Althea Gibson is nothing but trouble!

Everybody says so: her mama, her daddy, her teacher, even the policeman. But Althea doesn't care what they say. She knows she's going to be somebody someday-somebody big.

Buddy Walker knows it, too. As the recreation leader on Althea's Harlem street, he watches her play paddle tennis and sees pure possibility. Buddy buys Althea her very own stringed racket and introduces her to the game of tennis. It's not easy: Althea doesn't like the polite rules of the court. She doesn't like having to act like a lady. And she does not like to lose. But she loves The Game more than anything in the world. Soon Althea is on her way to becoming a great athlete if she can just stay out of trouble!

With lively text and vibrant paintings, author Sue Staffacher and illustrator Greg Couch offer a funny and moving tribute to the first African American ever to compete for and win the Wimbledon Cup. Readers will cheer from the stands as Althea transforms from the wildest tomboy in Harlem to Wimbledon champion.

From the dust jacket