  | Annette feels free : the true story of Annette Kellerman, world-class swimmer, fashion pioneer, and real-life mermaid Author: Mazeika, Katie | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
As a girl Annette Kellerman found the freedom she desired in the water, where she could swim without the leg braces she needed on land. As she grew up, Annette swam in Australia and England and America and beyond, inventing synchronized swimming and competing in swim races and diving exhibitions. When women's swimming costumes were too heavy, she designed her own and fought for the right for women to wear the lighter swimsuits.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 4.40 Points: .5 Quiz: 521485 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/15/22)
Booklist (09/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/01/2022 Annette Kellerman was born in Australia with a zest for life and a knack for performance. After an illness left her with weak leg muscles, her father introduced her to ocean swimming, setting her on an incredible and unusual path. Her passion for aquatic sports took her all over the world, and though the fiercely competitive Annette began to outpace the male swimmers, an unsuccessful English Channel–crossing attempt showed her how unfair the gendered rules could be: men competed in much more streamlined suits (or no suits at all!), while women were weighed down by heavy skirts and pantaloons. So resourceful Annette made her own form-fitting garment and headed to the beach. When she was hauled into court for the scandalous suit, she successfully argued for more equality in swim apparel, and the world of women’s swimwear was forever changed. It’s an enthralling introduction to a remarkable woman, and the splashy, stylized illustrations bring her vividly to life with a real sense of movement and play, while detailed endnotes and fabulous photographs round out the already intriguing story. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
