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"This is the story of 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden. Born with spina bifida in Russia, Tatyana was raised in an orphanage where she walked on her hands for the first six years of her life. In 1994, she was adopted and moved to the United States, where she started racing and breaking records; and is now considered the best female wheelchair racer of all time, and the fastest woman on Earth." - Provided by publisher.
About the author
Francesca Cavallo is an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur and activist. She co-created the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls book series and podcast and was the recipient of the Publisher’s Weekly StarWatch Award in 2018. In 2019, she parted ways with Rebel Girls, which she had co-founded, to start Undercats, Inc. Francesca’s work has been translated into more than 50 languages, and her books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.Luis San Vicente has illustrated more than 40 books. His work has been recognized by various illustration contests around the world. Luis lives and works in Mexico City.
Summary
From Francesca Cavallo, author of the NY Times bestseller Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.
This is the story of 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden.
Born with spina bifida in Russia, Tatyana was raised in an orphanage where she walked on her hands for the first six years of her life. In 1994, she was adopted and moved to the United States, where she started racing and breaking records; and is now considered the best female wheelchair racer of all time, and the fastest woman on Earth.
First book in the non-fiction Paralympians series, a picture book series telling the stories of 4 champions who do things their own way and are reinventing sport.
Additional text
"I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of 'Fastest woman on Earth' from Francesca Cavallo and Undercats Media because as a disabled athlete it looked like exactly the children's book I wish I had read when I was growing up. And it certainly didn't disappoint.
As soon as I read the beautiful yet simplistic dedication on the first page, "to the kids and grown ups who do things their own way", I knew that this book would capture the realities of living with a disability in the world of athletics while breaking stigmas, stereotypes, and rebutting ableist assumptions- exactly what we should be reading with our children.
Not only does this book provide much needed representation of disabilities, it also normalises the idea that families can come in all shapes and sizes as the protagonist grows up without her biological parents, before being adopted by a lesbian couple.
This amazing story, based on the life of Tatyana McFadden, is accompanied by the stunning illustrations of Luis San Vincente and a page allowing disabled readers to award themselves five medals for doing something their own way - lovely concept.
My pet peeve with books for young children is the accessibility of language as many writers often use vocabulary far too complex or give little consideration to how literature has the potential to aid linguistic development. I can happily say this was not an issue with Cavallo's book.
It is simply perfect." - Em Belmore; Journalist
