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Epic Athletes
Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan
Kicking off his new series of sports biographies for young readers, journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring true life story of a US Women's Soccer star in Epic Alex Morgan .
Featuring graphic-style illustrations by Cory Thomas!
Fierce competitor. World Cup winner. Role model.
U.S. Women's Soccer star Alex Morgan has earned each of these impressive titles throughout her incredible career. As a young girl growing up in Southern California, she dreamed of being a professional soccer player, fighting to compete on the international stage against the world's greatest athletes. Flash forward to the present and Alex Morgan has emerged as the face of U.S. Women's soccer, famous for her clutch, late-game goals, and an inspiration to kids across the country.
Bestselling author Dan Wetzel details the rise of an American champion in this uplifting biography for young readers, complete with dynamic comic-style illustrations.
Praise for Epic Athletes
* "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." ― Booklist , starred review for Epic Stephen Curry
Featuring graphic-style illustrations by Cory Thomas!
Fierce competitor. World Cup winner. Role model.
U.S. Women's Soccer star Alex Morgan has earned each of these impressive titles throughout her incredible career. As a young girl growing up in Southern California, she dreamed of being a professional soccer player, fighting to compete on the international stage against the world's greatest athletes. Flash forward to the present and Alex Morgan has emerged as the face of U.S. Women's soccer, famous for her clutch, late-game goals, and an inspiration to kids across the country.
Bestselling author Dan Wetzel details the rise of an American champion in this uplifting biography for young readers, complete with dynamic comic-style illustrations.
Praise for Epic Athletes
* "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." ― Booklist , starred review for Epic Stephen Curry
160 pages, Hardcover
Published May 14, 2019
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30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 9, 2019
Inspiring and nicely paced biography that doesn't overwhelm the reader by tackling too much info at a time. Wetzel begins in chapter one by describing an "epic" moment in a 2012 London Olympics game between the US Women's National Soccer team and Canada's team. While being introduced to Alex Morgan, the reader is immediately drawn in to the intensity of the game and the moment –
"They fought for 123 minutes. They fought through ninety minutes of regulation. They fought through thirty minutes of extra time. And now they were fighting both exhaustion and each other in the third minute of stoppage time…" p. 1
After this introduction, Wetzel moves back in time to Alex Morgan’s childhood. The narrative – filled with statistics, artful descriptions of key plays in Morgan’s career, and quotes from sources—is well written, clearly designed for a middle grade (even middle school) audience. Wetzel seems to assume that the reader will have some understanding of soccer (there’s not explanation of the game, rules, no visuals of the field’s layout with labels, etc.) but the reader can easily make inferences – if they have just the tiniest bit of knowledge about athletic games even.
Wetzel does not just recount major events in Morgan’s life, though. Instead he weaves in THEMES that run throughout the book.
• The respect players have for other players – on their team and not on their team.
• The tenacity (“persistence in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired” per Merriam Webster online) a superstar athlete like Morgan must practice to reach the top.
• That “playing like Morgan” or “playing like a girl” means giving the sport your best.
• That the journey to the top of a sport is long, frequently arduous and laiden with obstacles, but with persistence one can overcome obstacles, learn from those obstacles, be better as a result.
• A soccer team has 21 players not just a star player; a team plays as a “unit” not just to help the star player.
• There’s always room to grow as an athlete (or learner of any kind).
• There is value in good sportsmanship.
• The meaning of being a team player – working at being accepted, leading, helping, mentoring…
A MISSING COMPONENT (but not a deal breaker and this is only my point of view) – Wetzel does not include an author’s note about his research for this book. I wondered if he had a chance to interview Morgan, if he relied primarily on interviews of others, and about the sources he used to develop his ideas for the book. I also wonder if Morgan endorsed this book – if she had a chance to read the manuscript and provide feedback. There's also not a list of quote credits and no acknowledgments. In an age where we are encouraging students to check their sources for accuracy and authority – I think this would have been helpful. For now, we just have to assume Wetzel has some expertise as a result of career as a sports columnist which includes being honored by the Associated Sports Press Editors. I’d encourage student-readers to reach out to him for more info on his research methods maybe via Twitter.
SUGGESTIONS FOR BOOK TALKING & BEYOND (grades 3-5 and striving readers in grades 6-8) –
• Read aloud the first paragraph of the book – that might be enough.
• Share a quick video clip of Alex Morgan playing.
• Ask if anyone watched the World Cup game last summer (2019)
• Buy 4-5 copies of this book and form a book club. Pose questions related to the themes or provide quotes for students to discuss (or ask them to locate a quote).
• Ask students to write a response to their favorite quote or to write about how this book has more than on theme...
Lots of quotes in the book that are worthy of contemplating as a student-reader thinks about the book as a whole –
• Alex Morgan – “It is something we were taught from a young age because we respect the women’s team at such a high level. We respect the women for making the journey. Sportsmanship is important because they fought just as much to get to where they are. I think it’s important to shake hands after the game. I think it’s important to shake the referee’s hand. It’s just part of sports in general. Winning is what drives all athletes but it is not what defines us.” – p. 100
• Abby Wambach, professional soccer player (now retired), about Alex Morgan – “I like to think of Alex as kind of the kid that has the world in front of her and is literally running at it with every step she takes, every shot she takes, every goal she scores.” – p. 104
• Alex Morgan on her team winning - “We were such a unit and we leaned on each other when we needed to.” P. 109
• Julie Foudy, ESPN broadcaster – “There is more to a team than just a superstar, though. The thing a lot of young players miss is they see a superstar and they think, ‘Well, I am not a superstar so I can’t be successful at this level.’ But what I think is more important is that you are a great teammate. Because people are so focused on goals and results. People don’t hear about it, but Alex is awesome in terms of team chemistry and positivity and mentoring other players and helping other players.” P. 114
• President Obama – “This team taught all America’s children that ‘playing like a girl’ means [being the best].” P. 126
Looking forward to reading other books in Wetzel's series "Epic Athletes."
"They fought for 123 minutes. They fought through ninety minutes of regulation. They fought through thirty minutes of extra time. And now they were fighting both exhaustion and each other in the third minute of stoppage time…" p. 1
After this introduction, Wetzel moves back in time to Alex Morgan’s childhood. The narrative – filled with statistics, artful descriptions of key plays in Morgan’s career, and quotes from sources—is well written, clearly designed for a middle grade (even middle school) audience. Wetzel seems to assume that the reader will have some understanding of soccer (there’s not explanation of the game, rules, no visuals of the field’s layout with labels, etc.) but the reader can easily make inferences – if they have just the tiniest bit of knowledge about athletic games even.
Wetzel does not just recount major events in Morgan’s life, though. Instead he weaves in THEMES that run throughout the book.
• The respect players have for other players – on their team and not on their team.
• The tenacity (“persistence in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired” per Merriam Webster online) a superstar athlete like Morgan must practice to reach the top.
• That “playing like Morgan” or “playing like a girl” means giving the sport your best.
• That the journey to the top of a sport is long, frequently arduous and laiden with obstacles, but with persistence one can overcome obstacles, learn from those obstacles, be better as a result.
• A soccer team has 21 players not just a star player; a team plays as a “unit” not just to help the star player.
• There’s always room to grow as an athlete (or learner of any kind).
• There is value in good sportsmanship.
• The meaning of being a team player – working at being accepted, leading, helping, mentoring…
A MISSING COMPONENT (but not a deal breaker and this is only my point of view) – Wetzel does not include an author’s note about his research for this book. I wondered if he had a chance to interview Morgan, if he relied primarily on interviews of others, and about the sources he used to develop his ideas for the book. I also wonder if Morgan endorsed this book – if she had a chance to read the manuscript and provide feedback. There's also not a list of quote credits and no acknowledgments. In an age where we are encouraging students to check their sources for accuracy and authority – I think this would have been helpful. For now, we just have to assume Wetzel has some expertise as a result of career as a sports columnist which includes being honored by the Associated Sports Press Editors. I’d encourage student-readers to reach out to him for more info on his research methods maybe via Twitter.
SUGGESTIONS FOR BOOK TALKING & BEYOND (grades 3-5 and striving readers in grades 6-8) –
• Read aloud the first paragraph of the book – that might be enough.
• Share a quick video clip of Alex Morgan playing.
• Ask if anyone watched the World Cup game last summer (2019)
• Buy 4-5 copies of this book and form a book club. Pose questions related to the themes or provide quotes for students to discuss (or ask them to locate a quote).
• Ask students to write a response to their favorite quote or to write about how this book has more than on theme...
Lots of quotes in the book that are worthy of contemplating as a student-reader thinks about the book as a whole –
• Alex Morgan – “It is something we were taught from a young age because we respect the women’s team at such a high level. We respect the women for making the journey. Sportsmanship is important because they fought just as much to get to where they are. I think it’s important to shake hands after the game. I think it’s important to shake the referee’s hand. It’s just part of sports in general. Winning is what drives all athletes but it is not what defines us.” – p. 100
• Abby Wambach, professional soccer player (now retired), about Alex Morgan – “I like to think of Alex as kind of the kid that has the world in front of her and is literally running at it with every step she takes, every shot she takes, every goal she scores.” – p. 104
• Alex Morgan on her team winning - “We were such a unit and we leaned on each other when we needed to.” P. 109
• Julie Foudy, ESPN broadcaster – “There is more to a team than just a superstar, though. The thing a lot of young players miss is they see a superstar and they think, ‘Well, I am not a superstar so I can’t be successful at this level.’ But what I think is more important is that you are a great teammate. Because people are so focused on goals and results. People don’t hear about it, but Alex is awesome in terms of team chemistry and positivity and mentoring other players and helping other players.” P. 114
• President Obama – “This team taught all America’s children that ‘playing like a girl’ means [being the best].” P. 126
Looking forward to reading other books in Wetzel's series "Epic Athletes."
July 21, 2019
Women's soccer is highly competitive. Making it to the national team is a long shot. There have been a number of biographies and memoirs written about the women's national team soccer players. They all have an incredible amount of drive, to the point of extreme. Alex Morgan is a current player on the women's national team and helped lead the team to victory in the 2019 World Cup championship. This is a biography about her youth, college, and national team experiences. What's unusual about her is that she got a late start playing on an elite youth team. She had remarkable speed, but lacked the team skills the other girls had learned at a much earlier age. Once she caught up, she was a force to be reckoned with, surpassing all the other players. She went on to play for Cal Berkeley and helped the National Team win gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
This biography takes a look at all the struggles and obstacles Alex faced to get to the top. Juggling multiple teams at once, especially while in college, means she had no life outside of soccer. The relationships with other elite players is also interesting. This is a relatively short book. Recommend for upper elementary.
This biography takes a look at all the struggles and obstacles Alex faced to get to the top. Juggling multiple teams at once, especially while in college, means she had no life outside of soccer. The relationships with other elite players is also interesting. This is a relatively short book. Recommend for upper elementary.
June 14, 2019
I read two of the books in the new series in preparation for the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book 2019.
This is a wonderful biography series to engage our middle grade athletes in reading about some of the most hard-working athletes and well-rounded people in the sports kids love to watch and play. Wetzel captures much more than just the success on the field or court; we read about support from family and coaches as well as personal drive and humility in the challenge of rising to be the best at their games. Interspersed with graphic illustrations and energetic picture sequences, you will feel as if you are a part of the athletes challenges and successes.
This is a wonderful biography series to engage our middle grade athletes in reading about some of the most hard-working athletes and well-rounded people in the sports kids love to watch and play. Wetzel captures much more than just the success on the field or court; we read about support from family and coaches as well as personal drive and humility in the challenge of rising to be the best at their games. Interspersed with graphic illustrations and energetic picture sequences, you will feel as if you are a part of the athletes challenges and successes.
November 21, 2019
Soccer fans will enjoy this profile of Olympic champion and team captain Alex Morgan. As in the other titles in this series, the author begins the book with an important moment in Morgan's career as the United States team battles Canada in the semifinals back in 2012. He then turns back time to follow Alex through her formative years, struggles, triumphs, and some of her feats on the field. Her dedication to her sport and her determination to never quit fighting when the match was still being played are clear in his prose as is her persistence since she had to overcome obstacles to reach success as a professional athlete. One of the parts of her story that some might overlook but is essential for young readers to understand is how she took her education seriously too, considering her choice of college based on the academic program it offered as well as its soccer program. The author takes readers down on the field with Alex as she plays in several pivotal matches and makes plays that win the game or help her teammates perform to the best of their ability. It's clear that she is the ultimate team player. Comic-style artwork introduces each chapter and then comes together at the end to highlight the triumph over Canada in a graphic Instant Replay feature that will appeal to some readers. This is a good addition to a library biography collection because Alex is young and still playing her sport, and her competitive spirit is inspiring.
September 23, 2019
Soccer fans, male and female, will find Olympic medalist and World Cup winner Alex Morgan a leader who will inspire for her determination and hard work on the soccer field. Alex became an elite soccer player in her early teens and was highly sought after by Division One universities. While handling a full academic course load, Alex started for the University of California Berkeley’s soccer team and played internationally for the US National Women’s Soccer League. Alex is also tenacious about women’s soccer players receiving comparable pay to their high level of success (it is well known that US men’s soccer players make considerably more money with far fewer accolades). A smart, well-spoken and talented women, Epic Athletes Alex Morgan, shines a light on a modern day athlete and activist. Black and white cartoon illustrations appear in each chapter. A glossary of soccer terms would have been helpful for the non-soccer aficionado. It also seems a glaring oversight to have published this biography prior to the 2019 World Cup which brought the US Team another championship. Rushing to get this out seems to have instantly dated this book’s shelf life and appeal.
Grades 6 and up.
Grades 6 and up.
December 5, 2019
This is an engaging biography of soccer superstar Alex Morgan. It tells of how she grew up playing soccer and other sports. It also talks about how she didn't make the cut for an elite team so it made her more determined to work hard and not give up. Her efforts paid off. She has played on pro and Olympic teams. She was also acknowledged as a gifted academic while she was a student athlete in college. It is very informative and the information seems to be accurate. However, I have no way of knowing this for sure because the author has not included any source notes or citations whatsoever to indicate where they gathered the material for this book. There are also a few graphic novel type illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. They do not add anything to the story. As an information professional, I cannot recommend this book very highly since the author does not cite their sources. Also, there are not any of the other things you would expect to find at the end, like suggestions for further reading or websites to explore, etc. It's sad, really, because there was so much potential there.
November 9, 2019
I enjoyed learning more Alex Morgan in this biography. Before reading, I knew nothing about her. My daughter plays rec soccer so I knew the basics of the game. I really enjoyed the story, and was particularly struck by the work and determination it takes to be great. I also loved the fact that she played rec until high school and struggled at first to fit in on a competitive team. The illustrations were a nice touch, however, as a non-soccer enthusiast, they all looked the same to me. I would have enjoyed a wider variety. This is a great level for students ready to move on from Who was books and works well for upper middle grade. #LitReviewCrew
August 30, 2020
I read this book aloud to my daughter (age 10) who loves soccer. Wetzel did a fabulous job of describing Alex Morgan: her drive, her patience when things don't go her way, her leadership, and more. This is everything I want my daughter to know about what it means to be a good person and a good player for the sport of soccer. We loved Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan and highly recommend it for young soccer fans and their parents.
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October 1, 2019Thanks to School Library Journal for a review copy of this book.
Alex Morgan is a soccer superstar and a role model for girls and soccer lovers of all ages. Her life and soccer career are chronicled in this biography about her in the Epic Athletes series by Dan Wetzel. Young Alex Morgan fans will love this book, and will be eager to read the rest of the series as well.
Alex Morgan is a soccer superstar and a role model for girls and soccer lovers of all ages. Her life and soccer career are chronicled in this biography about her in the Epic Athletes series by Dan Wetzel. Young Alex Morgan fans will love this book, and will be eager to read the rest of the series as well.
Read
October 20, 2020I recommend this book because it shows the story of Alex Morgan and her determination. It shows from her getting cut from a little league team to winning a gold medal with the national team. It shows her achieving her dream from when she was a little girl
October 9, 2019
Gonna try again some other time.
February 8, 2025
We get to learn about Alex Morgan!!! How great is THAT!!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews