Ichiro Suzuki: A League of His Own

Gr 7 Up—The focus here is on athletes who have been totally devoted to their sports from a young age. Danica Patrick is kicked off her high school cheer team for missing too many practices while racing. Young Cristiano Ronaldo sneaks out of his parents' house to play soccer. Important life lessons are not sugarcoated. Ronda Rousey, for example, is berated by her mother after accepting praise for finishing second in a judo tournament at age 11. A significant portion of the text is devoted to description of competition, potentially a challenge for the uninitiated. Photographs are plentiful, typically action shots of athletes. Some volumes outline their subjects' charitable giving. Each volume includes a bibliography that emphasizes a wealth of online articles, most of them published within the last few years, as well as suggestions for further reading and a substantial index.