Game Changers is an inspiration story for tennis fans and beyond  

Game Changers is the children’s illustrated story of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. It’s a fascinating story because, as I learned from reading the book, there is much more to their story than just the time that they are world champions. Obviously, no world class athlete starts out at the top, but the journey that Venus and Serena Williams did to get there was particularly inspiring for a couple of reasons. For example I knew that their dad had a big influence in their career, but after reading Game Changers, The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Les Cline-Ransome with illustrations by James E. Ransome, I know just how big it was.

The Williams family grew up in Compton, California in the early 1980s. Poverty and violence were the norm in that area and Richard, their father, was laughed at for teaching his kids the supposedly very un-Compton sport of tennis. Richard did the same with Venus and Serena’s three older sisters, but they lost interest in the sport. However, Serena and Venus caught the tennis bug and would lay awake at night wondering if they really could do it.

Spoiler alert: They really could do it. But decades before that the two were throwing footballs to increase their strength, playing with secondhand tennis balls so they’d have to run faster and created tennis drills on their own to improve their skills. Occasionally the girls and their dad would also have to lay flat on the tennis courts when they heard rival gangs exchanging gunfire.

It all started to turn when Venus was 14 and she played her first professional match. Soon after that she was ranked 313 in the world and Mr. Williams was advising the press corps to watch out for Serena. One year later that his prediction came true when she won her first professional match and then three years later when both girls were ranked in the top 50.

You don’t have to be a tennis fan or even a sports fan to be inspired by Game Changers. This is the kind of story that can inspire anyone, regardless of your background skill level, income or what it is you’re trying to do. Game Changers culminates with the duos appearance in the 2002 French Open when they played each other.

The content in Game Changers is great for any age. As a good-night book it’s a bit long to read more than once. It’s a nice length for a good-night book to read once and then let the kids look at the pictures or make out the sight words. Ages 4-9 will get the most out Game Changers, but even those middle school readers who want an inspiring story will enjoy the book.