The Fastest Girl on Earth!

June 14, 2021
Bursting with clouds of dust and rocket flames, realistic mixed-media spreads by Baddely (Leave It to Abigail!) deliver concentrated energy to this picture biography of sportswoman Kitty O’Neil (1946–2018). On the cover, O’Neil looks intently out of her helmet, giving a hint of what’s to come. Robbins (Margaret and the Moon) first sketches in the backstory: fearless and obsessed with speed, O’Neil, who “lost her hearing in a childhood fever,” sets records “as the fastest water skier and the fastest boat racer.” Soon, she decides to pursue becoming the fastest driver; Baddeley shows her training in her rocket-powered vehicle, the Motivator, which she must learn to keep in control at dizzying speeds of hundreds of miles an hour. At last, she’s ready, and suspense is high (end papers show her mechanic counting down in sign language). After O’Neil fulfills her goal, then surpasses it, “Everywhere she went, fans cheered. She could not hear their cheering, but she could feel it in her bones.” Robbins’s portrait moves as quickly as O’Neil did, bringing readers’ attention to a woman focused on excellence and undaunted by obstacles. Back matter includes an author’s note and information about the subject’s vehicle and world records. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary.

June 15, 2021
A sportswoman who was unstoppable. Born in 1946 and Deaf from age 2, Kitty O'Neil was an active child from the get-go and went on to become a world-record breaker (holder of the women's land-speed record and fastest quarter mile in auto history, among others), a stunt performer featured in movies and television, and an athlete who succeeded in a wide array of sports, including boat racing, diving, waterskiing, karate, cycling, skating, and horseback riding. How did she do it? From childhood, she wanted to be "the fastest girl on Earth," and she continually focused on her goals and practiced while thriving on the breathtaking exhilaration of speed. Though at times a bit unwieldy, the illustrations of the determined woman in action overall match the enthusiasm of the animated, appealing, and accessible text. A book with a Deaf hero that doesn't focus on Deafness and a tale of a feminist icon that doesn't focus on sex, this selection presents O'Neil's achievements without context; the challenges O'Neil presumably faced as a Deaf and female athlete go unmentioned. Readers learn in the aftermatter that O'Neil was also of Cherokee descent, an otherwise unexplored aspect of her identity. In making this decision, the author chose to focus on O'Neil's accomplishments, which are astounding on their own. While the absence of contextual information is a pity, what's here is bound to engage and excite readers and may inspire them to discover more about this unique, driven athlete and her love of speed. (This book was reviewed digitally.)(Editor's note: This review has been updated to clarify the subject's Native identity.) An energetic portrayal of O'Neil's accomplishments that excludes historical and social background. (author's note, notes, resources) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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June 1, 2021
Grades 1-3 This rare, if spare, tribute to deaf, part--Cherokee professional stuntwoman Kitty O'Neil focuses almost solely on her record-breaking 1976 speed run in a rocket-powered three-wheeler called the Motivator. Interspersed are flashbacks that trace how that need for speed drove her to a series of feats and athletic achievements from early youth on. In the otherwise representational style illustrations, Baddeley makes lavish use of splashes, blurs, shock waves, and blasts of flame and dust to capture a heady sense of acceleration; then, after showing Kitty being carried off on the shoulders of cheering onlookers ("Kitty could not hear their cheering, but she could feel it in her bones"), closes with a finger-signed countdown. Robbins adds further notes on O'Neil's car, stunts, and records, and though he neglects to mention that her land-speed record, at least, was broken in 2019, he still makes a strong case for remembering her as a high flier in the annals of daredevil women.

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Starred review from July 1, 2021

Gr 1-3-Speed! Action! Excitement! This incredible biography shares the adventures of daredevil and record breaker Kitty O'Neil (1946-2018). The book begins at the onset of a world record attempt, then cuts back to Kitty's childhood and the events leading up to the current attempt. Kitty lost her hearing in childhood but as the book explains, "that didn't slow her down." Short sentences throughout the work build anticipation to Kitty's big challenge of breaking the women's land-speed record. The illustrations are colorful and detailed, which will keep children engaged and support comprehension. With its exciting pace, this book could be used as a read aloud or enjoyed individually. The back material includes facts about Kitty O'Neil's records, sports, and stunts, as well as details about her supercar, the SMI Motivator. Young race fans and car enthusiasts will appreciate these details. There are also author's notes which, like the facts and details, are written with young readers in mind. With exciting prose and positive representation, this book would be an excellent addition to biography collections. VERDICT This thrilling biography provides excellent representation of the deaf community as well as of a woman in sports. Highly recommended.-Christina Salazar, Mesquite I.S.D., TX

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