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Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports
“Ann McCallum Staats has written an uplifting book profiling a handful of extraordinary women whose example proves that nothing can or should hold women back. These women push the boundaries of what was believed possible, achieving the impossible.” —Milbry Polk, author of Women of Discovery, and member of the Explorers Club board of directors Encompassing a diverse selection of women in extreme and unique sports, this book shares the stories of bold and daring thrill-seekers What is the allure of the extreme? Who are the women who seek out and excel at sports outside the conventional, such as cave diving, wingsuit flying, or Formula 1 racing? This collection of adventure dynamos is as fascinating as it is empowering. Thrill Seekers introduces readers to a diverse and fascinating selection of women whose determination, grit, and courage have propelled each of them into a life far from the sidelines. Each chapter introduces readers to modern role models and leaders, change-makers who opt into a life of risk—but one of astonishing rewards. Inspire young people to approach life with the same bold resolve. Women of Power . Bold books to inspire bold moves. Thrill Seekers is the debut title in the new Women of Power series. Women of Power is a timely, inclusive, international, modern biography series that profiles 15 diverse, modern women who are changing the world in their field while empowering others to follow their dreams.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published March 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
Ann McCallum Staats
13 books22 followersA former educator with a master's degree in education, Ann McCallum Staats is an award-winning author. Her book "Fantastic Flora: The World's Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants" (Candlewick/ MIT Kids Press) shares how some of the weirdest plants survive and thrive. She is also the co-author with astronaut Karen Nyberg of "A Quilt of Stars," releasing Fall, 2026. When she's not writing, Ann travels, mentors, and connects with audiences. Find out more at www.annmccallumbooks.com or on Instagram @annmsbooks or other social media.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 15, 2021
I am fortunate to have been connected with Ann McCallum Staats through a friend and received an e-arc of this book coming March 2nd, very soon! You can visit Ann on her web page to view all her books. I haven't read many but enjoyed Women Heroes of the US Army, one that celebrates women of that part of our history.
This newest book by Ann celebrates women today as you can see from the title. They are making history right now! I was amazed and constantly in awe as I read through Ann's stories of each of these women. I've ordered a copy for myself so I can pass it on to my granddaughters who are both athletic and will love reading of girls who've grown to women as they achieve in sports what few others have done.
Ann divides the fifteen into five parts: "Maximum Sky", "Extreme Ocean", "Radical Rides", Epic Ice and Snow", and "Adrenaline Earth". Each one digs deep into the lives, from first childhood adventuring through discovering their passion (and talent) which lies in the path of achievement through hard work and persistence. Each time I also enjoyed seeing the help given along the journey from family, friends, and coaches.
It's not easy to explain just how much Ann has included in these stories. Within each one, there is the focus on the one woman, the 'thrill-seeker', but along with the sport that woman is learning about and practicing and achieving, Ann also includes the facts "behind" it. For example, Melanie Curtis started with skydiving. She was familiar with it because her father ran a drop zone ("a designated place where divers land"), yet she hadn't really decided to do the first jump until she was eighteen. In this piece, added to Melanie's journey to one of the women who gathered other women to break the world record for the largest female VES formation, are facts about safety, a piece about "Parachuting Pioneers", "How a Parachute Works", and "Different Dives". The combination of each woman's history and of the sport itself creates a fascinating story every time!
Notes I made as I read: There is good advice in every chapter, like "Competition is as much a mental game as it was about performing well physically." from Julia Marino in "The Art of Snowboarding". In Lizzie Armanto's experience of snowboarding, she shows how to push away negative thoughts when thinking about a challenge: "Am I making it bigger and harder than it is?"
Ann inspires with her own words in the Introduction: "What do you long to do? Three, two, one! Go for it!"
You will find an Afterword, Acknowledgments, and Endnotes at the back.
Need more inspiration? Look for a video of Ann herself skydiving!
This will be great to read aloud at least some of the chapters to show the excitement in every sport, the challenges, and the rewards! After conversations, let the kids read more themselves. If you have a class, you'll need more than one copy!
Thank you, Ann, for this special new book!
This newest book by Ann celebrates women today as you can see from the title. They are making history right now! I was amazed and constantly in awe as I read through Ann's stories of each of these women. I've ordered a copy for myself so I can pass it on to my granddaughters who are both athletic and will love reading of girls who've grown to women as they achieve in sports what few others have done.
Ann divides the fifteen into five parts: "Maximum Sky", "Extreme Ocean", "Radical Rides", Epic Ice and Snow", and "Adrenaline Earth". Each one digs deep into the lives, from first childhood adventuring through discovering their passion (and talent) which lies in the path of achievement through hard work and persistence. Each time I also enjoyed seeing the help given along the journey from family, friends, and coaches.
It's not easy to explain just how much Ann has included in these stories. Within each one, there is the focus on the one woman, the 'thrill-seeker', but along with the sport that woman is learning about and practicing and achieving, Ann also includes the facts "behind" it. For example, Melanie Curtis started with skydiving. She was familiar with it because her father ran a drop zone ("a designated place where divers land"), yet she hadn't really decided to do the first jump until she was eighteen. In this piece, added to Melanie's journey to one of the women who gathered other women to break the world record for the largest female VES formation, are facts about safety, a piece about "Parachuting Pioneers", "How a Parachute Works", and "Different Dives". The combination of each woman's history and of the sport itself creates a fascinating story every time!
Notes I made as I read: There is good advice in every chapter, like "Competition is as much a mental game as it was about performing well physically." from Julia Marino in "The Art of Snowboarding". In Lizzie Armanto's experience of snowboarding, she shows how to push away negative thoughts when thinking about a challenge: "Am I making it bigger and harder than it is?"
Ann inspires with her own words in the Introduction: "What do you long to do? Three, two, one! Go for it!"
You will find an Afterword, Acknowledgments, and Endnotes at the back.
Need more inspiration? Look for a video of Ann herself skydiving!
This will be great to read aloud at least some of the chapters to show the excitement in every sport, the challenges, and the rewards! After conversations, let the kids read more themselves. If you have a class, you'll need more than one copy!
Thank you, Ann, for this special new book!
March 10, 2021
This well written and researched book profiles 15 women involved in exciting and unconventional sports. Readers will experience the thrill of these women from various backgrounds and circumstances accomplishing their dreams and overcoming many obstacles to get there.Readers will be placed right in the action as each profile unfolds. An inspiring book for any adventure loving kids and adults!
September 8, 2022
WOW. Wingsuits. Go-Karts. Formula One racing. Surfboards. These women are incredible!
The first reason to recommend this book to our middle school students - Staats' SUPERB WRITING. Her writing has a flow to it that makes it easy for our students to immerse themselves in the sensory details of these women's experiences. (Reading aloud one of the chapters would be easy, too.) Sidebars with additional information about the history of the extreme sport or the physics/mechanics of the sport are quick and accessible.
The second reason - the women featured are young, strong, still active in their sports, and part of an inclusive group with members from all over the world (from all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds). Staats includes instagram, twitter, facebook, and youtube connections at the end of each the chapter on each woman.
The third reason - the BIG IDEAS in this book. "I don't need easy. I just need possible" - quotes like these are included and the details Staats includes leave a lot of room for readers to draw conclusions about the courage, perseverance and resourcefulness of these women.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Note - The layout and design of this book is very simple. Nothing fancy and no photos. I was a little hesitant when I saw this but Staats' writing is so good. With a good book talk (read the first page from the chapters about Roberta Mancino, Bethany Hamilton, or Sneha Sharma), students will pick this up.
I've noted this on my review of other titles in this series and feel like it's worth mentioning again. While the authors of each title in this series have included an inclusive group of women to spotlight, the editors at Chicago Review Press have not developed an inclusive group of authors for this series. Just something to note and watch for as new titles emerge.
The first reason to recommend this book to our middle school students - Staats' SUPERB WRITING. Her writing has a flow to it that makes it easy for our students to immerse themselves in the sensory details of these women's experiences. (Reading aloud one of the chapters would be easy, too.) Sidebars with additional information about the history of the extreme sport or the physics/mechanics of the sport are quick and accessible.
The second reason - the women featured are young, strong, still active in their sports, and part of an inclusive group with members from all over the world (from all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds). Staats includes instagram, twitter, facebook, and youtube connections at the end of each the chapter on each woman.
The third reason - the BIG IDEAS in this book. "I don't need easy. I just need possible" - quotes like these are included and the details Staats includes leave a lot of room for readers to draw conclusions about the courage, perseverance and resourcefulness of these women.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Note - The layout and design of this book is very simple. Nothing fancy and no photos. I was a little hesitant when I saw this but Staats' writing is so good. With a good book talk (read the first page from the chapters about Roberta Mancino, Bethany Hamilton, or Sneha Sharma), students will pick this up.
I've noted this on my review of other titles in this series and feel like it's worth mentioning again. While the authors of each title in this series have included an inclusive group of women to spotlight, the editors at Chicago Review Press have not developed an inclusive group of authors for this series. Just something to note and watch for as new titles emerge.
April 5, 2021
Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports (Women of Power)
by Ann McCallum Staats
What a book! This book is an inspiration for readers of all ages about the remarkable achievements of some incredibly daring young women. The “sports” covered include a wide range from “flying like a superhero” and surfboarding to race car driving. Aside from reading the stories of some incredibly talented and daring women, I enjoyed the layout of the book. The sidebars (shaded boxes) provided valuable backstory details and insights into the individual sports, the “how-to’s” of the sport featured. It was an easy and fun way to learn “the story behind the story.” The athletes, these thrill seekers, had this in common—a dedication to their sport which they pursued with singular focus. They assembled teams, trained, ensured that proper safety measures were in place, trained some more, and then pursued their goal. Inspirational! Strong points include the meticulous research and variety of sports represented. As a retired middle school and high school English teacher, I strongly recommend this book for classroom use. Extra points for being of high interest to both male and female students.
by Ann McCallum Staats
What a book! This book is an inspiration for readers of all ages about the remarkable achievements of some incredibly daring young women. The “sports” covered include a wide range from “flying like a superhero” and surfboarding to race car driving. Aside from reading the stories of some incredibly talented and daring women, I enjoyed the layout of the book. The sidebars (shaded boxes) provided valuable backstory details and insights into the individual sports, the “how-to’s” of the sport featured. It was an easy and fun way to learn “the story behind the story.” The athletes, these thrill seekers, had this in common—a dedication to their sport which they pursued with singular focus. They assembled teams, trained, ensured that proper safety measures were in place, trained some more, and then pursued their goal. Inspirational! Strong points include the meticulous research and variety of sports represented. As a retired middle school and high school English teacher, I strongly recommend this book for classroom use. Extra points for being of high interest to both male and female students.
November 18, 2021
These were a lot of fun! The author managed to interview most of the women, so the chapters have a personal touch, describing a variety of women and the crazy sports they enjoy. (Note -- I'm a complete couch potato, so all sports seem crazy, not just formula-1 racing and parkour and stuff.)
We get their introductions to the sport, particular challenges and inspirations, and even a few failures along the way. It ends with encouragement to readers to follow their heart if they want to try similar feats, and then a short section for notes -- mostly private interviews but Staats also uses various news reports.
We get their introductions to the sport, particular challenges and inspirations, and even a few failures along the way. It ends with encouragement to readers to follow their heart if they want to try similar feats, and then a short section for notes -- mostly private interviews but Staats also uses various news reports.
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April 18, 2022Don't let the "women" in the title fool you. Anyone who loves the X Games, aerial sports, or pushing the limits of physics will connect with this book. The short chapters are great, and the self-contained stories allow readers to move through the book in any way they choose. I also like how it is separated into the various sports arenas (sky, sea, land).
Read more in the full review.
Read more in the full review.
February 25, 2023
After reading and enjoying HIGH FLYERS, I couldn’t wait to dive into THRILL SEEKERS. This book introduces readers to 15 women who have embraced extreme sports and have found success through hard work and determination. I like how each chapter focuses on one woman’s story, making it easy to read in small chunks. In addition to learning about how each woman got started and the challenges they faced along the way, Ann McCallam Staats includes sidebars with interesting facts about each sport, the equipment needed, or other related topics. Ann is a compelling storyteller with a gift for drawing her reader in. Though I don’t think I’ll take up iceberg diving or racecar driving anytime soon, this book left me feeling inspired and empowered to chase my own dreams. I highly recommend this for young thrill seekers and nonfiction readers!
January 14, 2023
What a fantastic book. Well-researched, relevant, and engaging, this has to be one of my favorite informational texts I've read. Each chapter profiles a woman in an extreme sport- from wingsuits to skateboarding, deep sea diving and mountaineering, every chapter is full of info about the athlete and the sport. This is written in a narrative style l, outlining each woman's journey to success and relationship with the sport. Informational text-boxes pepper the chapters and every chapter ends with a reflection from the athlete- on strength, grit, diversity in athletics, etc.
It's written for a YA audience, but I learned so much as an adult reader.
It's written for a YA audience, but I learned so much as an adult reader.
April 18, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed reading about these amazing women and what they accomplish. Especially love the informative sections added to explain things like Hypothermia and the apex predator of the Arctic, the polar bear. There’s just so much to learn in each part: how scuba divers communicate under the water, mountain biking lingo, or about climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. If you want to learn more about each extreme athlete links are provided to connect to their media accounts.
Great read for all!
Great read for all!
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January 21, 2021Booklist review to come.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews