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Product Description Serena Williams is one of the biggest names in sports, but she grew up the littlest of five girls in her family. While sharing a room and playing tennis with her older sisters, Serena had to figure out how to be her own person―on and off the court. This empowering biography showcases the rise of the youngest Williams sister and how her family played a part in her path to becoming the strong woman and star athlete she is today. Bold, colorful illustrations highlight the tight sisterhood and tennis action of Serena’s childhood and teenage years. This true story about a tennis icon will inspire littlest siblings everywhere to forge their own path and leave their mark. From School Library Journal Gr 1–4—Superstar Serena Williams has dominated the world of tennis for so long, her name is synonymous with excellence. The audience for this book will likely already know about her power and style, but might not know her family's remarkable story. Raised in Compton, California, Serena was the youngest of five close-knit sisters. Starting out with secondhand equipment on a court they cleaned for practice, the girls were coached by their father to move fast and hit hard. They learned to always put in their best effort, and that their dedication would allow them to achieve their dreams. Venus and Serena put that passion into becoming elite tennis players, first in California, then at a tennis academy in Florida, and finally on the professional circuit. This book splits time between Serena's career and family, focusing on how her devotion to Venus allowed both to become better athletes who supported each other while being one another's fiercest competitors. Ahanonu's digital illustrations morph from a bold palette—all 90s-inspired patterns and sharp angularity reminiscent of Keith Haring—to a more sophisticated and contemporary design filled with soft pastels as the time line progresses. Each page is alive with movement, joy, and vibrance. In a market saturated with picture book biographies about Serena, the unique artwork is what makes this one notable. VERDICT A fine addition to the growing Williams biography collection.—Abby Bussen, Muskego Public Library, WI Review "…Illuminating and inspiring…" - Kirkus Reviews""Each page is alive with movement, joy, and vibrance...A fine addition to the growing Williams biography collection." - School Library Journal"A special effort." - Booklist About the Author Karlin Gray loves writing about strong female athletes. She holds a BA in Creative writing from Florida State University and has worked in publishing and copywriting. She is also the author of Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still (HMH BYR, 2016) and An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth (Sleeping Bear Press, 2018). When the weather’s nice, she loves to play tennis in Westport, Connecticut, where she lives with her family.Monica Ahanonu is a freelance illustrator and motion designer whose work showcases black creatives in a variety of fields. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, she worked for DreamWorks Animation before deciding to pursue a career as an independent artist. She lives in Los Angeles, and this is her debut picture book.