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No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer
The inspirational first person story of a young dog sled racer who had to overcome incredible odds to she is legally blindFor more than eleven years, twenty-one-year-old Rachael Scdoris has been guiding teams of sled dogs across jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, and desolate tundra at speeds exceeding twenty mph. Not only is Rachael the youngest athlete to ever complete a 500-mile sled dog race mile, but she is also legally blind and has been since birth.
Though she faced resistance from race organizers, Rachael finally achieved her goal of competing, with the aid of a visual interpreter, in the 2005 Iditarod Trail International Sled Dog Race across the wilds of Alaska.
No End in Sight is a story full of heartache and hope, challenge and courage-- and ultimately the triumph of dreaming big and working to make those dreams come true.
Though she faced resistance from race organizers, Rachael finally achieved her goal of competing, with the aid of a visual interpreter, in the 2005 Iditarod Trail International Sled Dog Race across the wilds of Alaska.
No End in Sight is a story full of heartache and hope, challenge and courage-- and ultimately the triumph of dreaming big and working to make those dreams come true.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 10, 2016
I found my 2005 edition of this book on a dealer's used book table in the plaza earlier this year. I could not find this exact edition in the GR database, though. All of the ones listed there have Scdoris herself as the author, but mine lists Rick Steber as author. Of course I was confused about that until I read the introduction, which was written by Scdoris. There she explains that she told her story to family friend Steber and asked him to write it for the world, which explained the mystery of my edition.
So now that credit has been given where it is due, what about the book? No End In Sight tells the inspiring story of a determined young woman who was born with severe visual impairment due to a rare condition called achromatopsia, a shortage of rods and cones in the retina. Due to this, she is considered legally blind....but from an early age she wanted to run dog sleds the way her father did, and her dream was always to participate in the famous Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska. We follow Rachael from 1985 when she was born to 2004 when she learned whether or not she would be allowed to compete in the race of her dreams.
In between we learn a lot about mushing dogs, bullying in school, loyalties of friends and family, and the power of a warrior spirit. The book was fast-paced and nearly un-put-down-able. I had to admire Rachael's toughness, not only for daring to dream, but for working so hard to try to make that dream come true. Not to mention coping with the shocking abusive treatment she was forced to endure in her school years. I was astonished to see how cruel other students were to her, and how little support she had from school administration, who should have taken control of the situation immediately and put a stop to it.
Some of the most exciting sections of the book involved being out on the trail with Rachael and her dogs, whether she was doing training runs or participating in organized races. The story of her first time running a sled solo brought a happy tear to my eye, as did the experience she had on her sixteenth birthday. The joy and love she has for her sport shines clearly on every page.
Two further comments about this book: 1. The very first chapter of my copy has many words underlined with their Spanish equivalents written above or in the margins. But after that first chapter, no marks at all. I'll always wonder if the person who used to own this book gave up trying to read it in English or understood all the words after that first chapter. And 2. After reading this book I am curious to see if I can ever find any other titles by Rick Steber, to see what his fiction stories are like. Someday!
So now that credit has been given where it is due, what about the book? No End In Sight tells the inspiring story of a determined young woman who was born with severe visual impairment due to a rare condition called achromatopsia, a shortage of rods and cones in the retina. Due to this, she is considered legally blind....but from an early age she wanted to run dog sleds the way her father did, and her dream was always to participate in the famous Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska. We follow Rachael from 1985 when she was born to 2004 when she learned whether or not she would be allowed to compete in the race of her dreams.
In between we learn a lot about mushing dogs, bullying in school, loyalties of friends and family, and the power of a warrior spirit. The book was fast-paced and nearly un-put-down-able. I had to admire Rachael's toughness, not only for daring to dream, but for working so hard to try to make that dream come true. Not to mention coping with the shocking abusive treatment she was forced to endure in her school years. I was astonished to see how cruel other students were to her, and how little support she had from school administration, who should have taken control of the situation immediately and put a stop to it.
Some of the most exciting sections of the book involved being out on the trail with Rachael and her dogs, whether she was doing training runs or participating in organized races. The story of her first time running a sled solo brought a happy tear to my eye, as did the experience she had on her sixteenth birthday. The joy and love she has for her sport shines clearly on every page.
Two further comments about this book: 1. The very first chapter of my copy has many words underlined with their Spanish equivalents written above or in the margins. But after that first chapter, no marks at all. I'll always wonder if the person who used to own this book gave up trying to read it in English or understood all the words after that first chapter. And 2. After reading this book I am curious to see if I can ever find any other titles by Rick Steber, to see what his fiction stories are like. Someday!
April 6, 2024
I may be a tad prejudiced as my son works for Rachael as a dog musher in Oregon, but I found this book fascinating and engrossing. I learned so much about the skill involved in racing and training dogs! I had no idea! I found it to be a riveting read. She is quite extraordinary. The conditions she endured coupled with her visual disability made me have to put the book down a few times and take a deep breath! I loved the descriptions of Alaska! I hope some of you will pick up the book and read it. It was well worth my time! I enjoyed it immensely!
September 7, 2016
As an eight year old legally blind girl, Rachael Scdoris decided that she wanted to be a sled dog musher and to run the Iditarod. She faced many challenges along the way but was determined to achieve her goal. Her story is inspiring and informative.
Written in a very simple way, the book seemed aimed to middle-schoolers. Not a great or memorable book, but maybe a good choice for a young child needing a dose of courage or inspiration.
Written in a very simple way, the book seemed aimed to middle-schoolers. Not a great or memorable book, but maybe a good choice for a young child needing a dose of courage or inspiration.
January 23, 2022
This ended up being a really interesting book about a legally blind girl/woman who grows up with her sled dog mushing father and sets a goal of running the Iditarod, which had never been done by someone who was legally blind before. The description of this book makes it sound like a typical “underdog overcoming obstacles” story, and while it is that, it’s a fascinating one. It never ceases to amaze me how unkind people can be, both kids and sled dog racing adults. This is an all around good book, only partly about dogs, mostly about overcoming adversity and how amazing the great outdoors is.
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April 26, 2024I enjoy reading about mushing, but this book is dated and at parts was a little slow. The ending is a bit sad, but you can tell how much of her heart and soul Scdoris pours into her dogs and this sport. It was interesting to look her up later and discover that she went back and participated in the Iditarod multiple times.
January 23, 2023
Ein schlechtes Buch über zwei gute Themen. Noch dazu ist das Buch von einem Coautor, dem Scdoris ihre Geschichte nur erzählt hat. Da ist es doch nicht zu viel erwartet, dass wenigstens der dazugeholte Autor schreiben kann! Trotzdem drei Sterne, weil es halt ein Buch über eine fast blinde Frau ist, die Hunderennen fährt, und das kann man gar nicht so schlecht erzählen, dass es nicht trotzdem interessant ist.
October 29, 2015
No End In Sight is a great inspirational story for children to read. I myself was given this book at the age of 12 and I loved it. It is true story about a girl named Rachael Scdoris who is blind. She is also a sled dog racer. It tells the journey off her overcoming her blindness and doing what she is passionate about regardless of her disability. I think this book would be considered a social issue because of her disability. It is hard to talk to children about disabilities because they usually cannot relate to them.
With the help of this book, children can have a different perspective about disabilities. They can realize that although someone may be different than them, they can still accomplish great things. Just because someone has a disability does not mean that someone cannot follow their dreams. This book is such a great example of that and especially so because it is based off of Rachael Scdoris's actual life. I think this book is a great way to introduce disabilities to children and makes it easier for adults to explain and talk to them about the topic. I think this is a great book and would recommend it to adults as well since it is very inspirational.
With the help of this book, children can have a different perspective about disabilities. They can realize that although someone may be different than them, they can still accomplish great things. Just because someone has a disability does not mean that someone cannot follow their dreams. This book is such a great example of that and especially so because it is based off of Rachael Scdoris's actual life. I think this book is a great way to introduce disabilities to children and makes it easier for adults to explain and talk to them about the topic. I think this is a great book and would recommend it to adults as well since it is very inspirational.
January 26, 2016
This book took me on an adventurous journey across the frozen Alaskan tundra. I enjoyed reading about the hardships Rachael faced for being a blind dog sled racer, and the way she overcame the many preconceptions others had of her. Throughout the book, she proves to be a force to be reckoned with and shows, even professional dog sled racers, that she can do anything she puts her mind to. Rachael and Rick also do a remarkable job incorporating the lifestyle of what it takes to be part of a dog sled team. I had no idea how much work, dedication, and persistence it takes to put together a reliable team of hardworking dogs. Despite Rachael’s visual limitations, both authors do a fantastic job describing the Alaskan scenery and each chapter is filled with imagery and figurative language. No End in Sight was a pleasure to read and anyone who is looking to go on an epic trek through the Iditarod trail should read it also.
June 7, 2013
I read this book in eighth grade, and I enjoyed it so much that I loaned it to my English teacher. It pains me that I never got it back. Six years later, I remember enjoying the story immensely and being thoroughly inspired. I would love to read it again.
February 3, 2022
So much to talk about in this book. First of all, she really loses me in the beginning for two reasons.
Number one is her hypocritical bashing of “political correctness” claiming she doesn’t care what people call her, but then lists names she doesn’t want to be called. She tries to take this “edgy” stance and be like “I’m not like other girls call me whatever you want!” Which is gross and harmful.
Then, she uses the r****d slur a few times when talking about another student in her grade with disabilities. And then never address why these words may be problematic and harmful?? Gross.
There’s also some hinted sexual assault from a classmate that is never really addressed or discussed as a problem and there wasn’t much of a solution discussed.
None of this is great message for middle grade readers.
It was also a lot of extra fluff in the book. Got boring a lot.
But I will end on a positive note. Rachael’s character, determination, passion, and focus is absolutely unmatched and incredible. I genuinely admire her willingness for success AND for making the right choices for her and her dogs. Honestly if she could revise the above mentions and clean up her writing, it would have been a wonderful story of grit and achievement!
Number one is her hypocritical bashing of “political correctness” claiming she doesn’t care what people call her, but then lists names she doesn’t want to be called. She tries to take this “edgy” stance and be like “I’m not like other girls call me whatever you want!” Which is gross and harmful.
Then, she uses the r****d slur a few times when talking about another student in her grade with disabilities. And then never address why these words may be problematic and harmful?? Gross.
There’s also some hinted sexual assault from a classmate that is never really addressed or discussed as a problem and there wasn’t much of a solution discussed.
None of this is great message for middle grade readers.
It was also a lot of extra fluff in the book. Got boring a lot.
But I will end on a positive note. Rachael’s character, determination, passion, and focus is absolutely unmatched and incredible. I genuinely admire her willingness for success AND for making the right choices for her and her dogs. Honestly if she could revise the above mentions and clean up her writing, it would have been a wonderful story of grit and achievement!
June 29, 2019
I tried really hard to get into this book because the story itself is just so amazing. To race the Iditarod is an endlessly impressive feat of endurance and bravery and insanity unto itself. To race the Iditarod with no sight seems to rest in the realm of impossibility, and yet it's been done. Rachael Scdoris has done it.
The problems for me with this book are two-fold: the writing itself and the organization, neither of which felt particularly well done or even appropriately finished before this book went to publication.
Scdoris didn't write the majority of the book. She told her story and that story was put to paper by Rick Steber (listed as co-author). It definitely seemed written for a much younger target audience than I'd imagined when I picked it up.
Ultimately, for me, the internal (dis)organization mirrored the jumbled thoughts of the narrator, and that disorganization was so distracting I jumped ship before I reached the end of the book.
[Two stars for potential, and for the inspiring athlete behind the book.]
The problems for me with this book are two-fold: the writing itself and the organization, neither of which felt particularly well done or even appropriately finished before this book went to publication.
Scdoris didn't write the majority of the book. She told her story and that story was put to paper by Rick Steber (listed as co-author). It definitely seemed written for a much younger target audience than I'd imagined when I picked it up.
Ultimately, for me, the internal (dis)organization mirrored the jumbled thoughts of the narrator, and that disorganization was so distracting I jumped ship before I reached the end of the book.
[Two stars for potential, and for the inspiring athlete behind the book.]
January 11, 2020
It was a compelling and easy to read book that makes one marvel about the fortitude of mushers! They are truly a rare breed. It was great to learn more about it and to learn of the challenges faced by a competitor, one who is legally blind. Scdoris was born the same year as me and it was great to learn about her athleticism and accomplishments!
January 31, 2019
Amazing story !!!
Amazing story of a courageous and brave young woman, overcoming all sorts of obstacles. She is an incredible inspiration to anyone who reads this book. I’m in awe of her spirit and will to succeed.
Amazing story of a courageous and brave young woman, overcoming all sorts of obstacles. She is an incredible inspiration to anyone who reads this book. I’m in awe of her spirit and will to succeed.
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March 9, 2022Enjoyment level: 3🌟
Writing Quality: 2.5🌟
A very intriguing story about the life of a truly inspiring woman. The writing wasn't my favorite, but definitely appreciated the window into Scdoris's life leading up to her running of the Iditarod.
Writing Quality: 2.5🌟
A very intriguing story about the life of a truly inspiring woman. The writing wasn't my favorite, but definitely appreciated the window into Scdoris's life leading up to her running of the Iditarod.
February 24, 2019
Such a great inspiring book. Easily draws you into the story.
March 10, 2019
Read about ten years ago, remembered flying through it and it being inspiring.... don’t let your disability get in the way.
January 9, 2020
A reader may be a bit disappointed by this ending of Rachel's story. Spoiler alert, she returned to run the iditarod and completed the race in 2006 and again in 2008.
January 16, 2013
Glossary of sled dog terms in back of book.. helpful to read before reading the rest of the book.
Some of the places she describes in the book are so big and beautiful sounding or big and dangerous that I find myself looking them up on Google Maps / Google Images to get a clearer picture of where we are since it is such a foreign landscape to me.
Reading the book and hearing the name dropping she does about people who support her or people she's met while making so little mention of her mom make me wonder about her relationship with her mom. Is her mom really that absent?
While Rachael likes to say that she sometimes runs her mouth off at reporters and has to ask them not to print some of her remarks, she also seems to run her mouth off at one particular reporter in the book, "If I ever run into Mr. Medred again I will ask him why he did not feel an obligation, or have the common courtesy, to introduce himself to me before he interviewed me, and I suppose I should apologize for having too much sight for a blind person." 223
My dogs run to please me and because it is fun for them. They are bred to run, but when running becomes a struggle they lose interest in a hurry. To motivate then I stopped often, gave them loves, and tried to pump a little enthusiasm back into their tired bodies. I let them know that, much like a long-distance runner on the track, they could push through this pain, and once they had their second wind everything would be better. I was animated and expressive in my gestures and with my words. I switched leaders often so uneccesary stress was not put on any one or two dogs. We were a team, and as a team we would get through this trying stretch of trail together. I handed out salmon treats, hot dogs, and beef fat. 251
Some of the places she describes in the book are so big and beautiful sounding or big and dangerous that I find myself looking them up on Google Maps / Google Images to get a clearer picture of where we are since it is such a foreign landscape to me.
Reading the book and hearing the name dropping she does about people who support her or people she's met while making so little mention of her mom make me wonder about her relationship with her mom. Is her mom really that absent?
While Rachael likes to say that she sometimes runs her mouth off at reporters and has to ask them not to print some of her remarks, she also seems to run her mouth off at one particular reporter in the book, "If I ever run into Mr. Medred again I will ask him why he did not feel an obligation, or have the common courtesy, to introduce himself to me before he interviewed me, and I suppose I should apologize for having too much sight for a blind person." 223
My dogs run to please me and because it is fun for them. They are bred to run, but when running becomes a struggle they lose interest in a hurry. To motivate then I stopped often, gave them loves, and tried to pump a little enthusiasm back into their tired bodies. I let them know that, much like a long-distance runner on the track, they could push through this pain, and once they had their second wind everything would be better. I was animated and expressive in my gestures and with my words. I switched leaders often so uneccesary stress was not put on any one or two dogs. We were a team, and as a team we would get through this trying stretch of trail together. I handed out salmon treats, hot dogs, and beef fat. 251
August 20, 2009
The exciting and inspirational story of Rachael Scdoris, a professional sled dog musher who happens to be legally blind. Scdoris tells of her childhood in Oregon, participating in track and cross-country in high school, and her life on the sled, starting when she was first allowed to drive a dog team at the age of ten up until she became the first legally blind person to run the Iditarod. Funny, fast-paced and all in all an excellent book. If you loved Touch The Top of the World by Erik Weihenmayer, you'll like this. Also recommended for any dog lovers.
September 7, 2009
From the beginning Rachael's life is one of hardship. However she lives her life according to her rules. She loves the outdoors and enjoys her father's sled dogs. As Rachael grows she decides she wants to learn to run with her dad's sled dogs. As her first run is described I felt that I was with her on that sled. This book is full of action as well as heart-felt sadness for the taunting she took as a child because of her visual impairment.
April 20, 2010
This was an okay book. There were quite a few spots where the book really slowed down. I also am not that big of a fan of biographies. I did think that the life of sled dog racer was interesting but it just didn't seem that well written. It seemed like in places there really wasn't enough detail to hold your interest and in other places there was too much information and it became drawn out. All in all I don't regret reading this book but I wouldn't recommend it.
July 24, 2018
This eye-opening autobiography was interesting and easy to read. I learned much about blindness and loved seeing the world from Rachael's point of view. My favorite chapters were the ones in which she described sledding with the dogs and the care she showed for each of them. Racheal is just a normal girl who works hard to overcome the challenges she faces. One that she will deal with forever is her blindness, but this does not define her, just as the challenges you meet do not define you.
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February 1, 2008A Memoir following the challenges a courageous and
tough blind girl met on her way to run the Iditarod. She had to fight for the right to use a ‘sight’ team to direct her when he limited sight failed her. I randomly found this book in the library and picked it up, it was interesting to read and I learned a lot about the ‘musher’ world.
tough blind girl met on her way to run the Iditarod. She had to fight for the right to use a ‘sight’ team to direct her when he limited sight failed her. I randomly found this book in the library and picked it up, it was interesting to read and I learned a lot about the ‘musher’ world.
December 10, 2007
meh. just. meh.
i only finished it because of my somewhat strange and not fully explored love of the iditarod.
but the book just wasn't well written, the voice was irritating, and it generally lacked.
that said, rachael scdoris, as are all serious mushers, is an amazing athlete.
i only finished it because of my somewhat strange and not fully explored love of the iditarod.
but the book just wasn't well written, the voice was irritating, and it generally lacked.
that said, rachael scdoris, as are all serious mushers, is an amazing athlete.
February 20, 2008
I am 2/3 the way through this book and really like it. The writing style is no nonsense; not fluffy or poetic, but Rachael's story is so inspiring, and at times heart-wrenching, that it is difficult to put down.
October 12, 2008
While the author isn't the most talented - this story captivated me. I found the ending really thought provoking. It's not your typical ending to a story about someone trying to succeed against the odds. I won't say anymore because I don't want give away the ending.
January 15, 2009
Rachel's story of going up against the odds is interesting, but she needed much more help than she got when writing her story. Too often it sounded like a high school essay. However, it was worth reading about how she never gave up even when everything was stacked against her.
March 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me interested the whole time. I've always wanted to try dog sledding, and reading this only fed that. Also it made me feel really lazy, so it's great motivation!
March 13, 2014
Fast, easy-to-read book. It was marked "teen" in my library but at 36, I didn't find it too annoyingly teeny-bopper-ish at all. My only gripe is that I wish there were more photos!
November 29, 2015
okay so far- about half way through. not the best writing, but an interesting story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews