Alta is the fastest runner in Clarksville, so an imminent visit to town by African American Olympian Wilma Rudolph could not be more exciting. But then Charmaine appears, sporting brand-new sneakers and an aura of confidence that rattles Alta. The girls challenge each other to a few races, each winning and losing, intensifying the competition. Soon enough, though, the competition turns to collaboration and friendship. The girls make one last dash, to Rudolph's welcome-home parade, where they collapse and observe, "There are flags. Bands. Noise. / Black faces. And white ones." Alta and Charmaine are inspired by Rudolph's athletic accomplishments, but her success, as Charmaine points out, includes the efforts of a relay team. What begins as a story of individualism expands to embrace the notion of teamwork and unification, bolstering Rudolph's influence on the girls and on history itself. Morrison's bold, expressive watercolors capture the flavor of the era (1960s) with a contemporary tone that will make this story feel strikingly current.

K-Gr 2 A story about teamwork and perseverance, this homage to the great Wilma Rudolph takes place in 1960 at about the time of the homecoming parade for the Olympian, which occurred in Clarksville, TNthe first integrated event in that town. Young Alta idolizes the great runner and practices her own gait using a rhythmic chant: "Wil-ma Ru-dolph." When she meets a girl with a competitive spirit and brand-new sneakers, Alta has to remind herself that Wilma Rudolph overcame obstacles greater than worn-out shoes. On the day of the parade, a banner that Alta is making is too bulky for one person to carry the whole way, and the new girl, Charmaine, offers a solutionthe girls and their friends run an Olympic-style relay to get the banner to the parade site on time. Morrison's full-bleed watercolor illustrations give an effective sense of time and place and render the characters movement well. An author's note provides brief biographical material emphasizing Rudolph's athletic achievements and her role in integrating her hometown. VERDICT A solid addition for large collections.— Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence, RI