An Inkling Reviews: Steve Sheinkin

Title: Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

Author: Steve Sheinkin

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Date: January 17, 2017

Length: 288 pages

Genre: Non Fiction, Sports

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jim Thorpe: Super athlete, Olympic gold medalist, Native American
Pop Warner: Indomitable coach, football mastermind, Ivy League grad

Before these men became legends, they met in 1907 at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, where they forged one of the winningest teams in American football history. Called "the team that invented football," they took on the best opponents of their day, defeating much more privileged schools such as Harvard and the Army in a series of breathtakingly close calls, genius plays, and bone-crushing hard work.

This is an astonishing underdog sports story—and more. It’s an unflinching look at the U.S. government’s violent persecution of Native Americans and the school that was designed to erase Indian cultures. Expertly told by nonfiction powerhouse author Steve Sheinkin, it’s the story of a group of young men who came together at that school, the overwhelming obstacles they faced both on and off the field, and their absolute refusal to accept defeat.

Description from NetGalley

I am not a football fan, but this underdog story sucked me in with its mix of great sports writing, painful history, and the indomitable spirit of the Carlisle Indian School players. The game sequences were well written and the history and social issues facing the students (and all Native Americans) were clearly explained. With humor thrown in at appropriate times, Sheinkin has written an engaging story that will appeal to readers who enjoy sports, history, or non fiction books in general. This is also a great option for reluctant readers if you can get them past the intimidating page length.