Simone Biles: Gold Medal Gymnast and Advocate for Healthy Living

“The Remarkable Lives Revealed” series tells the stories of both well-known and relatively unknown people who, through their convictions, are making an impact in the world. This topical high interest, low vocab series introduces young readers to such concepts as advocacy, resilience, democracy and other social justice issues. Previous volumes of the series have been devoted to Rick Hansen, Craig Kielburger and Malala Yousafzai, well-known activists whose stories young readers may already know.

In Simone Biles: Gold Medal Gymnast and Advocate for Healthy Living, Biles, a well-known gold medalist and an American Olympic athlete, uses her voice to promote healthy living. Although she is known for her athletic successes, Biles’ early life was fraught with difficulties as her mother struggled with addiction and was often in jail, leaving Simone and her siblings in foster care. This volume discusses Biles’ career, her positivity, the challenges she overcame, such as struggling with her emotions, the importance of being a team player and how she developed as a role model, using opportunities to raise awareness about important issues, including living a healthy lifestyle. She is an ambassador for the Ask, Listen, Learn programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and teaches about the dangers of alcohol.

The themes in this series are very topical and are an excellent way for young readers to learn about such current topics as civil disobedience, ADHD, and foster care. Through the individuals’ stories, young readers can learn how others have faced challenges and overcome adversity. Their belief that everyone can make a difference in their community is inspiring.

While the books in the series may not appeal to readers for independent reading, they would complement a school unit or assignment in social studies. Each chapter promotes additional learning by asking readers to think critically about what they have just read and to apply the knowledge to their own lives. Highlighted words are defined in a glossary, thereby encouraging readers to expand their vocabulary. Pages are populated with images and quotations, and there is information for further learning at the back of each book that includes writing prompts, the aforementioned glossary and additional books and websites on the topics covered.

The subject matter is relevant and timely, and the biographies are an excellent way to introduce readers to topical issues, like foster care or emotional issues. However, the topic content may become quickly outdated, and readers might not connect with the books’ subjects.