Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams

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.

Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Published: 07/03/2018
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.10h x 11.30w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781481476843
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 6
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 195759 / Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2018
School Library Journal 06/01/2018 pg. 98
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2018
Booklist 06/01/2018 pg. 80
Publishers Weekly 06/18/2018
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2018 pg. 128
Shelf Awareness 07/03/2018
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2019 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style

About the Author
Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of many award-winning and critically acclaimed nonfiction books for young readers, including Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams; My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey; and Before She Was Harriet. She is also the author of the novel Finding Langston, which received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award and five starred reviews. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Learn more at LesaClineRansome.com

James E. Ransome's highly acclaimed illustrations for The Bell Rang, which he also authored, received the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include the Coretta Scott King winner The Creation; Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed's Barbershop; Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt; Before She Was Harriet, and Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award. He frequently collaborates with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome. One of their recent titles is Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams, which received four starred reviews and was an ALA Notable Children's Book. He lives in New York's Hudson River Valley region with his family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com.