She Persisted: Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka grew up in Japan and the US, with one foot in each place. But wherever she was, she loved to play tennis--and she worked hard at it too, always practicing and improving. Many people doubted that she would make it as a professional player, but she persisted and showed the world that she is a champion. Her talent on the court and her activism for racial justice and mental health causes off it have made Naomi an inspiration to fans everywhere.

In this chapter book biography by NAACP Image Award-winning author and Coretta Scott King Honor recipient Kekla Magoon, readers learn about the amazing life of Naomi Osaka--and how she persisted.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Naomi Osaka's footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum.

Kekla Magoon (keklamagoon.com) writes novels and nonfiction for young readers, including The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall's Life, Leadership, and Legacy, Today the World Is Watching You: The Little Rock Nine and the Fight for School Integration 1957, The Season of Styx Malone, and The Rock and the River. She has received the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, the John Steptoe New Talent Award, and three Coretta Scott King Honors, and been long listed for the National Book Award. Kekla conducts school and library visits nationwide. She holds a BA from Northwestern University and an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she now serves on faculty. You can follow Kekla Magoon on Twitter @keklamagoon