This book is Running Through Roadblocks – Inspirational Stories of Twenty Courageous Athletic Warriors a great gift item for children and teens living with a disability. Author Jerry Del Priore tells the stories of 20 sports heroes who have dealt with circumstances ranging from Tourette syndrome to double amputations.
Del Priore’s writing is adequate to the task as he profiles each athlete in three to five pages. Every story ends on an upbeat note. Youth and adults alike will be positively influenced by the multitude of roadblocks these tough competitors have worked through.
However, some readers may wish there was a little more detail in the descriptions of adversity. I wanted to know if Mary Bryant threw up during chemotherapy, a time when this amazing woman completed her fourth marathon.
What did Paul Martin’s father do to make his son prefer a foster home to living with his dad, and how does the younger Martin feel about those years now? Glossing over reality can be a disservice to certain readers.
And if you like to see pictures coincide with a story, you may be disappointed. Most of the featured people appear on a two-page spread in the middle of the book. Seven have no photo at all.
Overall, this is a solid paperback for any age group if what you’re looking for is a quick read to inspire or reinforce some positive willpower. And there is nothing objectionable in any of the content for even the youngest reader. This book is a highly recommended read for someone, particularly a youth, who needs some encouragement.
Running Through Roadblocks. Jerry Del Priore, Fletching Books, 2008. 95p. ISBN 978-1-934452-03-5
