong case for his subject's worthiness.--Peters, John Copyright 2017 Booklist

Gr 3-6-A brief introductory chapter opens each volume, setting the context for the subject's life and influence. Sidebar texts elucidate a range of complementary topics, such as Czech inventor Nikola Tesla in Musk, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Phelps, and Islamophobia in Muhammad. The design is centered on very short text blocks, bright colors, and frequent visuals. Some of the choices of subject are amply covered in other recent biographies (Elon Musk; Michael Phelps), while others are intriguing and likely to draw interested readers (Ibtihaj Muhammad; the creators of Minecraft). The texts tend to unsupported hyperbole. Simone Biles is the "greatest gymnast of all time," Phelps the greatest swimmer. Too many of the images are glamour photos staged in front of walls coated with advertising. There are no source notes, and the only suggestions for further reading are references to a curated page on the publisher's website. VERDICT An additional selection for biography collections. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.