Undefeated by Steven Sheinkin

Jim Thorpe was the son two mixed American Indian/European parents. He attended the Carlisle Indian School which had as its purpose to eradicate the "Indian" part of its students. Jim hated school and often ran away, until he was recruited to be on the school's track team.  From there he joined the football team and under the coaching of Pop Warner, the team became one of the best collegiate teams in the country. Recognizing Jim's amazing athletic talent, Warner encouraged Jim to try out for the 1912 Olympic team.  He made it onto the team and ended up winning the gold in the pentathlon and decathlon. Soon afterward, his medals were stripped from him when it was discovered that he had played minor league baseball, and was therefore considered a professional instead of amateur athlete. He, nevertheless, went on to play professional baseball and then helped start the National Football League.

I have very little interest in sports in general, and football in particular, so the fact that I really enjoyed this book, even though it is rather long, is a testament to Sheinkin's writing skill.  Sheinkin talks about the effects of the cultural annihilation practiced at the Indian schools at the time.  He also explores the complicated relationship between Pratt, the head of the Carlisle School, Pop Warner, the coach, and the students like Thorpe.  He spends a lot of time describing how Warner helped football evolve from an unrestrained brawn brawl on the field to the complex and much safer game it is today.  It really was a fascinating read and I am sure I will be recommending it to the sports kids that come into the library. (2017, 280 p)