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Carregando... A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Teamde Arshay Cooper
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Registre-se no LibraryThing tpara descobrir se gostará deste livro. Ainda não há conversas na Discussão sobre este livro. 4.5, rounding up This is a really solid memoir that I found completely by chance, growing through the available audiobooks in my library's catalog. This book is a memoir of being a member of the first African-American public high school rowing team, at Manley High School on the West side of Chicago in the late 90s. Cooper grew up in a small apartment on the West Side and vividly describes the hardships--gangs recruiting high-school boys, a mother who was addicted to drugs--of his childhood and documents the ways in which joining the crew team changed his and his teammates' lives. I'm rounding this up to 5 stars because I think that this story is really important. The writing didn't entirely click with me--it often felt a bit didactic, as there is a lot of reflection on what Cooper learns through rowing and there are also multiple times when Cooper recounts him giving very speech-like advice that comes off as a little inauthentic. I read online that Cooper was inspired to write this book for the students he was working with in the NYC public schools, and I have to think that this book would be really excellent for those students. Cooper's experience is definitely relevant to a broader audience, though, and I would definitely recommend this book. I hate sports but this was an inspiring story that transcends stereotypes. I recommend the audiobook narrated by Adam Lazarre-White. RIYL [b:The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics|16158542|The Boys in the Boat Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics|Daniel James Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1354683116l/16158542._SY75_.jpg|21998925] & [b:An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago|40588301|An American Summer Love and Death in Chicago|Alex Kotlowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550308035l/40588301._SX50_.jpg|63030538]. sem resenhas | adicionar uma resenha
"Now a documentary narrated by Common, produced by Grant Hill, Dwyane Wade, and 9th Wonder, from filmmaker Mary Mazzio The moving true story of a group of young men growing up on Chicago's West side who form the first all-black high school rowing team in the nation, and in doing so not only transform a sport, but their lives. Growing up on Chicago's Westside in the 90's, Arshay Cooper knows the harder side of life. The street corners are full of gangs, the hallways of his apartment complex are haunted by junkies he calls "zombies" with strung out arms, clutching at him as he passes by. His mother is a recovering addict, and his three siblings all sleep in a one room apartment, a small infantry against the war zone on the street below. Arshay keeps to himself, preferring to write poetry about the girl he has a crush on, and spends his school days in the home-ec kitchen dreaming of becoming a chef. And then one day as he's walking out of school he notices a boat in the school lunchroom, and a poster that reads "Join the Crew Team". Having no idea what the sport of crew is, Arshay decides to take a chance. This decision to join is one that will forever change his life, and those of his fellow teammates. As Arshay and his teammates begin to come together to learn how to row--many never having been in water before--the sport takes them from the mean streets of Chicago, to the hallowed halls of the Ivy League. But Arshay and his teammates face adversity at every turn, from racism, gang violence, and a sport that has never seen anyone like them before. A Most Beautiful Thing is the inspiring true story about the most unlikely band of brothers that form a family, and forever change a sport and their lives for the better"-- Não foram encontradas descrições de bibliotecas. |
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This book is definitely an inspiration, and I am so glad Arshay decided to share his journey with us.
All the way around there are people who support, encourage, pray, and inspire Arshay- but, of course, if he had not been his own determination and willingness to do what his mother asked, what his coaches told him to do, and think for himself at the same time his story could have gone a different way.
While the rowing team is- in and of itself -a testimony of teamwork, hard work, and dedication- with thrilling victories and heartbreaking defeats, it is also about Arshay’s personal life and his faith and belief in a higher power. Arshay, with a huge assist from his mother, who did a complete 180 in her life- grew stronger as a person and learned about sacrifice and leadership.
The rowing team was the catalyst of that- giving him a place to focus his energy, keep him on track, and a goal to work towards. It was too disciplined and hard work, but it also created relationships, broke barriers, and set a positive example for everyone.
Overall, I recommend this book to all audiences.
*Some occasional mild language and limited descriptions of street violence, gangs, and drug use. ( )