Not Playing by the Rules

This powerful and inspiring collection features 21 female trailblazers in their sport, perfect for fans of Women in Sports and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls!

Before girls wore pants or women were permitted to swim in bathing suits at public beaches, who paved the way for women in sports? And who's breaking new ground today?

This anthology introduces 21 trailblazing women who have broken through the boundaries set for female athletes. From basketball slam-dunker Lisa Leslie to tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, whose father had onlookers jeer and taunt the girls as they practiced, to Paralympian Tatyana McFadden, who was a speed demon even at her Russian orphanage before she was adopted, to Olympic gold medalist Elthelda Bleibtry, who was led off to jail when she shed her shoes and stockings to swim in public, Not Playing by the Rules inspires, informs, and illustrates the strength, determination and accomplishments of women athletes both yesterday and today.

With powerful photographs and hand-lettered, inspirational quotes from the athletes themselves, this is a collection every young girl should own.

The featured athletes include: Ethelda Bleibtry; Bobbi Gibb; Althea Gibson; Gabby Douglas; Flo Hyman; Lisa Leslie; Mia Hamm; Tatyana McFadden; Mo'ne Davis; Ibtihaji Muhammad; Diana Golden; Constance Applebee; Lizzie Arlington; Babe Didrikson; Alice Coachman; Joy Johnson; Nancy Lieberman; Nadia Comaneci; Venus and Serena Williams; and Yusra Mardini.