A Team of Their Own: How an International Sisterhood Made Olympic History

by Seth Berkman, Jackie Chung (Read by)

Overview

A December Stephen Curry Book Club Pick

One of ESPN’s 25 Can’t Miss Books of 2019

“A feel-good story.”—New York Times Book Review

“This isn’t simply a sports book. Rather, it’s a book about inspiring and courageous women who just happened to be hockey players.”—Korea Times

The inspiring, unlikely story of the American, Canadian, South Korean and even North Korean women who joined together to form Korea’s first Olympic ice hockey team.

Two weeks before the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics, South Korea’s women’s hockey team was forced into a predicament that no president, ambassador or general had been able to resolve in the sixty-five years since the end of the Korean War. Against all odds, the group of young women were able to bring North and South Korea closer than ever before.

The team was built for this moment. They had been brought together from across the globe and from a wide variety of backgrounds—concert pianist, actress, high school student, convenience store worker—to make history. Now the special kinship they had developed would guide them through the biggest challenge of their careers. Suddenly thrust into an international spotlight, they showed the powerful meaning of what a unified Korea could resemble.

In A Team of Their Own, Seth Berkman goes behind the scenes to tell the story of these young women as they became a team amid immense political pressure and personal turmoil, and ultimately gained worldwide acceptance on a journey that encapsulates the truest meanings of sport and family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982645083
Publisher:	Hanover Square Press
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 5.80(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Born in Seoul and raised in New Jersey, Seth Berkman made his first trip back to South Korea since his adoption during the 2018 Winter Olympics, when Korea's first women's Olympic hockey team made their historic debut. Berkman met the team while on assignment for theNew York Times, where he has been a regular contributor since 2012. A graduate of Columbia University Journalism School, he has also had work published by The New Yorker and dozens of other local and national outlets.

Table of Contents

A Note on Style 11

Prologue 13

Part 1 17

Chapter 1 Atlas Shrugs 19

Chapter 2 Not Like Hannah 28

Chapter 3 Phishing for Talent 39

Chapter 4 Seoul Sisters 51

Chapter 5 The Junger 60

Chapter 6 The Hen Crows 71

Chapter 7 The Coach with the Blue Eyes 84

Chapter 8 Babos 100

Chapter 9 The Boy Crying Wolf 111

Chapter 10 Boss-Ass Bitches 127

Chapter 11 Be Who You Are 141

Chapter 12 Under Pressure 156

Chapter 13 Lost and Found 167

Part 2 183

Chapter 14 The Slap Shot Heard Round the World 185

Chapter 15 Suffering or in Joy, to the Love of Country 198

Chapter 16 Family 212

Chapter 17 Comrades 230

Chapter 18 One Step at a Time 238

Chapter 19 A Spotlight Stolen 251

Chapter 20 Unified No More 260

Chapter 21 Make Korea Proud 267

Chapter 22 Becca 281

Chapter 23 The Miracle Office 291

Chapter 24 A Foggy Road 304

Chapter 25 Evolution 314

Chapter 26 One Body 324

Chapter 27 Nothing Else Matters 335

Acknowledgments 351

Notes 355

Index 367

Editorial Reviews

Berkman…was given unfettered access by South Korea's Canadian coach, Sarah Murray. That unique behind-the-scenes opportunity shows in Berkman's clear storytelling, but his passion for the subject is also clear…Berkman weaves the players' back stories into a larger examination of culture and identity, and of women who yearned for respect as elite athletes when their sports system made it challenging for women to succeed.

The New York Times Book Review - Juliet Macur

07/08/2019

In this entertaining history, New York Times journalist Berkman follows the South Korean women’s national hockey team for the year leading up to the 2018 Olympics. Losing games by as much as 29-0, the squad was a nonentity on the international scene. But thanks to American coach Sarah Murray and the addition of North American “imports” of Korean descent (such as Marissa Brandt, a Korean adoptee who grew up playing hockey in Minnesota, and Grace Lee, whose family immigrated to the U.S.), the team won their division at the World Championship and were poised to be a surprise contender at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018. But then the South Korean government unified the team with the North Korean team just weeks before the games were to begin. Adding players with less skill and distinct cultural differences threatened to derail the team, but, Berkman notes, the players bonded and made it work. The author shines at describing the roller-coaster ride through the Olympics, during which the unified Korean team scored one of their only two goals of the tournament against Japan (“No matter how far North and South drifted apart... few activities brought them closer than rooting against Japan”). Berkman unveils a great story of women’s hockey that’s sure to thrill those rooting for the underdog. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"A feel-good story." —New York Times Book Review
“Berkman, a New York Times contributor who was born in Seoul and raised in New Jersey, does a fantastic job of providing historical context and capturing the tremendous sacrifices made by the players as well as the passion they shared for the sport. Readers will find themselves cheering for a team who began as political pawns but who ultimately showed the world the Olympic spirit in action, despite losing every game they played. A must-have for its slice of its Olympic history and its portrait of Korean culture.” —Booklist (starred review)

“This poignant story showcases the bonds of friendship over Olympic glory and will appeal to fans of women’s sports and anyone who has experienced the special kinship that comes from being part of a team.” —Library Journal

“In this entertaining history, New York Times journalist Berkman follows the South Korean women’s national hockey team for the year leading up to the 2018 Olympics… The author shines at describing the roller-coaster ride through the Olympics, during which the unified Korean team scored one of their only two goals of the tournament against Japan… Berkman unveils a great story of women’s hockey that’s sure to thrill those rooting for the underdog.” —Publishers Weekly

“A well-written, impassioned story of sports, friendship, and determination.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This isn’t simply a sports book. Rather, it’s a book about inspiring and courageous women who just happened to be hockey players.” —Korea Times

“Berkman has the seasoned sportswriter's keen observational skills and gripping storytelling ability, combined with elegant, witty prose and a lot of heart.” —Euny Hong, author of The Birth of Korean Cool

“Seth Berkman’s A Team of Their Own is a lively, crisply written rollercoaster of a book that tells the story of the women of South Korea’s hockey team in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.” —Michael Breen, author of The New Koreans

“Yes, the sport is often compared broadly to war. But what, specifically, does it have to do with geopolitics, grandstanding politicians, nuclear weapons, Kim Jong-un and three-quarters of a century of national division? To find out, read this impressively detailed account of the unified Korean women’s ice hockey team and its starring role at the 2018 Winter Olympics.” —Bradley K. Martin, prizewinning author of Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty

"A poignant story of identity and belonging that resonates far beyond the world of elite women's hockey." —Alice Stephens, author of Famous Adopted People


“Seth Berkman expertly weaves these details and histories of the players into a captivating tale that documents disparate player histories, backgrounds and races that culminated in the historic melding of players from North and South Korea into a unified team that captured global attention as dignitaries from the north and south attended the games.” -Minneapolis Star Tribune


"Berkman crafts a moving account of women speaking up, leveraging their platform, and questioning the status quo that feels particularly apt in 2019."
—Dat Winning

“This is a gripping and emotional read. I learned so much about hockey, the Koreas, and the struggles women athletes face across the globe. Seth Berkman introduces you to the young women in his story with empathy and care. It’s a classic tale of underdogs giving their all for the sport that they love…I’m ready to see the major motion picture. (Can someone get on that?)” —Hannah Jewell, author of She Caused a Riot

"This was a fascinating read about passion, dedication, and sacrifice. The hard work of the women of the South Korean women's national hockey team highlighted the lengths people are willing to go to pursue a dream. The dream of playing in the 2018 Winter Olympics drove these young women to push their bodies and their minds in extreme ways as they trained through injuries, adjusted career goals and college plans, challenged their familiar expectations, and pushed through preconceived notions about one another. Berkman helps the reader get to know each unique player showing how these very different women came together for a common goal, truly defining what makes a team. The bonds of the team are greatly challenged when, two weeks before the Olympics, government officials and the International Olympic Committee informed the women of the South Korean team that they'd have to make space for players for North Korea to join, forming a Unified women's hockey team. After years of training together, the makeup of the team was shifted dramatically, but the players overcame this challenge as they had so many others, by bolstering one another up, opening their hearts and arms, and focusing on being the best players they could be. I finished the book with a new understanding of life in South Korea and feeling inspired and moved by the powers of openness, dedication, and goodwill." —Becca Anderson, author of The Book of Awesome Women

From the Publisher

Narrator Jackie Chung gives voice to the incredible story of how, despite decades of enmity, the two Koreas joined together to create their first female Olympic ice hockey team. In Korea, women’s hockey was at best ignored, at worst, ridiculed. In hopes of putting together a team that could succeed in the 2018 Olympics, women of Korean background were gathered from multiple countries to form a highly skilled team for South Korea. Just two weeks before the Olympic opening ceremonies, South Korea was told they’d be sharing their team roster with North Korean skaters. Chung skillfully lends her talents to describing how the team accomplished what ambassadors had been unable to, getting both sides to communicate and play fairly. There’s plenty of technical information about playing hockey, as well. V.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2019 - AudioFile

Narrator Jackie Chung gives voice to the incredible story of how, despite decades of enmity, the two Koreas joined together to create their first female Olympic ice hockey team. In Korea, women’s hockey was at best ignored, at worst, ridiculed. In hopes of putting together a team that could succeed in the 2018 Olympics, women of Korean background were gathered from multiple countries to form a highly skilled team for South Korea. Just two weeks before the Olympic opening ceremonies, South Korea was told they’d be sharing their team roster with North Korean skaters. Chung skillfully lends her talents to describing how the team accomplished what ambassadors had been unable to, getting both sides to communicate and play fairly. There’s plenty of technical information about playing hockey, as well. V.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2019 - AudioFile

2019-07-31
A tale of unlikely friendships and camaraderie forged through ice hockey.

Just before the opening of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, the South Korean women's ice hockey team became the only team to include North Koreans on its roster. The Unified team fought hard on the ice, but their opponents proved too strong, and the team lost each of their matches. Nonetheless, they won the hearts of Koreans from both sides as well as those from countries around the world. In this feel-good tale of women athletes suddenly placed in the international spotlight, New York Times contributor Berkman takes readers behind the scenes of the South Korean team. He shows each player's immense passion for a sport that was often not considered suitable for young women. He discusses the American and Canadian Koreans, or "imports," who were brought in to bolster the team prior to the games and the impact they had on the South Koreans. He shares each woman's hopes, dreams, and determination to play despite the odds and sacrifices each needed to make, including using old equipment and practicing at late hours due to lack of funds and support from sponsors. "Prior to South Korea being named the host of the 2018 Olympics," writes the author, "a majority of the women's team felt that [the Korean Ice Hockey Association] never really cared about them to begin with. Even before the Games, they earned just $50 a day." In addition to exploring the gender discrimination at play, Berkman weaves in bits of history about the two Koreas and their hostilities toward Japan. Ultimately, what shines through is the women's passion for their sport and the bonds they forged on and off the ice, alliances that cross an array of boundaries.

A well-written, impassioned story of sports, friendship, and determination.

Kirkus Reviews