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SHE PERSISTED: FLORENCE GRIFFITH JOYNER

Gillian Flint Chelsea Clinton Rita Williams-Garcia Alexandra Boiger

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger comes a chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds!
In this chapter book biography by Rita Williams-Garcia, the award-winning author of One Crazy Summer, readers learn about the amazing life of three-time Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner--and how she persisted.

Considered the fastest woman of all time, Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo Jo, set two world records in 1988 that still stand today. But getting there wasn't easy, and Flo Jo had to overcome many challenges along the way.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Florence Griffith Joyner's footsteps and make a difference!

Rita Williams-Garcia (rita-williamsgarcia.squarespace.com) is the celebrated author of novels for young adults and middle grade readers. Her most recent novel, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, won the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Literature for Youth/Teens and was a 2017 National Book Award Finalist. Williams-Garcia is most known for her Coretta Scott King Author Award-winning Gaither Sisters trilogy that begins with One Crazy Summer, recipient of the Newbery Honor and the Scott O'Dell Prize for Historical Fiction. She is a three-time National Book Award Finalist. She holds a BA in liberal arts from Hofstra University and an MA in English from Queens College at CUNY. She lives in Queens with her husband. You can follow her on Twitter @Onecrazyrita.

Chelsea Clinton is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World; She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History; She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game; Don't Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe; It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!; Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference; with Hillary Clinton, Grandma's Gardens and Gutsy Women; and, with Devi Sridhar, Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? She is also the Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, where she works on many initiatives, including those that help empower the next generation of leaders. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, their children and their dog, Soren. You can follow Chelsea Clinton on Twitter @ChelseaClinton or on Facebook at facebook.com/chelseaclinton.

Gillian Flint (gillianflint.com) is an illustrator who has a passion for painting in watercolors. She has been drawing and creating characters for as long as she can remember. Her work has been published in the USA, the UK and Australia. In her spare time she enjoys reading and gardening at her home in the UK. You can follow her on Instagram @gillianflint_illustration.
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Book

Published 2021-07-06 by Philomel

Book

Published 2021-07-06 by Philomel

Comments

Brightly featured WHAT ARE THE SUMMER OLYMPICS? by Gail Herman in their round up, "Read Your Way to Tokyo! A Summer Games Primer." They also list "More to Explore": SHE PERSISTED: FLORENCE GRIFFITH JOYNER by Rita Williams-Garcia and Chelsea Clinton, and others... Read more...

Us Weekly included SHE PERSISTED: FLORENCE GRIFFITH JOYNER by Rita Williams-Garcia and Chelsea Clinton as well as KUDO KIDS: THE MYSTERY OF THE MASKED MEDALIST by Maia and Alex Shibutani in their article, "'Moms Like Us': Mom-Approved Gear and Gadgets for Hot Summer Days," saying, "Penguin's Summer Olympics round up are the perfect poolside reads for young adults. Be inspired by the story of a three-time Olympic gold medalist in She Persisted: Florence Griffith Joyner by Rita Williams-Garcia and Chelsea Clinton, or dive into the fast-paced middle-grade adventure Kudo Kids: The Mystery of the Masked Medalist by Olympian siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani, set in Tokyo during the Summer Olympics." Read more...