The Man Who Ran Faster Than Everyone: The Story of Tom Longboat [Paperback]

Jack Batten (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 12, 2002 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Tom Longboat was a hero. A member of the Onondaga Nation, he was born on the Six Nations reserve in Oshwegen, near Brantford, Ontario. Despite poverty, poor training, and prejudice, Longboat went on to become one of the world’s best runners. In 1907, at the height of his fame, he won the Boston Marathon and ran in the 1908 Olympic Marathon. Longboat was one of the best-known people of his day, and certainly the most prominent member of the Six Nations. Throughout his career he had to race against opponents, as well as rumors of illegal running activities. Nevertheless, he maintained his dignity, and his achievements still inspire people who understand the great pleasure of running, and running fast.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-During the first two decades of the 20th century, when long-distance running was a sport with few participants but thousands of spectators, Tom Longboat was the dominate competitor. A Canadian-born Onondaga Indian, he battled racism, rumors of alcohol abuse, and poor training habits to rise to the top of his sport. Longboat won scores of road and track races in North America and Europe from 1905 to 1930, including the Boston Marathon. Batten presents a balanced portrait of this preeminent sports personality who is still considered Canada's greatest marathon runner. In addition, he provides insight into how the sport was viewed at that time and explains the significance of the Olympic and Boston marathons and other races. The book provides a glimpse into life at the beginning of the 20th century and insight into media influence. The two dozen black-and-white archival photographs, many of Longboat competing in various races, add to the book's value.
Michael McCullough, Byron-Bergen Middle School, Bergen, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-12. The early-twentieth-century longdistance runner Tom Longboat, a Native American, recently topped contemporary hockey marvel Wayne Gretsky on a list of "The 100 Most Important Canadians in History." Longboat began his running career at 17 and was soon racking up victory after victory, including a recordsetting finish in the 1907 Boston Marathon. His amazing winning streak was peppered with rare but spectacular defeats, including a collapse at the 1908 Olympics that led some to question whether he had been slipped a small dose of strychnine. Throughout his career, Longboat endured a series of lessthanscrupulous managertrainers, including one who repeatedly wrote racist remarks about him in newspapers. Looking from the outside in, Batten does a capable job of presenting Longboat's exciting life and the challenges he faced as a Native American, but readers get little from the runner's own perspective. They'll be left wondering about the heart of the man who won the medals. Randy Meyer
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Tundra Books (March 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887765076
• ISBN-13: 978-0887765070
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.3 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #449,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Track & Field
  • #19 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Olympics
  • #95 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional Canada

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