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As Fast As Her: Dream Big, Break Barriers, Achieve Success

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In this inspiring book, US Olympian and hockey star Kendall Coyne shares the grit and determination it took to break down barriers and achieve her dreams against tremendous odds, encouraging young people to follow their passions and never give up.

The world told Kendall Coyne to slow down. They said “not so fast” when she picked up hockey skates instead of figure skates. They said “just a minute” when she tried out for the boy's team. They told her “you're not enough” so often that she started to believe it. But Kendall had a passion and a dream, so instead of slowing down, she sped up, going on to win Olympic gold and a place at the NHL’s All-Star weekend.

As Fast as Her explores how Kendall held on to her dream, overcame her insecurities and naysayers, and pushed herself past barriers to achieve her goals—and how you can too! Inside, Kendall shares:


stories that illustrate the lessons she's learned and how to apply them for success
encouragement to help young people know they are good enough—to fit in, to find their “why,” and to create lasting change for others
her personal trials and triumphs, inspiring readers to discover what excites and exhausts them—and help them to be as relentless in achieving their own goals
behind-the-scenes and personal photos in a full-color 8-page insert 
In addition, As Fast as Her is perfect for:


readers 13 and up looking for an uplifting true story
fans of the NHL, NWHL, Olympic hockey, and women's sports
birthday, Christmas, and holiday gifts for teens and young adults

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 18, 2022

22 people are currently reading
281 people want to read

About the author

Kendall Coyne

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5 stars
135 (40%)
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138 (41%)
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53 (15%)
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5 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Susy.
1,301 reviews162 followers
April 2, 2023
2 stars
As I'm not much into sports and I don't know Kendall Coyne I think this book didn't really engage me as it could have (though I did read other inspiring biographies that did manage to touch me).

Characters 4
Atmosphere 5
Writing Style 4
Setup 4
Plot --
Intrigue 4
Logic 5
Enjoyment 4
Narration 4
Profile Image for Emily McKinney.
224 reviews14 followers
September 27, 2024
3.5 stars. Rounded up because I have so much respect for what Kendall has done for women's hockey, and I did learn some things about the rise of women's hockey. 3.5 because there were quite a few clichés, and sometimes the prose felt like a laundry list of events rather than a narrative.
Profile Image for Gage Thurston.
161 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2022
This was a fun, easy read designed to motivate and inspire young women all over the world to stand up for themselves. Going all the way back to get first pair of skates around 3 years old, Kendall takes you in her 25+ year hockey career - highs and lows. Short chapters and chronological offer help keep the reader entertained during this read. The life lessons may not have been earth shattering, but I enjoyed the journey of this and how her hockey career bleeds into her life off ice. Kendall is a big family person and works just as hard with her hockey skills. What I also appreciate is that she doesn’t hold back from speaking her mind when there are injustices. She’s spoken up against inequities in sport that many women have been shut down for for many years. Along with her teammates and even opponents from other countries, they shattered those inequities to be equal to men. She is Americas sweetheart that we all knew she would be.
Profile Image for Nancy Kennedy.
Author 13 books54 followers
May 30, 2022
This is an inspiring book for young people who are driven to achieve a life goal. Kendall Coyne knew from an early age that she wanted to play hockey and play it for Team USA at the Olympics. Her book shows just how much work, dedication, and sometimes deprivation, it took to achieve her ambition.

The prose is entirely suited to the middle grade or young adult reader. The text moves along briskly and is broken up by sidebars with words of wisdom from Coyne or other inspiring people. For the adult reader, the story might be too one-dimensional; she doesn't delve into the emotional hits she suffers when faced with misogyny and discrimination. She just takes it on the chin and keeps going. An adult reader might want a deeper, more complex look into her inner life.

When she tells the reader the year in which she was born, I was shocked that she would suffer such repeated instances of gender discrimination. In the 2000s! I've been researching Title IX -- here it is the 50th anniversary of that gender equality law and women are still fighting gender barriers. It's incredible, really, and sad.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,485 reviews39 followers
March 19, 2023
Here’s the thing:
I’d like to say this book just isn’t for me - sports, especially hockey, don’t interest me all that much; and I’m grown, so I don’t need the inspiration this is intended to give to girls.

But if it was good, those things wouldn’t stand in the way.
If it was good, I would recommend it to my niece.
If it was good, I wouldn’t have been watching the clock to hit my bare minimum to check this off as a legit DNF.

It’s just not that good.
Profile Image for Laura.
591 reviews10 followers
July 15, 2023
This had been on my TBR for awhile and no better time than the summer to read about kick-ass women hockey players! I was aware of Kendall, her speed, her contributions to Team USA, and also her role in challenging USA Hockey to provide equal compensation to the women's game. I enjoyed the book tremendously, but then again I'm a (semi-OK mostly-retired) woman hockey player!
21 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2022
I reallyy really enjoyed this book. Kendall Coyne is someone I enjoy watching play hockey, reading this book really explained a lot about her and how she became who she was growing up.
Profile Image for Meredith Spidel.
Author 6 books44 followers
April 23, 2022
My kids LOVE the Olympics and are at the perfect age to have such a powerful first-hand account of Kendall's fight for success to be truly inspirational! It is the perfect book to read with your kids, and we loved seeing the pictures too! Thanks for sending a copy our way for review, Zondervan!
Profile Image for Jalynn Patterson.
2,214 reviews35 followers
May 17, 2022
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:

In this inspiring book, US Olympian and hockey star Kendall Coyne shares the grit and determination it took to break down barriers and achieve her dreams against tremendous odds, encouraging young people to follow their passions and never give up.

The world told Kendall Coyne to slow down. They said “not so fast” when she picked up hockey skates instead of figure skates. They said “just a minute” when she tried out for the boy's team. They told her “you're not enough” so often that she started to believe it. But Kendall had a passion and a dream, so instead of slowing down, she sped up, going on to win Olympic gold and a place at the NHL’s All-Star weekend.

As Fast as Her explores how Kendall held on to her dream, overcame her insecurities and naysayers, and pushed herself past barriers to achieve her goals—and how you can too! Inside, Kendall shares:


stories that illustrate the lessons she's learned and how to apply them for success
encouragement to help young people know they are good enough—to fit in, to find their “why,” and to create lasting change for others
her personal trials and triumphs, inspiring readers to discover what excites and exhausts them—and help them to be as relentless in achieving their own goals
behind-the-scenes and personal photos in a full-color 8-page insert
In addition, As Fast as Her is perfect for:


readers 13 and up looking for an uplifting true story
fans of the NHL, NWHL, Olympic hockey, and women's sports
birthday, Christmas, and holiday gifts for teens and young adults

My Review:

Kendall Coyne is no stranger to hard work and determination. Shes had to fight for her spot in this world for awhile now. After being told "no" so many times or that "you are not good enough" after so long you start to believe it.

The Olympics is every athletes dream and really their end goal. And Kendall had no problem sharing her athleticism with the world. Its just her route there started in a different way than every other athlete you read about or follow.

The story of an exceptional athlete that began her career in a very unconventional way. She didnt giver up when everyone was trying to force her to. She had a dream and goal and she followed through and is now a gold medalist.

Great story!
Profile Image for Jessica Higgins.
1,625 reviews14 followers
February 4, 2022
A fast story with an inspirational and powerful message for young readers. Even those not into hockey will get a lot out of this one!

US Olympian Kendall Coyne brings a message about never giving up on your dreams no matter what obstacles you might encounter, and she encountered many of them. When she was young, her brother was into hockey and as she got old enough to put on skates her parents put her in figure skating. It didn’t take for her to figure out hockey was where she needed to be even though there weren’t many girls playing. This would be a problem all throughout her time playing hockey, the inequality between the men playing and the women. One thing that set Kendall apart from the others was her speed, she was even able to keep up with the men in a national competition she almost won. Even though she was always told, “you’re not enough,” she started to believe it but not long enough to let it pull her in the wrong direction.

Throughout the pages of this book, readers will find inspiration and encouragement to stay the course and follow their dreams no matter how many people tell them they should give up or that they aren’t good enough. It is something that we all hear from time to time, and it can be easy to buy into the lies and let them hold us back from our full potential.

I started this book even though I am not a hockey fan and had honestly never heard of Kendall Coyne. This was an inspirational story from start to finish with great moments from her family and harsh moments with teammates and rivals. Throughout every moment and difficulty encountered, Kendall showed that it would have been easy to give up, but it wasn’t what she was meant to do. Not once did she give up and she finally made it to achieve her dreams and if we will believe in ourselves the way Kendall did over the years anything is possible.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
2,133 reviews36 followers
January 26, 2023
Kendall Coyne is a women’s ice hockey player. Her teams won a gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics and many gold medals playing in the IIHF World Women’s Championships. In her autobiography she describes her rise to championship level ice hockey.

Coyne was born in 1992 and began ice skating as a toddler because she wanted to do everything her older brother did. She loved playing and competing. But, to compete she had to spend all her non school hours practicing and playing. And her parents had to spend a gazillion of hours driving her to practice and to tournaments, and a gazillion of dollars supporting her ice hockey activities. Raising a sports star is a family commitment and her family was committed.

In As Fast As Her, Coyne describes her experiences as a young player and her ups and downs as a tournament player. Through her childhood and young adult years she dedicated her life to her sport. She also discusses her frustration that there is not a professional ice hockey league for women. She wants to be on a professional team and she advocates for one. Billie Jean King provides the introduction for As Fast As Her, lauding Coyne for her work on gender equality in sports.

Coyne, and her co-author, Estelle Laure, focus her story for a young adult audience. Each chapter lists a “Golden Coyne,” or tip for success. Any reader will appreciate the hard work of athletes, especially young athletes, who want to play at the next level up.

As Fast As Her was part of AudioFile’s 2022 free SYNC summer audiobook program for teens. Coyne narrates her audio book.
Profile Image for Tina 22.
261 reviews1 follower
Read
February 11, 2022
As Fast As Her is an autobiography of United States women's national hockey team member, Kendall Coyne. It is an easy to read and inspirational story about how Kendall developed a love for hockey despite it being a male dominated sport with limited opportunities for girls. Kendall outlined how she preserved, and carved her own path to follow her hockey and more specifically Olympic dreams. This book does a great job of really painting a picture about the commitment, sacrifices, and work ethic it takes to earn the success that Kendall Coyne has.

I was drawn to this book having grown in the town right next to Palos Heights, Illinois and being familiar with Kendall Coyne as a "hometown hero". It was fun to read about places I knew first hand. Additionally, I related deeply to Kendall's love for sport and having to fight for equal opportunities because of her gender. I truly enjoyed getting to know a lot more about her story, and finished the book feeling like I really knew her!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about women's hockey, a strong woman athlete, and particularly youth who can use some inspiration to dream big and work hard to achieve their dreams!

Thank you to Kendall Coyne and Zonderkidz Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. And GO TEAM USA!
Profile Image for Carol.
1,823 reviews21 followers
February 5, 2022
Kendall Coyne is type A, a great team player and throughly immersed in ice hockey, following her older brother, Kevin's lead. She was in a class with other three to four year olds to learn to play hockey. Her parents who were not well off, worked ways to pay for classes and strength coaches. The whole family was devoted to sports.

Never neglecting her school work, she powered through the lessons and concentrated on any weak things that needed to be strengthened. Winning a gold and silver at the Olympics, teaching young kids how to play, she shared her knowledge with others and was looking for ways for improvement. She has her share of injuries during the game and endured a lot of pain with wrist that was repeatidly broken.

I recommend her book to young adults interested in sports and learning inspiration from what she does and says.
Profile Image for Cover Lover Book Review.
1,417 reviews83 followers
April 14, 2022
I can only imagine how difficult it is for a woman to participate and excel in a male-dominated sport, but that’s exactly what Kendall Coyne has done. She never lost her dream and inspiration to play ice hockey, even when others told her she couldn’t hack it. In this autobiography, As Fast As Her, Kendall shows the grit she possesses, and proves to others that persevering and truly believing in their dreams, desires, and capabilities can propel them to success.

Prior to this book, I didn’t know who Kendall Coyne was, and I know next to nothing about ice hockey. But what an inspirational read! From watching her brother play hockey to winning 6 gold medals, Kendall is a huge inspiration to young girls (and boys.)

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Ann.
430 reviews6 followers
May 1, 2023
Kendall Coyne remembers her life in hockey, how hockey changed her life, and the pressures and opposition she faced because she was a girl in a boy's sport. At the end of every chapter is a "Golden Coyne" -- a little tip or bit of inspiration to remind the reader to keep going and never give up if they want to achieve greatness, which might be easier said than done if you don't have the support system that she did.

What I missed in this brief memoir was any sense of what she and her family members were like off the ice -- although the way she told it, from her earliest childhood it was really only school and sports and basically nothing else, which is how it is if you're going to be elite, I guess. I guess more non-sports anecdotes would have taken focus away from the theme of the book.
Profile Image for Leah.
256 reviews8 followers
May 21, 2024
This book is written for middle schoolers. Should have occurred to me before I picked it up, but alas, it did not. Regardless, I did enjoy it.

Kendall Coyne is an incredibly driven person. Anyone who knows anything about her knows this to be true. But reading this book really drove that home. What she was able to accomplish as a young hockey player with virtually no infrastructure or support for female hockey was nothing short of amazing. She takes her role as an inspiration to young players seriously and this book reflects that.

All of the beef I have with this book is irrelevant when I remember it was written for middle schoolers. Would have loved a version more targeted toward adults though. If you're interested in hockey, the PWHL (or in the PHF or NWHL, etc), Team USA, or the insanity of elite youth sports, this book is still a good one even if you are over the age of 14.
612 reviews41 followers
March 4, 2022
Kendall Coyne, world-class ice hockey player, delivers her journey in an inspiring narrative for young adult readers. She provides great advice for beginning athletes, girls and boys. Her anecdotes bring clear insights and empowerment - success comes with failure, how to make the most of opportunity, how to approach obstacles with a positive attitude. There are so many gems - in fact the margins are sprinkled with “Golden Coyne’s” and each chapter head summarizes a lesson learned. The book is an easy read, the short chapters work well for kids heading out to practice. The writing is crisp and focused right until the end. The wrap up is a few pages too long but doesn’t diminish the wonderful tone.
Profile Image for Toni FGMAMTC.
2,098 reviews26 followers
November 17, 2022
Idk what it was about this book but it made me feel emotional. I'm not a big athlete or hockey fan. The main character does make it through many obstacles but it isn't like rising from poverty to number one in the world or something. It's just how it's told I guess. It's so inspiring. And she seems so thankful for her opportunities and blessings. I like how she understands how each move advanced her toward her goal and how she questions what if I wouldn't have done this or what if my parents took no for an answer or what if this person didn't come into my life. She knows how much actually went into getting her to the Olympics. She definitely had a goal and didn't let anything get in her way including injuries and people not thinking a female could do it.
Profile Image for laura.
49 reviews1 follower
January 16, 2025
As im writing this, im watching a PWHL game (frost v sirens).

This may not be the best written book ive ever read, but its a wonderful story about the trials and tribulations of womens hockey, something that was (and still is) fairly unknown. The game is growing, touching even more people than im sure Kendall Coyne ever expected. I hope to see this game grow even more, for my own city to get a PWHL team. I had never really learned how unfair the world of womans hockey or sports in general is. This was an eye-opening read. Obviously there was no professional womens league until 2023, and even then, its still only 6 teams at the moment. I hope to watch this sport grow through the years, for more Kendall Coynes and more Manon Rheaumes.
Profile Image for Alice.
4,304 reviews36 followers
October 5, 2022
I love this story. Kendall is truly a remarkable talented athlete and I am glad she shared her story, not only for hockey (Of which I am a big fan) but for women.

Here is the but....
I know she worked really hard for everything she has and has gotten everything she has wanted , but I work very hard for things, just as hard, in my life and don't get them. Her life seems to be a little too charmed. I would have liked to hear more of her struggles. She shared some struggles off the ice.

This book makes her life look perfect! If that was the aim good job but I would liked it be more personal
188 reviews8 followers
September 9, 2023
Can't remember where I heard about this book but it probably caught my attention since I've played sports my whole life and more recently got into hockey. Seemed like a lot of missed opportunities to really dive into some of her incredible experiences but this felt like it only scratched the surface with the details and lacked some of the deeper emotions that would have made it more powerful.

This is clearly catered to a young audience, but as much as it tries to pull out more general life lessons it seems only written for young female hockey players or true fans of Kendall.
Profile Image for Darius Murretti.
422 reviews65 followers
October 5, 2023
Read first time around 2019-20
Just reread.
Loved it just as much if not more this time.
She never drank alcohol. She did everything she set out to do including playing on men's teams(both baseball and hockey) , getting equal rights for women's teams, starting a women's pro hocky league and beating some of the top 4 fastest male Pro hocky players in a speed skate in 2018.

Because of her women can now become professional hocky players with pay equal to men.
Before her girls and women's only option was figure skating

A damned good book!
Profile Image for Jessica.
255 reviews10 followers
April 10, 2024
What a story. A woman of pure grit and determination from the start. She is an individual I would love to be around to learn from, for my girls to learn from and personally see.

I am keeping this audiobook so that I can relisten when my girls are near. I want them to hear her struggles and how she persevered. I want them to know the hard work and dedication it took, the hours, the studying by book light in a car, the fight for equality.

I'm grateful to have listened to this story. She is A BEAST! YOU GO GIRL!
61 reviews
March 28, 2022
Kendall's drive and story are incredible. She's done amazing things on behalf of women and for the sport of hockey. My little hockey player sure enjoyed the story and photos. We also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes account of her NHL Skills Competition experience. My only negative is that it feels like it was written for preteens or teens, with all the "so much," "so great," "so excited," etc., but maybe that was intentional.
Profile Image for Marie.
1,386 reviews12 followers
January 18, 2023
I went into As Fast as Her knowing absolutely nothing about Kendall Coyne or hockey. I learned a lot and truly enjoyed the lessons. The book is very well written and gives a great overview of an impressive hockey career. I especially like how Kendall comes across as very knowledgeable and caring and talented and also never condescending. I am leaving this book impressed not only with her career but with her life.
Profile Image for Kristel.
1,952 reviews48 followers
April 8, 2023
Reason read: ROOT, TIOLI; 8. Read a book that involves sports
Kendall Coyne is an American ice hockey professional and Olympic gold medalist. This is her story of how she achieved success. She was born in 1992 and played hockey from an early age. The book was published in 2022. It's an inspirational book and written very positively. While she explores the difficulties she doesn't dwell on them other than barriers that she had to overcome.
34 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2024
I have always enjoyed watching hockey therefore I thought I would give this book a try. Wow is this book really and truly about oh so much more! It was an amazing, informative, and up lifting read. If you’re looking for an educational yet inspiring book about women’s sports this might be the book for you. This should be a must read for all students during women’s history month! :) thank you for writing and sharing your story!
Profile Image for Paula Hermsdorf.
134 reviews4 followers
January 18, 2022
As a female growing up in the hockey community there was a lot to relate to. Chasing dreams and knocking down barriers to get there. I’ve always looked up to Kendall and much of the US Women’s hockey team because they have broken those barriers for us and continue to do so. A great and inspiring read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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