Game, Set, Sisters!: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams

by Jay Leslie, Ebony Glenn (Illustrator)

Overview

A stirring picture book biography of Venus and Serena Williams that celebrates their achievements…and their sisterhood.

This is the story of two sisters…
who took the tennis world by storm,
who achieved everything possible in the sport…and then some,
and who stood by one another through thick and thin.

Featuring illustrations by Ebony Glenn, Jay Leslie's Game, Set, Sisters! The Story of Venus and Serena Williams tells the inspirational story of two of the most beloved athletes in history. It takes us from their beginnings on a crumbling Compton tennis court to their shining achievements on the most prestigious stages and shows us that despite being served the most challenging hardships in life—illness, family, loss, racism—Venus and Serena always continued to swing back stronger.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250831378
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	03/30/2021
Series:	Who Did It First?
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	29 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Jay Leslie graduated from Duke University with degrees in English, international comparative studies, and religion. After writing for Issa Rae Productions and being shortlisted for Chimamanda Adichie’s Farafina Trust, she co-authored a project on James Baldwin with Duke professor Dr. Adam Hollowell. She is also the author of Who Did It First? 50 Politicians, Activists, and Entrepreneurs Who Revolutionized the World. She lives in Berlin, Germany.

Ebony Glenn is the illustrator of Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins and Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles, among others. With a passion for great storytelling, she aspires to make art that will bring more beauty, wonder, and magic into people’s lives.

Jay Leslie graduated from Duke University with degrees in English, international comparative studies, and religion. After writing for Issa Rae Productions and being shortlisted for Chimamanda Adichie’s Farafina Trust, she co-authored a project on James Baldwin with Duke professor Dr. Adam Hollowell. She lives in Berlin, Germany.
Ebony Glenn is an Atlanta-based illustrator and proud recipient of the 2018 Wonders of Childhood Focus Fellowship. She has illustrated books including Brave Ballerina, Not Quite Snow White, and Mommy's Khimar.

Editorial Reviews

"A strong picture book choice that features engaging artwork and an inspirational narrative. Fans of Venus and Serena Williams will be familiar with the basics of the sisters’ background but will see the importance of their sisterly bond and how it helped them overcome obstacles." —School Library Journal

"An inspiring biography of athletes, friends, partners, and sisters." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

02/01/2021

Gr 2–4—Sisterhood is explored in this picture book biography of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. From their early days on the broken-down tennis courts in Compton, CA to their rise as superstars, these two sisters always had each other's backs. While the narrative explains the obstacles and successes they faced in their profession, the main focus is the strength of the bond between Venus and Serena and their three older sisters. This is a portrait of their relationship and how it impacted their lives as tennis players. The text provides an accessible introduction to the girls who became respected athletes. The colorful digital illustrations enhance the narrative structure of the text. VERDICT A strong picture book choice that features engaging artwork and an inspirational narrative. Fans of Venus and Serena Williams will be familiar with the basics of the sisters' background but will see the importance of their sisterly bond and how it helped them overcome obstacles.—V. Lynn Christiansen, Wiley International Studies Magnet Elem. Sch., Raleigh, NC

School Library Journal

2020-12-25
The latest book in the Who Did it First? series focuses on the lives of tennis-star sisters Venus and Serena Williams.

As one would expect, the book spotlights the tennis greats’ major successes and challenges in the sport, but it places an equal focus on the relationship among all the Williams sisters: Venus, Serena, Isha, Lyndrea, and the late Yetunde. Leslie moves through her account efficiently, enabling young readers to glean important information about the subjects without bogging them down in details. The book begins with their early days on the tennis court in Compton, California, and continues through 2016, when they opened the Yetunde Price Resource Center in honor of the oldest of the five sisters, who died due to gun violence. In chronicling Venus’ and Serena’s professional lives, the book does not shy away from the racism that the two faced from other players and tennis fans. Glenn’s illustrations represent the subjects well and capture the sisters’ signature beads and braids from their early years in the sport. The text falters a bit, failing to reveal why Venus refers to Serena as “Meeka,” nor does it locate geographically the Indian Wells tournament the sisters boycotted after receiving racist jeers. Dialogue is unsourced, but the backmatter includes a timeline and additional resources. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 56.3% of actual size.)

An inspiring biography of athletes, friends, partners, and sisters. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews