Stout, who honed his sports writing under the pseudonym Matt Christopher, delivers an engaging nonfiction work about women athletes. He profiles Trudy Ederle, who swam the English Channel in 1926; African Americans Louise Stokes and Tiyde Pickett, of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin; Kentucky Derby jockey Julie Krone; and Danica Patrick, of the Indy-car circuit. Although the triumphs of these women are heartening, it is actually their troubles that comprise the real moral lessons. During their fleeting Olympic careers, Pickett falls during her last hurdle event while Stokes is bumped from her heat by white runners. Krone struggles with her parents' divorce and failing grades as a teenager before discovering her aptitude with horses. Stout points out that these women are heroic not only because they achieved great things but because of their fortitude in the face of hardship. An inspiring read for anyone who has been told that she can't, shouldn't, or won't do something because she is a girl.

In sports, just as in every other endeavor, women have had to struggle to be accepted, let alone recognized—same as it ever was. Stout profiles five women who pioneered their gender's place in sports theretofore the exclusive preserve of males. It might have been nearly a century ago, as in the case of swimmer Gertrude Ederle, who swam the English Channel in 1926, and Louise Stokes and Tidye Pickett, America's first African-American women in the Olympic games (in 1932 and in Berlin's notorious 1936 venue). More recent pioneers include the jockey Julie Krone, who won the Belmont Stakes in 1993, and Danica Patrick, who won an Indy-car race in 2008. Stout tells their stories with bubbly enthusiasm, exploring the roots of their interest and ably conveying the joy they found in their respective endeavors. Despite the high level of their achievements, he draws them as natural talents, not as freaks of nature. There is much here of perseverance and courage, of training and sacrifice, but what Stout zeroes in on is a moment of triumph, whether it be a checkered flag or breaking the color barrier. Never patronizing, he captures both grit and glory in a fast-paced package that goes down easy even as it inspires. (Collective biography. 9-12)

The second book in Stout's Good Sports series (following 2010's Baseball Heroes) profiles five women athletes who, as Stout writes in his introduction, "refused to be told what they could and could not do." In chapters devoted to swimmer Trudy Ederle, runners Louise Stokes and Tidye Pickett, jockey Julie Krone, and Indy car driver Danica Patrick, Stout covers each woman's hard work, setbacks, and triumphs without minimizing the challenges and disappointments along the way (Stokes, one of the first two African-American Olympians, never got to compete during the Games, and success on the track proved elusive for Patrick). Accessible and inspirational. Ages 9-12. (Apr.)

Gr 4-6 This is an excellent source for inspiration, with good examples of people following their dreams. The five athletes included came from various backgrounds and time periods: Gertrude Ederle, swimming star of the 1920s; Louise Stokes and Tidye Pickett, track stars of the 1930s; Julie Krone, successful jockey in the 1980s; and Danica Patrick, winning Indy car racer in the 2000s. Each woman had her own battles to win and obstacles to conquer along the way. Important mentors and influences are cited. Through descriptive detail, Stout has a way of making readers feel as though they are actually in the water or on the muddy racetrack, etc. He makes each tale exciting and suspensefuleven for children who may know the outcome. An extensive "Sources and Further Reading" section includes a reference to fYouTube videos of the races of Krone and Patrick. While all subjects other than Stokes and Pickett have had several individual biographies written about them, this book is a unique collection about five inspiring female athletesand it is a sure winner. A black-and-white photo of each woman in included.— Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI