Who Was Jim Thorpe? by James Buckley, Jr.

Who Was Jim Thorpe?

James Buckley, Jr.

Penguin Young Readers Group · Paperback · June 6, 2023

Learn about the incredible legacy of the first Native American athlete and Olympian to earn a gold medal for the United States in this exciting addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling series.

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Who it’s for
Jim Thorpe’s story connects a multi-sport career with his first-of-its-kind Olympic achievement.
Themes
Multi-sport athletic achievement, Native American trailblazing, Personal and professional contrasts
Genres
Sports Biographies for Kids, Native American Life (U.S.), Olympics

About this book

Learn about the incredible legacy of the first Native American athlete and Olympian to earn a gold medal for the United States in this exciting addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling series. While most athletes excel in just one sport, Jim Thorpe was different. Born in Oklahoma in 1887, he played both professional football and baseball, and ran track and field. Jim was not only a sports icon but also a trailblazer.

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Raised as part of the Sac and Fox tribal nation, he was the first Native American person to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States. And although his personal life was not always as successful as his career, Jim remains one of the greatest athletes in American history.

Jim Thorpe’s Legacy

Jim Thorpe’s story connects a multi-sport career with his first-of-its-kind Olympic achievement.

Come here for

  • Jim Thorpe’s football, baseball, and track-and-field career
  • His place in Sac and Fox and Olympic history

Expect

  • A portrait of Thorpe as an athlete and trailblazer
  • A contrast between his career and personal life

Where it sits

Sports Biographies for Kids97%
Olympics61%
Native American Life (U.S.)57%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Sports Biographies for Kids
  • Native American Life (U.S.)
  • Football
Authors
James Buckley, Jr.
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
June 6, 2023
Format
Paperback
Theme
Multi-sport athletic achievement · Native American trailblazing · Personal and professional contrasts
Reading lane
Sports Biographies for Kids