Canadian libraries need more resources that celebrate our stellar athletes. This new book fulfills this need and will inspire youngsters to get in the game.

Great Girls profiles 17 Canadian women athletes ranging in age from seven to 85. The inspirational 12- to 14-page stories include advice on how to achieve dreams yet maintain a balanced life. Beyond the well-known athletes like Hayley Wickenheiser and Clara Hughes, the selection offers some interesting surprises: Sonia Denoncourt (one of the first women to be an international soccer referee), astronaut-in-training Anne Breaks, and a mom and her physically challenged daughter who enjoy cycling together. Hockey, soccer, cross-country skiing, and cycling are featured most. No figure skaters or gymnasts (the more conventional sports for women) are included.

The focus on less conventional women’s sports is fitting, considering author Laura Robinson’s mission. Robinson asks, “Why do sports editors and sports reporters think female athletes don’t deserve equal coverage? Do they still think, in the twenty-first century, that we’re not real athletes?” As author of Crossing the Line: Violence and Sexual Assault in Canada’s National Sport, Robinson is a writer who likes to present shocking truths. Her harsh criticisms of the media send a streak of negativity through sections of Great Girls, but up-and-coming athletes exploring the history of women’s sports may be grateful for her candid opinions.

Maija Robinson, co-author and 14-year-old niece of Laura, ensures the profiles are fun and accessible for girls her age. The stirring profiles are sure to get readers racing and scoring like never before. At the back are quizzes and a list of sports associations to help readers get involved.