This is a beautiful and inspiring book. Free verse poetry tells the biography of Alice Coachman, the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal.  Beginning in Alice’s childhood in the 1930s, it tells of her active nature, the first time she saw a high jumper, her desire to try, and the roadblocks set her way, and how she built her own practice crossbar by tying rags to sticks.  Her self-taught high-jumping skills opened her chance to study at Tuskegee Institute High School and won her a national championship. By 1948 she was setting Olympic records.  The beautiful illustrations throughout the book really enhance the telling of this inspirational tale, and black and white photos in the back contribute with additional information for the curious reader, making Alice real to the student has trouble with the “is this a true story?” concept.