![]() ![]() The women have their disagreements, but never forget that they are a team. Nor does the novel ever devolve into cattiness or man-hating. Yet, while the three protagonists are often victimized, they never allow themselves to become victims. With stark frankness, she illuminates the racism, sexism, and homophobia of the era. Hooper has delivered a stunning, multi-layered gem of a novel. These three women, along with others, converge on the 1936 Olympics in Berlin determined both to crush Adolf Hitler’s dream of German athletic victories and to prove to the world that women belong on the track. ![]() Near Boston, Louise Stokes, one of only a few black girls in her town, dreams of her own Olympic glory but faces constant racism designed to prevent her from outshining her white competitors. Meanwhile, in Missouri, young Helen Stephens, gangly and awkward, dreams of escaping her family’s failing farm and her father’s constant criticism. But a horrific accident derails her hopes for the 1932 games, and she must fight just to walk again. ![]() Her gold-medal win in the 100 meters thrusts her into the national spotlight and leaves her hungry for the next Olympics. In 1928, 16-year-old Betty Robinson of Chicago represents the United States as a member of the first women’s Olympic track and field team. ![]()
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