Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/01/2022 Gr 8 Up—A winning look at the creation and legacy of a team that went from underdogs to unstoppable. Maraniss places the 1976 groundbreaking first American women's Olympic basketball team firmly in historical and political context, following the rise of basketball from its inception to the fluctuations of its popularity for women throughout the 1900s (corresponding to social norms about what was acceptably "ladylike") to the backlash, detractors, and misogyny that marked the Olympic team's rise to success. He keeps a close eye on the issues of politics and equity, the work and "whiteness" of second-wave feminism, Title IX, and important moments in civil rights movements. Interspersed throughout are biographies of pioneering women's players and visionary coaches working with no road map and big dreams. Most of these players, from small towns with struggling and underfunded basketball teams, faced seemingly insurmountable adversity, both as women and, for many of the players, as Black women. Perceptions and observations about their lives and their travels around the world illustrate these obstacles and the profound impact the players' tenacity would have on women's sports. Maraniss, a master of narrative nonfiction, creates an immersive and emotional story. The book is full of quotes from interviews and contains an abundance of black-and-white photographs. Back matter includes footnotes that add context and details, a list of interviews, bibliography, rosters, scores, a medal table, Olympic jersey numbers, and notable moments in U.S. women's sports history. VERDICT An inspirational look at remarkable athletes breaking boundaries. An exceptional read and an essential purchase.—Amanda MacGregor - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 09/01/2022 - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 09/01/2022 - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/01/2022 *Starred Review* Just in time to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX comes this inspiring, comprehensive look at the first U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team. Heading into the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, no one had high hopes for the underdog team. To help set the scene, Maraniss, an award-winning sportswriter, takes readers back to the early days of sports for women, when female athletes were deemed too delicate to run a full court length. This history is explained within a broader context of cultural attitudes toward women and women’s limited rights. After the 1972 passage of Title IX, which required equal opportunities for women and men in federally funded schools, the International Olympic Committee added women’s basketball to the 1976 games. Through many first-person stories, Maraniss offers detailed profiles of the relatively unknown players and coaches who would go on to become the heroic faces of women’s basketball and their training for the international stage, once again placing their feats in the context of systemic racism and sexism. Following exciting coverage of the Olympic competition, the author considers the team’s legacy and how their silver medals paved the way for more success in all women’s sports. Complementing the narrative nonfiction are period photos, extensive chapter notes, and a plethora of women’s basketball statistics. A triumphant account for any sports fan. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.