Review by Booklist Review
Come-from-behind victory tales are always crowd-pleasers, but few are as deeply rooted in the heritage and traditions of its hero as this one. In 1964, Billy Mills, a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, was the first American to win gold in the Olympic 10,000-meter race. This biography describes his journey from being orphaned at a young age, through a residential Indian high school, into the Marine Corps, and finally to the Olympic finish line. The text is written simply enough for young readers to follow the narrative and describes not just the lead-up to a race but the life and community around and beyond that competition. Nelson's illustrations, modeled on the traditional ledger-style art of Lakota artists in the late 1800s, seamlessly weave past and present together and add depth to the text's description of Mills' connection to his ancestors. The result is a powerful depiction of Native experiences in the twentieth century. Endnotes provide details about Mills' life, Nelson's work as a Native artist, and additional resources.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Mills and author Bowman collaborate to write this autobiographical picture book about Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Olympian Billy Mills (b. 1938). Kicking off at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the work spools back in time to Mills's Pine Ridge Reservation childhood. After his mother's death, his father advises: "The pursuit of a dream will heal you. Do this and you could have wings of an eagle." After facing prejudice across the years and finishing college, marrying, and joining the U.S. Marines, fly he does, qualifying for the 1964 Olympics and winning gold. Recollecting text captures the feel of the times, the excitement of racing, and the courage behind reaching a long-cherished dream. Sioux artist Nelson's signature-style art offers extra polish to a title that's just right for anyone pursuing a lofty goal. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (July)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--As he steps up to the starting line of the 10,000 meter race of the 1964 Olympic Games, Billy Mills reflects on the hardships and challenges that he overcame to arrive at this moment. Growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation, the lands of the Oglala Lakota Nation in South Dakota, Mills is surrounded by the love of his family and community. Throughout his childhood, Mills encounters racist bullies, health challenges, discrimination from institutions, as well as the loss of his mother and father. Before Mills's father passes, he encouraged Mills to pursue his dreams. Back at the Tokyo Games, Mills keeps pace with the leaders before slipping a few spots--only to think of his father's words, which propel him to be the first American to win a gold medal in the 10,000 meter race. Returning to the reservation for a celebration after his victory, he is given a Lakota name and makes plans to share his thanks and blessings with his community through a Traditional Giveaway ceremony. The text beautifully blends the runner's experiences and memories with the excitement and significance of running and winning the race, perfectly complemented by Nelson's liquid acrylic illustrations that also feature strategic use of wing and eagle imagery. Extensive back matter includes illustrator's notes, accounts from Mills and additional facts about his life, and a list of achievements, dates, and sources. VERDICT An inspiring and detailed biography of strength in the face of adversity, and a highly recommended purchase.--Olivia Gorecke
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Born on the Oglala Lakota Nation's Pine Ridge Reservation and orphaned at a young age, a grieving Billy Mills focuses on his father's advice: "The pursuit of a dream will heal you." Mills's dream is to follow in the footsteps of Native athletes Jim Thorpe and Buster Charles. That dream takes him to the University of Kansas's track team and eventually the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Mills confronts racism and health challenges (he is hypoglycemic) at every turn, but his belief in his dream pushes him to overcome all obstacles. Mills becomes one of only two Indigenous American Olympic track-and-field gold medalists when he beats the odds and wins gold in the 10,000-meter event. Written in propulsive and inspiring first-person free verse, this picture-book autobiography is a celebration of Mills, his legacy, and the power of inspiration. Nelson's acrylic illustrations capture Mills's Lakota upbringing, athletic pursuits, determination, and Olympic triumphs with grace and kinetic energy. Sun-drenched pages feature symbolic textures that imbue the art with a visual representation of the ancestral support the text references throughout. Additional information about Mills's life and charitable work off the track, photographs, a timeline, and notes from the three creators complete this stunning package, an essential addition for all sports fans. Eric CarpenterNovember/December 2024 p.117 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Themes of overcoming adversity and of giving back beat steadily through this profile of the first American to win Olympic gold in the 10,000-meter race. Mills (Oglala Lakota) begins at the starting line in the 1964 Olympics, then rewinds to describe how pursuing a dream at the behest of his father carried him past challenges ranging from racial prejudice to sudden attacks of physical weakness--later diagnosed as hypoglycemia and borderline diabetes--to athletic excellence. Along the way to the finish line, he recalls ceremonies, particularly the Traditional Giveaway, in which powwow attendees give gifts to the community. He also remembers a college coach's belittling comment, his exclusion from a group photo of all-American athletes for being "dark-skinned," and the refusal of a corporate sponsor to give him a pair of running shoes at the '64 games. Returning in triumph to the Pine Ridge Reservation with a resolution to "share my thanks and blessings, / and to spread the wings of others," he went on, as part of his own giveaway, to found Running Strong for American Indian Youth, a nonprofit whose work is described in a closing photo spread. Along with stylized images of symbolic birds and wings, Nelson (Hunkpapa Lakota) surrounds the downcast but determined runner with groups of competitors or racially diverse community members and supporters. A more detailed biographical summary in the backmatter joins substantial personal statements from both the lead author and the illustrator. A strong, stirring tale of perseverance. (timeline, source list) (Picture-book biography. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
