Boundless

Many kids dream of being Olympians, but only a few make it. The physical, mental, emotional, and financial demands can be overwhelming for anyone, let alone a child who regularly experienced hunger, domestic violence, and homelessness. Lowe, a champion record-holding high jumper, first learned about the Olympics in 1988 when she was four years old. She remembers how her neighbors erupted with joy when Florence Griffith Joyner (FloJo) set a new 100-meter Olympic record at the Seoul Summer Olympic Games. Lowe decided then and there that she was going to be an Olympian, and here she shares her story of moving from impoverished child to NCAA champion to Olympic athlete in an engaging, well-rounded autobiography. Lowe, a TED Talk inspirational speaker, includes wonderfully detailed descriptions and telling anecdotes that go far beyond athletic pursuits, letting her personality shine through as she introduces family members and friends and talks about the incredible support they've given her, no matter the occasionally erratic circumstances. Readers don't have to be Olympian wannabes to appreciate this inspirational story about following a dream.

Athlete, medalist, and four-time Olympian Chaunté Lowe (b. 1984) vividly recounts her Paso Robles, Calif., childhood and arc toward the Olympics in a focused autobiography. She kicks off with an early memory of how watching Florence Griffith Joyner compete in the 1988 Seoul Olympics sparked her own early desire to become an Olympian and her subsequent focus on athletic pursuits. Forthright recollections offered in well-paced chapters detail Lowe's sibling dynamic as the youngest of three sisters, awareness of her family's financial precarity, and growing relationship with her supportive paternal grandmother, a vocalist who encourages her to embrace education and work toward a scholarship ("The life that you're living now is not the life you have to have when you grow up"). Alongside experiences of housing insecurity and witnessing her stepfather's violence, chapters distill Lowe's eventually joining a recreation track team, living with her maternal grandmother in Riverside, Calif., and her road to the 2004 U.S. Olympic high jump team. Themes of individual drive, family, and teamwork appear throughout this galvanizing memoir, whose emotionally direct telling is rooted in determination and hope. Ages 8--12. (Mar.)

A young African American girl, inspired by Olympic excellence, propels her way to an Olympic berth and a better life with support from her family and community. Lowe was 4 when she sat in front of the television and witnessed the greatness of Florence Griffith Joyner at the 1988 Olympics. She decided then and there to become an Olympian despite her family's socio-economic struggles in small-town Paso Robles, California. She learned team dynamics early from her sisters and managed to hold on to her dream despite periods of instability due to homelessness and her stepfather's violence. Lowe became a junior leader at the local recreation center and landed her first job at 12, allowing her to develop leadership skills that helped her on and off the field. She was further aided in her pursuits by Granny Booker, who opened her mind to new horizons, and Grandma Bea, who opened her home and heart to her granddaughter. Lowe's partnership with supportive coaches led her to the 2004 U.S. Olympic high jump team. Now a four-time Olympian and world record--holding female high jumper, Lowe's indomitable spirit and tenacity will engage and motivate young readers. The topics of diligently working toward long-term goals, familial loyalty, and self-mastery are clearly illustrated in this book. This memoir is organized in a manner that allows readers to experience the internal and external battles many Olympians face along their paths to victory. An inspiring read for aspiring athletes and other dreamers. (photo credits) (Nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.