Overview Series - Sports in America - Hardcover

Flowers, Sarah

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1560061782 ISBN 13: 9781560061786

Publisher: Lucent Books, 1996

Synopsis

As a nation of sports enthusiasts, Americans are sometimes blind to the day-to-day realities of the sporting world. This exciting title takes a down-to-earth look at issues, including the uneasy alliance between college athletics and academics and the ongoing challenges facing minorities in the world of sports.

About this title

Review

"This book is certainly up-to-date, and presents in unbiased, well-reasoned discussion of the subject. There are copious notes and an equally list of books and other sources consulted, as well as contact information on organizations mentioned in the text."
-- School Library Journal (October 2001) (School Library Journal 20011001)

"Informative, forthright overview...attempts to be as objective as possible."
-- Booklist (Febraury 2002) (Booklist 20020201)

"Better than average, due to its organization, approach, and illustrations. The author takes a straightforward, informative approach, uncluttered by the authentic first-person narratives that frequently mark such books. Suggestions for further reading and help are appended."
-- School Library Journal (April 2001) (School Library Journal 20010401)

"In succinct prose and a forthright style, Strada gives teens an overview...Effortlessly blending personal comments with information...Although most of the testimonials are from older teens and adults, the simple language and tame black-and-white photographs seem to target a younger YA readership. Very simple charts may be useful to middle-graders...the book puts forward some interesting occasionally alarming data...Whether for younger or older readers, this in an unsensationalized, easy-to-understand overview that makes the core issues clear."
-- Booklist (March 2001) (Booklist 20010301)

"A book that looks at tough questions regarding cause and effect...Information is drawn from a wide, reputable assortment of sources, and from the representation of sides of the issues is fair...black-and-white photos, graphs, and cartoons are scattered throughout."
-- School Library Journal (March 2001) (School Library Journal 20010301)

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-8. In this volume in the Overview series, Flowers tackles hot-button issues related to sports. Beginning with the business end, she discusses salaries, endorsements, government financing of stadiums, and changes in game rules made to satisfy the demands of television. Subsequent chapters explore the conflict between education and sports for college athletes, racism and sexism in sports, and the rights of athletes to use steroids to promote strength. Each topic is lucidly explained, with different opinions presented on controversial issues such as random drug testing. A closing chapter weighs the costs and benefits of young children's participation in group sports. Highly readable, with well-chosen if somewhat murky photographs, this includes suggestions for further reading and a bibliography. Susan Dove Lempke

Edition details

• Publisher: Lucent Books
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1560061782
• ISBN 13: 9781560061786
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 80