Mia Hamm FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature
For young soccer players, girls or boys, the photographs in this biography will be absolutely compelling. There are action shots on almost every page¾the glorious team hug when Mia scores her record 108th goal and quieter, exhilarating moments when she accepts an award or meets the president. There are tidbits about Mia's childhood—growing up on air force bases from California to Virginia to Italy, her adopted brother Garrett dying of a rare blood disease when he was only 28, her early power as a goal scorer. We even learn that Mia tried officiating at some youth soccer games but didn't like it because "she thought the players' parents yelled too much." Young readers, though, may be hungry to learn more about what really makes Mia tick—how she feels when she plays, what she enjoys doing besides playing soccer, what else is important to her in her life. The book is full of Mia's scoring tactics and successes, but it reads easily and quickly. There is a bibliography and an index, as well as contact information for several useful organizations, including The Marrow Foundation, which Mia supports in memory of her brother. 2001, Capstone Books, . Ages 8 to 14. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-Slight biographies that focus on the careers of sports standouts. Both books begin with comments on the athletes' current status and achievements in their respective sport. The narratives then trace each athlete's development and accomplishments from childhood to stardom. Limited personal information is related as well, and quotes are highlighted in gold. Both books paint positive pictures of their subjects but neither account brings its subject to life. In addition, readers would benefit from background knowledge on the sports since terms such as "five-goal shootout" and "par" are not explained in the texts or listed in the glossaries. Clear, full-page color photographs appear throughout the volumes. Statistics; career highlights; and lists of resources, Web sites, and related organizations conclude each volume. There are several other titles available on both of these athletes.-Janice C. Hayes, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreeboro Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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