The Wildest Race Ever: The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon

With her signature narrative zeal and goggle-eyed characters, McCarthy takes readers to the first Olympic marathon in America, held during the St. Louis World's Fair. The vehicles trailing the pack kicked up dust that choked and blinded the runners. Cuban Felix Carvajal couldn't resist stopping for fresh fruit or practicing his English with cheering onlookers. South African Len Tau "was chased a mile off course by an angry dog." American Fred Lorz, first over the finish line, probably rode most of the course in a car. And Thomas Hicks, another American and the eventual official winner, was given a concoction of egg white and strychnine en route. Readers who have grown up with highly orchestrated sports events on TV may be surprised to learn just how slapdash, hazardous, and idiosyncratic early competition could be. But the story requires a marathoner's concentration to keep track of its 10 main characters, and the subject matter doesn't offer McCarthy the kind of meaty ambiguity that have made her previous works like Earmuffs for Everyone! so fun and compelling. Ages 4-8. Agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary. (Mar.)

Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 3--McCarthy presents a look at the first Olympic marathon held in America. This 24.85-mile race took place in 1904 and was part of the St. Louis World's Fair. The 32 runners who endured the 90-degree heat were offered water only at mile six and mile 12. The track was dirt, and cars and bicycles churned up so much dust that the athletes could hardly breathe. The illustrations are rendered in colorful acrylics, and McCarthy portrays her cartoonlike characters with bug eyes with tiny black pinpricks for pupils. The tone is lighthearted and humorous; for instance, McCarthy describes the antics of runner Felix Carvajal, a mailman from Cuba, who wore trousers and work shoes, pausing to chat with passersby to practice his English and resting in an apple orchard when he got hungry. Endpapers are comprised of photographs of World's Fair postcards of the time period, which enhances the historical flair. VERDICT Children will enjoy hearing about this unusual race and comparing the differences between this competition and marathons today.--Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

With her signature narrative zeal and goggle-eyed characters, McCarthy takes readers to the first Olympic marathon in America, held duringthe St. Louis World's Fair. The vehicles trailing the pack kicked up dust thatchoked and blinded the runners. Cuban Felix Carvajal couldn't resist stoppingfor fresh fruit or practicing his English with cheering onlookers. SouthAfrican Len Tau "was chased a mile off course by an angry dog." American FredLorz, first over the finish line, probably rode most of the course in a car.And Thomas Hicks, another American and the eventual official winner, was givena concoction of egg white and strychnine en route. Readers who have grown upwith highly orchestrated sports events on TV may be surprised to learn just howslapdash, hazardous, and idiosyncratic early competition could be. But thestory requires a marathoner's concentration to keep track of its 10 maincharacters, and the subject matter doesn't offer McCarthy the kind of meatyambiguity that have made her previous works like Earmuffs for Everyone!so fun and compelling.—Publishers Weekly "December 7, 2015 "