MODULE 12: America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle

Genre:

Biography

Book Summary:

After nearly drowning in a pond, Gertrude’s father teaches her to swim and sets her on a path to greatness. Trudy went on to set 29 U.S. and world records and won three medals at the 1924 Olympics. She then set her sights on crossing the English Channel. When her first attempt failed, Trudy continued to train and completed the grueling challenge in 1926.

APA Reference of Book:

Adler, D. (2005). America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle. New York: Gulliver Books.

Impressions:

I had never heard of Gertrude Ederle before reading this book.  I loved reading about a strong, female role model, especially one from a period when strong, females were uncommon. Her perseverance and training for the Olympics and the English Channel swim is inspiring and I like that the author included the parts when Gertrude was chided for her efforts just because she was a woman. This did not discourage Gertrude, but made her work harder. It was also heartwarming to read about the support she received from her family, especially her sister who encouraged her throughout the English Channel swim. The colorful, art deco-like illustrations added to the overall feel of the time setting. Overall this is an excellent book to show girls that they can accomplish great things with hard work and perseverance.

Professional Review:

The team behind The Babe & I and Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man here abandons the baseball field for the chilly, choppy waters of the English Channel, which Ederle swam across in 1926. The first woman to accomplish this feat, Ederle also beat, by almost two hours, the existing men's record. Widener's stylized acrylic paintings again creatively evoke a bygone era, while Adler's direct yet descriptive narrative establishes the historical context. He notes that in 1906, the year of Ederle's birth, women in most states could not vote: "Many people felt that a woman's place was in the home," writes Adler. But Gertrude Ederle's place was in the water." Readers will warm to the heroine, a city kid who was taught how to swim only after she, at age seven, fell into a pond and nearly drowned. Text and art offer a compelling, in-depth account of the adult Ederle's crossing of the Channel, as she swam for more than 14 hours from Cape Gris-Nez, France, to Kingsdown, England, despite driving rain, strong winds, high waves, a powerful current--and her trainer's directive to quit. An exciting story, well told; kids will dive right in.

APA Reference of Professional Review:

Forecasts: Children's Books. (2000). Publishers Weekly, 247(10), 111.

Library Uses:

This could be used as part of a women’s study, more specifically women in sports. It could also be used to demonstrate the character trait of perseverance.

Readalikes:

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman, by David Diaz – After contracting polio, doctors said Wilma would never walk again but Wilma proved them wrong and went on to break records and earn three Olympic gold medals.

Women in Sports:  50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win, by Rachel Ignotofsky – A brief look at fifty extraordinary female athletes and their accomplishments.

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still, by Karlin Gray – Russian Nadia Comaneci made history at the 1976 Olympics earning seven perfect scores.