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Review: Swing!

By Suzanne


By James Yang
New York : Viking, 2026. Picture book.

Swing! is an adorable story about the magic of childhood heroes. Readers meet an elementary-aged girl who is learning to play tennis with her dad as her patient coach. Together, they watch legendary tennis player Arthur Ashe (1943–1993) win matches on TV. When our young protagonist doesn’t win as often as she’d like, her temper gets the best of her. And when Timmy bothers her at school, she isn’t always as kind as she could be. Along the way, she turns her admiration for Arthur Ashe into inspiration—and looks pretty cool doing it in her Ashe-inspired eyewear.

The book is a great choice for kids who have a sports hero of their own. I especially enjoyed the spunky attitude of this determined character, who knows what she wants and works hard to achieve it. It’s a feel-good story that may encourage readers to think about the heroes in their own lives and the lessons those heroes can teach them. If you’re looking for an inspiring sports story, give Swing! a try!

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