Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams

by Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome (Illustrator)

An ALA Notable Book

“Every page is splashed with vibrant color and eye-catching patterns, and the figures of the women themselves are full of energy, speed, and tension.” — Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Venus and Serena Williams are two of the greatest tennis players of all time. Some say they’re two of the greatest athletes of all time. Before they were world famous, they were little girls with big dreams.

Venus and Serena Williams. Two peas in a pod. Best friends. Sisters.

Six days a week they awoke before the sun came up to practice their serves and returns, to learn to run faster and hit harder. They were unstoppable. At age fourteen, Venus played her first professional match. Three years later, it was Serena’s turn. It wasn’t easy. Some tennis fans cheered for these two fresh faces, while those who were unhappy to see two black girls competing in a nearly all-white sport booed and taunted them. But they didn’t let it stop them.

With vibrant mixed media art, nonfiction superstars Lesa Cline-Ransome and Coretta Scott King Honor winner James E. Ransome share the inspirational story of two tennis legends who were fierce competitors on the courts, but close sisters above all.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Sports, Nonfiction, Childrens, Family, African American

48 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2018

Reviews

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Whatever you become, you become in your head first.” - Venus & Serena’s mother.

Winner of 2018 Eureka Silver Award for Excellence in Nonfiction (CA Reading Association).

Extremely well written with illustrations that are worthy of stopping to look at closely. The reader feels compelled to turn each page. On some pages, the illustrations (by the author’s husband) make the reader pause and think more carefully about the gravity of what the author is saying. Wow. They had to learn how to play tennis under those conditions? On other pages, the illustrations reveal the force and power of the sisters’ talent as well as the strong bond of these sisters. The author builds on these themes with quotes and descriptions of small moments like two sisters sitting in bed, looking out the window asking, “Do you really think I can do it?” and the father bringing in “busloads of neighborhood kids” to taunt the sisters so they wouldn’t be bothered by this during real tournaments.

Would read this aloud to grades 3-5. OR would offer this as a title for small groups to read and discuss. OR would book talk this and then leave in the classroom library to be snatched up.

If you're going to book talk this - I'd project the cover (with the title) and ask students to spend a few moments looking closely. You might ask, "What do you notice?" or "What is the illustrator trying to convey?" and "What do you think the title means?" You might also read aloud the page that starts with "By the time Venus was four she could hit five hundred tennis balls at every practice...At twelve, Venus announced she would win Wimbledon" (about page 13). And then ask, "Who wants to read to find out if she does?"

If you're going to read this aloud, I'd read aloud twice. Once for the joy of it. And then again (maybe during another lesson), stopping at particular points to ask questions for students to discuss in small groups like:
*What does "game changers" mean at this point in the story? (stop in three or four places)
*How does the author convey the idea of "team" as more than Venus and Serena? (Dad and mom were supportive in numerous ways...stop at point where this is apparent)
*How does the illustrator convey the difference between the courts in Compton and the courts in professional matches? (Including the people watching) Why is this important to consider?
*If you just looked at the illustrations on each of the pages that includes both sisters, what would you learn about them?
*How do the author and illustrator convey the theme of perseverance? Friendship? Team?

Students can also choose one of these questions (that jumps out at them as important) to respond to with their own illustration and written response.

So much potential!!! I'd also read aloud or share a second and third source on these sisters and their relationship. A book on my list to read is Sisters and Champions by Howard Bryant. Oh! And don't skip looking closely at the end covers and reading the author's note at the end. The author's note might even be a "second source" to read aloud and ask, "What did I just add to my learning?"

I'd PARTNER THIS BOOK WITH TITLES LIKE-
*Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Gonzales, 2019)
*Billie Jean! How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports (Rockliff, 2019)
*Trudy's Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World by Storm (Macy, 2017)
*Her Fearless Run: Kathrine Switer's Historic Boston Marathon (Chaffee, 2019)
*Yusra Swims (Abery, 2020)

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book about the Williams sisters. It details their childhood and the challenges they have overcome to accomplish great success in their tennis careers and in other aspects of their lives.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely picture book biography that shares the lives of Venus and Serena Williams. When they were children, the neighborhood laughed at their father for dreaming big for his daughters. But he wasn’t about to give up — both he and his wife got on the courts with their daughters and worked with them. The girls ran track to improve their speed while practicing ballet to improve flexibility. And I was surprised to learn their father bused in loads of neighborhood kids to taunt the sisters while they practiced, purposefully asking them to say mean things to build up the sisters’ emotional skin.

“Nothing can keep me from celebrating when my best friend wins a match.”
-Venus Williams

It’s clear to see that, while highly competitive with one another, they were also the very best of friends. It brought tears to my eyes to read about the time Venus sprinted off the court and up into the stands to grab her camera and capture Serena’s victory against her. What excellent examples of athletic dedication AND human character!

The artwork in this book was rendered in cut paper, pencil, and acrylic paints.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about time that the story of these two talented African-American athletes and groundbreaking women was told, and it seems as though 2018 was the year for that to happen. i'm not sure what took so long for publishers to realize that their story was gold, but this one describes their formative years and some of the challenges the sisters had to overcome on the way to becoming world class tennis champions. The lively text and the illustrations, created with cut paper, pencil, and acrylics, draw readers' attention to the sisters' story, making it clear that while winning mattered, it wasn't everything. Above all, the girls were sisters, and even when they competed against each other, they never forgot that, being quick to celebrate the other one's victories. The images are filled with motion and power and rely on bright, eye-catching colors that highlight the physicality of these women as well as the uniqueness of their beaded hairdos. Pair this one with Howard Bryant's Sisters and Champions for two different approaches to the same story. I like them both, and can certainly see many young girls and boys drawing inspiration from the story of the Williams sisters. This is a must-have for a classroom library.

[Lisa Yee Swope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Serena. Venus too, but especially Serena. This picture book illustrates them as kids and growing up with nontraditional training in an area where their practice sessions start with sweeping the courts to get the trash and broken glass out of the way. And the illustrations' fabrics and patterns are snips of textured paper that show movement and tell story.

[Raina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book biography of the two sisters is expertly written and illustrated. Both the words and design illustrate the successes of Venus and Serena, how they supported each other through those successes (and losses), and how racial and cultural barriers can be broken. I love that the story is relevant to a young audience, but doesn't try to minimize the struggles they faced either.

[Mel Raschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book about sisters tremendous bond.

[Nathan Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered where Serena Williams or Venus got their start? I certainly did,
which is why I read this book. The book starts off with two young girls waking up before dawn 6
days a week to practice how to play tennis on the courts of East Compton. These two girls are
Serena and Venus Williams. Tennis soon became their life and so they trained hard to achieve
their dreams. Venus, being three years older, first gained recognition by winning all her junior
matches by 10, with Serena following suit. Both girls became top 50 within 3 years of going
professional. Tennis fans were split between those that cheered on the two sisters and those
that hated seeing two black girls in a predominantly all white sport. Will the two sisters
persevere, or will the taunting and booing get to them? One of the major themes in this book is
the idea of being able to achieve your dreams through hard work. Throughout the book it is
evident that both sisters put in an enormous amount of work training to get better at tennis, as
their goal is to become the top tennis players. If I were going to read this book to children, I
could teach them that if you really set your mind to a goal and put in the effort, your dreams can
come true. I could also teach them not to disrespect others based on how they look, such as
how Venus and Serena were treated during their pro matches. This book was a WOW book for
me for several reasons. One of which had to do with the writing. The author did a fantastic job
writing this book in a way that children can understand while also being very informative and
entertaining to both children and adults. The art style was also unique – I don’t think I’ve seen
anything similar before. Overall, it’s a fantastically written book that tells a beautiful true story.
Some of the writing craft techniques that the author used in this book were the pacing
and the portrayal of the father. The pacing of the story truly tied it together and allowed for a
very well-paced story, which is difficult sometimes given this is a biography. The words the
father said and how he was described made him feel very fatherly and that he truly cared for his
family. I would consider this book to be an example of an anti-bias book because it shows the
story of two black girls overcoming adversity and entering a predominantly white sport. Although the characters within the book show bias, this does not make the book bias.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams is a biographical children's picture book written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome. It is centered on two African-American sisters who became superstars in the predominantly white sport of tennis.

Venus Ebony Starr Williams and Serena Jameka Williams are American professional tennis players and sisters are considered the best in their field.

Cline-Ransome's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Cline-Ransome conveys the sisters' affection and competitiveness, emphasizing how Serena remained one step behind Venus until the 2002 French Open, when a victorious Serena stepped out of the shadow of her sister. Backmatter includes a bibliography, further readings, and notes. Ransome's sophisticated portraiture captures a likeness of the two athletes, while spreads feature playfully stylized cut-paper collage accents.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Growing up in Los Angeles, Venus and Serena Williams played tennis in the courts of East Compton Park, where neighborhood gunshots sometimes interrupted their practice. It follows their move onto professional courts, where they drew attention for their raw talent and expressive styles, as well as their unfortunate treatment by some watchers, who threatened, booed, and taunted the sisters for their skin tone.

All in all, Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams is a solid introduction for young sports fans.

[deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtfully and sharply written look at the Williams sisters rise to fame, stopping pretty much after Serena's win against Venus at the Grand Slam Cup (there is a two page afterword that bulletpoints later life events and some of their other work). This book does a great job at illustrating the difficulties and prejudice the sisters faced, as well as how they supported each other throughout their whole careers. The artwork is also super lovely: it's a beautiful mixed media style of fabrics and patterned paper that fits well with the story. I think even younger readers who aren't sports fans will still enjoy reading this!

[Liz B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting picture book about the Williams sisters and how they became so awesome.

[Ashley Fulkerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book partially because I have grown up watching Serena and Venus and looked up to them while I was playing tennis. One thing that I thought was cool about the book was that the front cover shows Serena and Venus facing each other because they are each other’s biggest competition. The back over, shows them playing doubles together which shows how they are each other’s biggest supporters. This is a great story of overcoming adversity and working hard to achieve your dreams. I would recommend this book to people who need a boost in confidence if they aren’t believing in themselves.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this children's biography of the Williams sisters. Unfortunately, for me I didn't like the illustrations at all.

[Msbossy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a moving biography of the Williams sisters. It tells their lives in chronological order, starting with their childhoods in Compton, where they and their father got creative with drills because they couldn't afford fancy equipment or trainers, and where their father hired neighborhood kids to surround them and yell out the nastiest names and phrases they could so that the girls would be able to handle any of the ugly racism spewed at them in their professional careers.

I enjoyed how the author portrayed their relationship and celebrated their sisterhood. This was a triumphant story of two women, both very hard workers, who were each other's biggest fans and greatest competition.

[Sue Hodara · Rating 5 out of 5]

In six words: "...tennis ambitions and a Compton address..."

But this book goes well beyond biographical facts--it delves into the relationship of the Williams sisters: as sisters, teammates, opponents, and champions.

Cline-Ransome engages us with juxtaposing details of the women: "Only on the court were they different. There Serena was as strong as Venus was fast. Venus was as gracious as Serena was aggressive."

Ransome's artwork (as these are way beyond picture book illustrations) compels us to take another look, again and again...

This is a wonderful read for any student or tennis fan.

[Taylor Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venus and Serena Williams are close sisters who stick together through everything, especially tennis lessons at a young age. They loved tennis so much, they would practice before the sun ever came out in the morning. Their dad made sure that they played as much tennis as possible, but that dream quickly became Venus and Serena’s dream. They would watch tennis on television and by a very young age, they were playing in tournaments... and winning! The Williams’ sisters became well known. They changed the tennis game with their unique style and powerful ambition. The sisters became professionals and traveled the world together. This also meant that the sisters had to play each other, but they never got jealous or upset. They stayed best friends and partners throughout life and tennis.

This book was very interesting! I really enjoyed it. When non-fiction books are interesting, it's a win win for the teacher reading the book and the students listening to the book. The illustrations were also awesome. They were abstract, yet the reader could make out what the picture was clearly.

I would use this book in my classroom to integrate diversity into reading time. This would be my first incentive for the book. This book is also the perfect non-fiction book to read in the classroom. The illustrations are engaging, the audience is for young readers, and the entire book is engaging. Books like this get students interested in reading, so I would read this book aloud with my students or this could be a book that would be apart of non-fiction time. Studies show that on average a student reads non-fiction books only four minutes a day. Studies also show that reading non-fiction builds background knowledge "which itself accounts for as much as 33 percent of the variance in student achievement" (Marzano, 2000). Students need to hear or read non-fiction daily. After hearing this research, it would be cool to have "free reads" where the students were only aloud to read non-fiction on some days. So, I would use this book to read aloud to build background knowledge or as a non-fiction free read selection.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Game Changers is a nonfiction text depicting the life of Venus and Serena Williams, two well known tennis superstars. The girls grew up not having the best conditions to practice in or the best equipment to practice with, but that did not stop them. The girls trained with what they had while ducking for cover when they heard gun fire in the neighborhood. Through the struggles and discrimination they faced both girls competed to the best of their abilities, until they became ranked 1st and 2nd in the nation. As many siblings know it can be hard to live the in shadow of the elder, but for these girls even when one won over the other or the other way around they accepted and appreciated the success of their sister. These girls have become tennis legends, but have remained close sisters above all the competitions.

Evaluation: While listening to this book being read aloud to the class, I thought that the set up of this text was brilliant. By utilizing a nonfiction narrative approach, the author is able to tell the story of the sisters’ lives in a way that some students can relate to. The text includes all of the facts of their lives, but in an interesting, story-telling like way. The illustrations provided are created of fabrics and patterns or textured paper provide a colorful, depiction of the sister’s lives as well, enhancing the words telling their story.

Teaching Idea: I would suggest using this text in all grades. It can be used as a read aloud or for research purposes when discussing role models. This can also be a great conversation or inspirational piece about sports appreciation. A teacher could also suggest this text to students who are interested in sports, particularly tennis, to read for fun.

[Sydney Chassion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
This was a non-fictional story of two sisters who loved to play tennis. They began playing when they were young, and trained up until they played professionally. They were women of color, so they were pushed by their father to endure anything, and always stick up for one another. When they became well-enough known, they began playing against one another. Through wins and losses, they always cheered each other on.

Evaluation:
This was a great book for character building and learning about relentless encouragement. I appreciated the flow of the story, focusing on the character of the girls rather than their circumstance or race. The author really made an effort to show strength and courage between two sisters, and their relationship was inspiring. Overall, I would definitely add this book to my classroom library.

Application:
This book really focused on character and the building up of others. I think the best classroom application of this book would be a classroom community building type of activity. I would read this story, and then talk about how as a class we are a family, and we have to stick up for our family members (even if we don't always get along) at all times. Then, I think just as the father trained them with how to fight against anger and harsh words, I would train them in situations where they would stick up for each other - perhaps simulating potential bullying instances or mean things other people could shout at their family members, then having them stand up for each other.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The childhood of Venus and Serena is told in this picture book biography. As the youngest of the Williams children, they started playing tennis alongside their older sisters. Then they became the two who continued on. Growing up in Compton made their practices more challenging, including sometimes having to stay down when guns were fired in the neighborhood. The two remained dedicated to their sport, quickly climbing the ranks and becoming ranked players. Trained from a young age to ignore the taunts from the crowd, the two of them became two of the best players of all time, both in doubles and singles. There has been drama when the two sisters had to play one another in tournaments and still they showed a joy in one another’s accomplishments even when they were the loser.

A look at two girls who shared their father’s dreams for them, putting in the hard work, showing resilience and silencing critics. The book focuses on Venus and Serena themselves and also on the way that they have supported one another through wins and losses, staying close and being true sisters. The illustrations are exceptional works of collage that have strong colors and graphic elements that pop on the page. Small touches add interesting details, like the girls’ socks being made from paper with words and lines.

Beautiful, strong and inspiring, this look at two modern legends is a pleasure. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

[Taylor Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
This book is about the inspirational tennis playing sisters, Serena and Venus Williams. It discusses how they grew up and how much they practiced playing tennis until they started playing in professional matches. When the sisters played in these matches, they would cheer one another on. It discusses the heart ache they felt when they lost, and also the perseverance they developed in order to continue on and to win. The sisters had to play each other in matches, but they were always humble since their main loyalty was to one another.

Evaluation:
This was such a good book to read. I have always heard about Serena Williams and how she was a tennis player, but did not know much about her until I read this book. This book reminded me to keep on pursuing my dreams no matter how long it may take.

Teaching Idea:
Since many students will be playing sports, this book would be a good one to help engage those who think reading is boring. The teacher will want to have a list of people to research. Each student will be assigned a sports person that is well known. The student will be assigned particular things to research at home. For example, where they grew up, did they go to college, what did they do before becoming a professional sports player. The student will then come to school dressed up as that person and the other students would guess who he/she is.

[Bailey Towles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the life story of how Venus and Serena Williams grew up. When they were very young, they started having tennis lessons everyday. Once they got a little older they started playing in professional tennis tournaments. Serena played in her very first professional tennis tournament at age sixteen. Now they are two of the best professional women tennis players in the world with many victories in professional tennis tournaments.

I rated this book five stars because it was a very detailed book about two respected tennis idols. I also love to play tennis and loved watching Venus and Serena growing up. This book was very engaging as well. I have never done research about how they grew up, so it was interesting to me.

I think this would be a great book to read to a fifth grade class during black history month. I would first play a video clip of Venus and Serena playing each other in a major tennis tournament and ask the students if they know who those two ladies are. Once we talk about them for a little bit, I will ask the students to write down questions they have about the players. I will have them write their questions of sticky notes. Then I will read this book to the class to see if their questions were answered in the book. Also, since this book is a little longer, I might split this book into two days.

[Madison Fender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
This story is about the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena. This book is an inspirational piece as you watch these two girls who lived in a rough area change their fate by waking up early to practice and to never giving up. These sisters were always competing against one another and they always wanted to be better than the other. They started their careers young and over time they become the best women in tennis.

Teaching point:
This would be a great story to use to teach your students about a biography. This is a great example because it is a great story itself but also teaches you the true story of these sisters and how they changed their fate. You can teach the students that there are multiple forms of biographies and you could show them different ones just so they understand the differences between the two. I think that this was a good example because it got the students attention and also allowed them to learn more about the people.

Evaluation:
I LOVED this book. I loved it because I have grown up watching the Williams sisters and I knew that they had a rough life but I liked hearing about it as a story. I think that there needs to be more biographies written for kids like this because it gets them interested in the topic. When I was a kid, I hated reading about people because they were so boring and I felt like I never got anything out of them. Fantastic book!

[Jennifer Luczynski]

Possible Content would be History or Physical Education
The Fiction Book would be A Magical Racquet Ride: Journey to the Four Grand Slam Tournaments of Tennis A Magical Racquet Ride: Journey to the Four Grand Slam Tournaments of Tennis (this book is also in my nonfiction twin text shelf)
I choose A Magical Racquet Ride: Journey to the Four Grand Slam Tournaments of Tennis because Game Changers is all about how Venus and Serena Williams became tennis superstars. A Magical Racquet Ride: Journey to the Four Grand Slam Tournaments of Tennis is about a set of twins who go flying to different tennis events on magical racquets. The Magical Ride also is written by a famous tennis player to help make the magical book realistic, plus the book is more manageable because it is actually written in rhyme. I would use a Venn Diagram because it can help find the similarities between both books about tennis but also what is different between the books. With A Magical Racquet Ride: Journey to the Four Grand Slam Tournaments of Tennis being written by Marissa Irvin Gould who has also played so many tennis Tournaments verse Venus and Serena's story.

[Lisa W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gr 3–5—This lovingly crafted picture book biography centers on the incredible bond between Venus and Serena Williams and one of their signature accomplishments: being the first two sisters in tennis history to rank numbers one and two in the world. Beginning with their early childhood, Cline-Ransome highlights the siblings' hard work and dedication to each other and their goals. From pre-dawn practices as preschoolers in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, to Serena's first victory over Venus in the 2002 French Open nearly 20 years later, this story of their single-minded focus and unwavering family support will inspire readers to achieve greatness regardless of the odds. The collage artwork, done in cut paper, pencil, and acrylic paints, is expansive and filled with vibrant colors and emotions. Fans of tennis will be in for a treat as Cline-Ransome recounts the Williams's matches with thrilling detail. This powerful narrative will most appeal to independent readers. Back matter includes an afterword that chronicles the duo's accomplishments and challenges from 2002 to 2011. VERDICT An important selection for biography and sports collections.—Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, Oak Bluffs, MA

[Kilee Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This story is about two sisters growing up in a rough part of town. To stay out of trouble their dad made them play tennis. They became really good at it and started playing in matches and tournaments. Then, they had to play each other. When one sister won, the other supported the other just like siblings should, with grace. The girls grew up to play in the largest matches in the world and have won a few as well. They truly are the best in the game ranking number 1 and 2 all the time.

Evaluation: I loved this book. The pictures were abstract and creative. It clearly showed the sisters and their childhood as well as their hard work and passion they put into their favorite sport. I would suggest this book to anyone who read it. The author made this biography more interesting to read and enjoy.

Lesson: A lesson I would have for this would be to talk about autobiographies and biographies. This would be an example of a biography because the two sisters, Venus and Serena, did not write this book. I think that the students would love to listen to the grit the girls had to endure. It also brings in some culture to the classroom.

[Emma Leake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
This book is a book about the lives of Venus and Serena Williams. The author talks about their childhood and how they grew up in an area that was not very safe. Their dad began to teach them tennis to have them do something productive, and they became famous tennis players by the time they were teenagers. Venus always scored higher than Serena, and once Serena finally over ranked Venus, they celebrated as champions and as sisters.

Evaluation:
I absolutely loved this book. I am a fan of Venus and Serena Williams, and it was really interesting to read about their childhood and how they became such great tennis players. People always wonder how celebrities become famous and where they came from, and this book was a great representation of that.

Teaching Idea:
I would definitely include this book into my classroom library. I think that students would really enjoy this book because it has to do with sports, which is relatable, and the illustrations are very appealing to the eye. This book would be a great read aloud to teach reading strategies to students, and it would be enjoyable for students as well.

[Dest · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is really sooooooo much to say about legendary tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams. So what I admired about this book is the focus on the relationship between the two of them: "two peas in a pod, best friends... as close as two sisters could be." I think VENUS & SERENA would have been a more apt title than GAME CHANGERS.

This is a story of hard work and humble beginnings. They had to sweep the court free of trash before they could practice. They learned ballet, ran track, made up their own drills, all in the pursuit of being better tennis players. Their neighborhood had a lot of gang violence and they could sometimes hear gunfire during their practice sessions.

The craziest thing I learned from this book is that their dad "brought in busloads of neighborhood kids to surround the practice courts as they played... and paid each and every one to hurl the worst words his daughters might hear during their matches." He kind of vaccinated them against the harassment they would face from racist tennis fans.

This is a great picture book distillation of the Williams sisters' early careers and their strong bond.

[Cintia Argueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book five stars because I felt that it was an empowering book. I believe that it can help minorities feel empowered and capable of doing things. It was very interesting to see how they started off and where their hard work left them too. It is not too often siblings are known as some of the best in a sport.

This book goes through Serena and Venus growing up. They both played tennis but growing up Venus was better than Serena. They both worked really hard to get to where they are today. Eventually, Serena was able to beat her sister and become the best. The book also talks about some of the discrimination that they went through and how they overcame those challenges.

I could use this book in teaching a comprehension strategy. The strategy that I could use is questioning as I know that many students would have a lot of question about the sisters and would want to know how they become some of the greatest tennis players. They can ask questions before, during and after the reading which will also help them understand the book that they are reading.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 2019 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee, Game-Changers tells the inspirational story of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams using the frame of family first. It was family who first gave the girls the dream of succeeding in all things, including tennis. It was family who first supported them when some people claimed that black girls from a crime-ridden neighborhood should not be on tennis courts. And throughout the rise to world-wide #1 status, it was family that allowed the women to be both teammates and opponents. I find it so appropriate that a husband-wife team wrote/illustrated a book emphasizing the sister relationship as it provides biographical information to elementary-aged readers on two important athletes. James E. Ransome’s cut paper, pencil and acrylic illustrations give this work a place in art classrooms for any grade. Highly recommended.