First published 2017
Gregory Zuckerman profiles superstar athletes who transformed personal challenges into professional triumphs. Tim Howard received his Tourette Syndrome diagnosis in sixth grade but developed into Team USA's goalkeeper, delivering a legendary performance that kept America competitive during the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry heard coaches dismiss him as too small, weak, and slow for a college basketball scholarship, yet his relentless work ethic carried him to NBA MVP status. Jim Abbott entered the world without a right hand but refused to accept limitations, ultimately throwing a no-hitter in Major League Baseball. Zuckerman draws from direct interviews with these champions and others, showing how athletic competition provided the discipline and hope they needed to surpass their circumstances. The book demonstrates that perseverance and passion create pathways to success for young readers and sports enthusiasts.
Genres: sports, biography-memoir, inspirational, sports-romance
Vibes: emotional, inspirational, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-the-odds, underdog
256 pages · Paperback · Puffin Books