   | Work with what you got Author: Clark, Zion | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Zion Clark has always had big dreams for himself despite the many hardships he faced growing up as a Black disabled child in the foster care system of Ohio. His childhood years were marked by instability as he moved from home to home, experiencing abuse and neglect. And yet his determination and grit pushed him to become an elite wrestler and wheelchair racer.
| Added Entry - Personal Name: | Hirsch, James S |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 6.80 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 519822 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/01/23)
School Library Journal (03/29/24)
Booklist (+) (03/01/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/29/2024 Gr 8–10—Introduced first in the picture book biography Zion Unmatched, Clark is an athlete with caudal regression syndrome. Here, he writes his own story that not only summarizes his titular life motto, but is a calling to the teens he's writing for about being the best they can be. This inspiration is interwoven into his story, which included being raised in foster care where neglect and abuse took a toll before connecting with several loving families and eventually being adopted as a teen by a spirited woman. Clark struggled but found consolation in wrestling, with a coach who believed in him, and in books that nourished his mind. Using a chronological format that explains his circumstances and how his mindset worked for and against him, Clark's book operates like a roadmap for those needing guidance from someone who understands what it was like to be a rebellious teen. Bolded at times for emphasis, the words flow easily. It's a story that needs to be told and will find an eager audience with readers of titles such as George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue and Ariel Henley's A Face for Picasso—books of perseverance over adversity, and ultimately, being who you are even when it's not the norm. VERDICT Oozing confidence, Clark's sports memoir imparts advice to inspire a new generation.—Alicia Abdul - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
