Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports

by Ann McCallum Staats

Overview

"Ann McCallum Staats has written an uplifting book profiling a handful of extraordinary women whose example proves that nothing can or should hold women back. These women push the boundaries of what was believed possible, achieving the impossible." —Milbry Polk, author of Women of Discovery, and member of the Explorers Club board of directors

Encompassing a diverse selection of women in extreme and unique sports, this book shares the stories of bold and daring thrill-seekers

What is the allure of the extreme? Who are the women who seek out and excel at sports outside the conventional, such as cave diving, wingsuit flying, or Formula 1 racing?

This collection of adventure dynamos is as fascinating as it is empowering. Thrill Seekers introduces readers to a diverse and fascinating selection of women whose determination, grit, and courage have propelled each of them into a life far from the sidelines.

Each chapter introduces readers to modern role models and leaders, change-makers who opt into a life of risk—but one of astonishing rewards.

Inspire young people to approach life with the same bold resolve.

Women of Power. Bold books to inspire bold moves.

Thrill Seekers is the debut title in the new Women of Power series. Women of Power is a timely, inclusive, international, modern biography series that profiles 15 diverse, modern women who are changing the world in their field while empowering others to follow their dreams.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641605434
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/02/2021
Series:	Women of Power , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Lexile:	970L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Ann McCallum Staats holds a BA in Education from the University of Victoria, BC, and an MA in Education from the University of Maryland. She is the author Women Heroes of the US Army as well as six children's books, including The Secret Life of Math, which won ForeWord's Gold Book of the Year, and the Eat Your Homework series. She is currently an ESOL high school teacher and a member of SCBWI as well as the Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: Maximum Sky

1. Roberta Mancino: Fly Like a Superhero

2. Faith Dickey: Walk a Thin Line

3. Melanie Curtis: Freefall

Part II: Extreme Ocean

4. Bethany Hamilton: Able and Awesome

5. Jill Heinerth: Into the Deep Unknown

6. Ann Marie Stephens: Weightless and Free

Part III: Radical Rides

7. Sneha Sharma: Behind the Wheel

8. Elladee Brown: Stoked and Dialed

9. Lizzie Armanto: Skateboard Wonder

Part IV: Epic Ice and Snow

10. Kristin Knight Pace: It’s All About the Dogs

11. Julia Marino: The Art of Snowboarding

12. Angela Hawse: Alpine Adventurer

Part V: Adrenaline Earth

13. Sara Mudallal: Vault, Leap, Tumble

14. Brittany Leavitt: Teacher Turned Climber

15. Courtney Dauwalter: Up and Running

Afterword: Seek Your Thrill

Acknowledgments

Notes

Editorial Reviews

"What many people don’t realize is that women have always been pushing themselves in many ways to meet mental, creative, and physical challenges—it is part of our roaming humanity, our quest to reach and understand the farthest places on earth. However, it has often been difficult for women to be recognized or allowed into the special cadre of heroes—those who inspire us all to reach for our personal best. Ann McCallum Staats has written an uplifting book profiling a handful of extraordinary women whose example proves that nothing can or should hold women back. These women push the boundaries of what was believed possible, achieving the impossible. Mastering fear and building on years of astute training, the women Staats profiles soar over active volcanoes, swim through ice caves, deep dive with sharks, break speeding records, master dogs to race through the wilderness, and other challenging feats. These women explore the possibilities of the impossible.” —Milbry Polk, author of Women of Discovery, and board of directors member of the Explorers Club  

“Ann McCallum Staats has written a much-needed book. In a world dominated by ball and goal sports, Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports takes a deep dive into sports such as slackline walking, cave diving, and dog sled racing. Staats also tells the stories of the fascinating women who have the courage to push themselves further than they ever thought possible. Thrill Seekers is a reading rush.” —Fred Bowen, author and Washington Post KidsPost columnist 

"This newest book by Ann celebrates women today as you can see from the title. They are making history right now! I was amazed and constantly in awe as I read through Ann's stories of each of these women. I've ordered a copy for myself so I can pass it on to my granddaughters who are both athletic and will love reading of girls who've grown to women as they achieve in sports what few others have done." —Linda, Goodreads

“A book full of adventure and fascinating stories!” —Language during Mealtime

“A useful collection of light reading that serves as an introduction to extreme sports.” —School Library Journal

“The unique journeys and achievements of women athletes who push the limits of their bodies and minds are outlined in individual substantial chapters.” —Booklist

“An engaging, energetic, and unabashedly woman-centric adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

03/01/2021

Gr 5–8—This collective biography profiles 15 extreme sports female athletes, who have reached the highest levels of competition in their chosen sport. The text highlights three athletes in each of the five sections, which are loosely grouped by the type of activity. The featured sports include wingsuit diving, iceberg diving, parkour, downhill mountain biking, and ultra running. The most prominent athlete profiled is surfer Bethany Hamilton, a white American girl who lost her arm in a shark attack. Hamilton became a top professional. Each chapter describes the women's backgrounds and childhoods, how they discovered their passion, and the significant amount of time they dedicated to achieving their dreams. Interesting sidebars provide brief histories of each sport. Emphasis is also placed on the amount of thought and preparation each woman puts into safety measures. Most of the women have been able to achieve professional-level success; only a few have to hold traditional jobs. However, the text doesn't paint a realistic picture of what's necessary to live this type of life. There's very little mention of the social and financial support systems needed in order to devote one's life to these activities. VERDICT A useful collection of light reading that serves as an introduction to extreme sports; recommended for libraries looking to liven up their sports collections.—Karen Bilton, Franklin Township P.L., NJ

School Library Journal

2021-01-12
Presents a passionate panoply of women in extreme sports.

The women profiled here come from many walks of life and various career paths—but above all, whether professional athletes or not, they are committed to their sports. Each of the book’s five sections focuses on a particular type of sport and contains three profiles of female athletes that generally begin with anecdotal accounts of some pivotal moment in the athlete’s career, pan back to cover her early life and the accrual of successes, and end on a positive note promising further adventures to come. Trivia boxes present facts about each sport and its history. Staats includes pursuits readers may be unfamiliar with or less accustomed to seeing women participate in, such as wingsuit flying, parkour, and cold-water diving. The straightforward but effervescent prose allows the women’s achievements to take center stage, although the introduction and afterword, insistently uplifting and empowering, add little to the overall narrative and read like bland motivational posters. The trivia, on the other hand, does wonders to demystify activities that might be foreign to teen readers. Helpfully, links to the athletes’ social media profiles are included, encouraging community and, importantly, exploration. There is some diversity in ethnicity, nationality, and sexuality among the women profiled.

An engaging, energetic, and unabashedly woman-centric adventure. (endnotes, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews