This book provides a short, jam-packed overview of the athletes who fought for inclusion and equality in sports. Aside from ruining my opinion of author Jack London (which, admittedly needed to happen given that man's racist comments) I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a great deal. One of most important takeaways for my students is that Colin Kaepernick was not the first athlete to protest inequality on the field - far from it!

The author provides multiple examples across history of mostly US athletes who broke the color and gender barriers in sports, protested at the Olympics, served their country at the expense of their careers and lives, and paved the way forward for equality in the country and for the future of their sports.

This book is a must for any sports fan. The full-sized colored images and short biographies will keep everyone interested and entertained from middle school on up. This book will spark wonderful questions and discussions. It would be the perfect read for a team book club or for families who want to have a discussion about their favorite teams or sports or about equality and civil rights in America.

Maybe our athletes are worth more than their "simple" athletic ability. Maybe they can do more than just "Shut Up and Dribble" and certainly they should.