Girl Running

Bobbi Gibb is a girl who loves to run, but since she is a girl, she can’t run on the school track team. After school, she changes into pants and runs in the woods. Every spring, the Boston Marathon is not far from Bobbi’s house. One year, she goes to watch the runners run 26.2 miles. How do they run that far? Bobbi wants to join the race, so she starts to train. People stare at her because she is a girl running. When Bobbi’s family goes on vacation, she makes sure she runs every day. Bobbi fills out an application for the Boston Marathon, but it comes back saying women can’t run in the race. Bobbi is upset. Bobbi realizes that she has the chance to change the world. She is determined to run in the Boston Marathon. Bobbi buys boys’ running shoes, because they don’t make girl’s running shoes, and a big baggy shirt to blend in with the men. On race day, Bobbi hides in a bush by the starting line. Bang!! Bobbi starts her 26.2 mile race. Will she get caught and will Bobbi Gibb be the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon?

I was very excited to read Girl Running because I like learning about real people, especially women who have made a difference. The illustrations were one of my favorite things about this book. They are like a collage, and for the trees, it was like the illustration used actual birch bark. I would recommend Girl Running to anyone who wants to learn about women in history.