Publisher's Weekly Review
In this rousing picture book, Macy and Collins take readers to the (very) early days of women's basketball through the eyes of Agnes Morley, who offers a play-by-play account of an 1896 game between Stanford and Berkeley-the first ever between two women's basketball teams. Agnes's first-person account is laced with information about how the game was played at the time, as well as her confident inner thoughts ("I think that a lady can be tough and strong as well as refined and polite"). Whether Agnes is wrangling with a calf on her family's ranch or diving for a loose ball, her determination shines through in Collins's dynamic, painterly digital spreads. Ages 6-10. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Macy recounts the first women's intercollegiate basketball game, played in 1896, through the eyes (and invented dialogue) of Stanford guard Agnes Morley. After an exciting game, Agnes concludes that "a lady can be tough and strong as well as refined and polite," a view confirmed by the rough-and-tumble illustrations done in a rather sedate palette. An author's note is appended. Reading list, timeline. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* There are plenty of books about basketball and some good ones about women's firsts. This one, though, does a particularly great job of putting the two themes together as it introduces Agnes Morely and her teammates, who played in the first all-female intercollegiate basketball game. Macy uses Agnes' first-person narrative to great advantage, bringing readers right into the young woman's world from the first line: Nobody can ever accuse me of being a girly-girl. Raised on a New Mexico ranch, Agnes begins playing basketball at Stanford, and she takes part in the historic game between Stanford and Berkeley in 1896. The sprightly text gives the game's details, but it is Collins' fabulous, in-your-face paintings that bring the palpable excitement home. From the energetic cover to the spread of four girls scrambling over a basketball on the court to the final images of the Stanford team jumping and screaming in celebration, the art amplifies the action. Collins adds clever details that contribute to the you-are-there feeling, such as scenes of running legs and a janitor on a ladder fixing the hoop. The author's note and time line add depth to a book that's both fun and informative.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-In 1896, female athletes faced two foes: their on-court rivals, and the rigid code of ladylike behavior. In this engaging picture book, Macy recounts the first basketball game played between two women's college teams through the eyes of a participant, Stanford's Agnes Morley. High-spirited Agnes grew up on a New Mexico cattle ranch, where "getting dirty came with the territory." Since it was considered not "proper for women to perspire in front of men" by the UC Berkeley team, the game took place before an all-female crowd. In a comedic intermission, two male workers came out to repair a basket; in Laurel and Hardy-like fashion, one stared so much, he almost knocked the other off a ladder. Playing guard, Agnes wondered how she could prevent her taller opponents from scoring and found herself in an intense struggle. With the players confined to rigid sections of the court, the game hinged on the outcome of two foul shots. Collins's colorful, exuberant digital illustrations capture all the high-spirited drama and fun. Macy adds authenticity with a fact-filled author's note. This excellent book offers plenty of teaching possibilities, and it should delight a wide audience.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
(Nonfiction 7-11)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
