Lewis Tewanima: Born to Run

by Sharon Solomon

Join an American Indian on his journey to the Olympics! As a young boy, Lewis Tewanima was forced from his Hopi village into a government boarding school, where he was prohibited from practicing his native language and traditions. He found that running was a way to bridge the gap between his Indian heritage and American culture, and his talent led him to the 1912 Olympics and a silver medal. Young readers will be inspired by this biography, just as his village was. To honor his life, a race is held in Second Mesa, Arizona, every Labor Day.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I was excited to read about a Native athlete that I hadn't heard of; someone tangentially related to Jim Thorpe and that era and the Carlisle Indian School, but lesser-known. However, this was full of stereotypes and generalizations and lack of explanations for things that really shouldn't go without context.

This includes sentences like "the Hopi people are very peace loving" and "Hopi are also very fast runners". Really? Are all white people gun-toting rednecks? Can all Black people dance? Just stop with all this crap. Race doesn't make someone peace-loving or a fast runner.

It also includes a quote from Lewis that says, "All Hopis run fast good. Me run fast good." I'm just gonna leave that there.

There is a newspaper quote where it was reported that Lewis "demonstrated the superiority of the red man as a foot runner". I get that this is a direct quote. But include context. Include commentary. This is a children's picture book biography. Say something about how that isn't okay. Talk about how this is the kind of prejudice that Native Americans had to face. Something. Anything.

Every time I look through this book, I find more and more that just makes me so sad that Lewis Tewanima wasn't given a decent biographical treatment here.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple picture book biography highlights an American Olympic runner. His life began Arizona with his Hopi tribe. He was sent to a boarding school in New Mexico and then to the Carlisle Indian School. (I would have loved more details about the Carlisle Indian School.)
In his life he went to the Olympics and ran in marathons in the United States as well as being inducted to the Arizona and American Indian Sports Halls of Fame. The book is illustrated by Lisa Fields. There is a timeline included.

A worthwhile addition to elementary school biography collections.

[Debbie Lodato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of all ages will love learning about the Hopi Indian culture and the struggles and accomplishments of Lewis Tawanima. The cultural diversity of this story will open the eyes of youngsters everywhere. This book is a home run and must read.

Debbie Lodato