An interesting title and premise. However, the book is not what it seems to be and it is mostly fiction with very few facts.

I enjoyed this book, but I just didn't LOVE it. I thought the writing was simple and the way that the author set up each "tragedy" allowed me to realize what was going to happen way before it actually did. I thought the characters were interesting, but I just felt like something was missing throughout this book. I wasn't pulled in, and didn't felt as if I needed to keep reading. A lot of other people seemed to love this book, so maybe it was just me.

I ran track and cross-country in junior high and high school and those team mates remain amongst my closest friends today, and Chariots of Fire was my favorite movie. So this book very much appeals to me. Elise Hooper does a great job of bringing some historic figures to life while amalgamating others in a justifiable fashion, which she's explained in the Afterward. The writing may have been a trifle clunky in spots but the fascinating representation of historic events and athletic action fully compensate. Bottom line: it is incredible what these young women achieved, especially considering what they had to overcome in order to do so, from racism, sexism, fascism, poverty, to literal bone crushing injury. Hooray for Hooper giving them the recognition they deserve!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy, Fast Girls will be released July 7, 2020

I really enjoyed this book. I felt the heartache for these girls as they tried their best to achieve their dreams despite a society that thinks they should just be homemakers.

The story of the 1936 Olympics from the female athletes' perspective is any important one.  I approached this book with great anticipation.  But the execution was less than I was expecting. The format of jumping back and forth between athlete stories felt choppy.  Just as I was becoming engrossed in one, the chapter ended and went on to another one. The experience/plight of the female athletes of color was compelling enough to warrant a greater share of the story.  The casual seeming rape of one of the characters as a fifth grader by her male cousin, followed later in the book by the statutory rape of the same character by a female teacher, just was upsetting.  Perhaps what I needed here was a more fictional approach, or strictly non-fictional approach. I just think that the balance truly needed in this historical-fiction book was not achieved.

"Fast Girls" is an engaging historical fiction novel detailing the challenges and obstacles that several girls on the Olympic track team suffered on the road to competing in the Olympic games for 1928, 1932 and 1936.  These challenges included personal shortcomings, race and gender discrimination, catastrophic physical injuries as well as political issues surrounding the Berlin Olympics in 1936.  With deft prose, the author creates in-depth characterizations of each girl, portraying them in such a way that the reader feels invested in their fate.  Although I’m not a particular fan of sports, I still found this book engaging.  I highly recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction, strong characterization and a well-paced story.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

A couple of months ago, I was browsing new and upcoming titles for 2020, when I came across Fast Girls by Elise Hooper. It caught my eye as it was about the Berlin Olympics of 1936 something that I had seen documentaries about and of course we all know Jesse Owens! This was a book about the 1936 women track and field Olympics team. I knew I would want to read it and I am so glad I did.

 It opens with Betty Robinson, a Riverdale Illinois high school student.... Betty can run and run fast. When she hears about a women's track and field team in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, she is determined to be there, but there are obstacles, there had never been a women's track and field team, why women didn't do men's sports!! But  there is a team and Betty competes in the  first-ever women’s team in track and field and she will be back in 1936! 

Then there is Missouri born Helen Stephens.  Helen is poor, she is a bit of a misfit. She is tall and ungainly and doesn't exactly have the best life. Her father was always disappointed that she was born a girl.  Helen is a fighter and she wants an education, despite her father not believing in it. But Helen's mother does and through her education she gets the opportunity compete....Helen is a runner and while she is too young to run in 1928, she is old enough in 1936. 

Finally, we have Louise Stokes, a young African American woman from Malden, Massachusetts. She has a close knit family, she is smart and she is athletic. It isn't easy being one of the few people of color in her town. Louise is athletic too but she sees the example of her Uncle Freddie, a WWI veteran, who's accomplishments are ignored because of the color of his skin. Even so, he is proud for having served his country. He tells her despite challenges she should be as well. Will she be chosen for the 1936 women's team? 

I went into this book never hearing of any of these women. after introducing each woman, I realized that they not based on but they did exist.  I right away started googling and reading about their lives. I want to say thank you to the author for introducing me to Betty, Helen, Louise, and the others like Tidye Pickett and Stella Walsh.... I had only ever heard of Babe Didrikson because of a TV movie in the 70s. The more I read Fast Girls, the more I found myself smiling, sometimes tearing up but always with an huge sense of pride as to what they accomplished. 

There various real life figures featured, some good like Jesse Owens and some not so good. Things get really creepy when the ladies get to Berlin. Helen seems to be the one who has the best idea of what is going on there, but it quickly dawns on the others.  Her scene with Hitler was lets say "interesting". Finally, my favorite line was from Louis, despite the obstacles of women, especially women of color, competing, "Someday they won't be able to stop us girls" . 

Hey Hollywood.... there is a real good movie to be found in their stories. Get on it!

Fast Girls tells a remarkable story based on the lives of three young women: Betty Robinson, Helen Stephens, and Louise Stokes, who were aspiring professional runners and who ultimately worked their way towards a place on the 1936 US Olympic track team for the Olympics in Berlin. Author Elise Hooper draws readers into an absorbing novel about the lives, trials, and successes of each of these women as they overcame obstacles, worked towards their goals, supported each other, and ultimately made history.

Hooper has expressed that she is interested in stories about women in history who many people may not have heard about. She knew that she wanted to tell this story when she heard the true story of the three Olympic track stars that Fast Girls focuses on. Through Fast Girls, we learn about the lives of those athletes at a time when the country was generally highly sceptical of the idea of a woman’s ability to participate in professional athletics.

From the start, readers will feel invested in each girl’s story and how it will develop. Hooper has created three very distinct and memorable characters and the writing flows seamlessly from one character’s story to another’s as they alternate in different chapters. This is a book that is hard to put down, as each girl’s story is unique and interesting to follow. Readers are also fully immersed in the time and places that are described, during the time when women first became involved in Olympic level track and field in the United States.

Betty Robinson was initially discouraged from running. She was told by her school principal that she should not join the boys’ track team. However, her parents fought for her to be able to run, and she ultimately qualified for the Olympic trials for the 1928 Olympics. Betty was involved in an accident, after which it seemed as though she would not be able to participate in the Olympics again. However, Betty is an overcomer and a woman who is truly passionate about running.

Louise loved running; she loved the way it allowed her to stop overthinking and be focused on running alone. She was initially hesitant to commit to the sport and spend less time with her family, however, because of a terrible accident in the past which occurred when she left her siblings alone. Louise wanted to run professionally, but also worried about earning money for her family, who don’t have much. She ultimately became one of the earliest black women professional runners and US Olympians. Louise constantly faced her fears in her personal life and as she competed to run in the Olympics.

Helen lived in the countryside and initially wanted to hang out with the boys at her school, though she was warned not to. One day, she overheard a conversation and learned that her father never wanted her: he wanted a boy. From that moment on, she was determined to feel valued, to make her family and others proud. Her journey was impacted by her experiences with figuring out who she was and why she was different from some of the other girls whom she knew. Helen found a sense of identity through running, as she was fast as lightning and respected for what she did.

One compelling aspect of this book is that each of the three girls had to overcome some form of adversity on her way to the Olympics. Betty had to overcome an injury which had the potential to keep her out of running entirely. Louise had to overcome the racism of her fellow runners, her 1932 coach, and more. Helen had to overcome her own inner uncertainties about her identity as well as her father’s lack of support.

When these women and other women Olympians finally do meet, they offer each other remarkable support and friendship. Hooper paints a memorable picture of the way the women on the team stuck together, helped each other through difficulties and supported each other on their way to success in Olympic running.

Fast Girls discusses meaty topics like feminism, racism, and sexual identity as they impacted the women who ran in the Olympics. Betty’s experiences after initially winning gold in 1928 show what a hard time it was for women to start out in running. One person whom she wrote to wanted to prevent women from continuing to run, saying that running would cause them to have a “masculine physique” and that the women runners should focus on childrearing instead.

It is infuriating to read about the way women runners were treated. In 1936, an article was printed in which its author wondered whether women would be able to handle professional running if they were also mothers, or whether it would distract them. As well, the 1936 team faced threats if they behaved in an “unladylike” way, for instance, drinking at night. Louise had to face the hurdle of being initially excluded from competing because she was black, and from different treatment as a black runner. The world was not used to seeing female runners, but the United States was even less used to seeing black female runners on their Olympic team.

Eventually, as the Berlin Olympics draw close, we learn of talk that athletes considered boycotting the games due to rumors of Hitler’s actions in Germany. Fast Girls does not shy away from describing the fear and controversy surrounding the US team’s participation in an event hosted by a country responsible for terrible bigotry and unthinkably terrible policies towards Jewish people and which was rumored to be planning far worse actions in time.

It is easy to become absorbed in the stories of each of three women and their friends as they journeyed towards their goal of reaching the Olympics. Each must overcome a great deal in order to get to where she wants to be. Each has a compelling and unique story that will keep readers turning the pages of Fast Girls. As well, Fast Girls is a compelling work of historical fiction in that it does not shy away from delving into difficult and sometimes troubling issues in the world and that the runners faced at the time.

A fascinating story about the perseverance of 3 young female athletes who overcame all obsticles to participate in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. At a time when being a female athlete was unheard of, these young women followed their hearts and great desire to compete as a respected athlete. Their stories are amazing. Elise Hooper has written a book that tells a great story. This book would make a wonderful movie someday. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to review this book in advance of publication. My review is my own and is in no way required by the publisher.

Historical fiction is not my favorite book type but was intrigued  by the female athletic angle for this time period.  I am always amazed at how many obstacles there were for women during this 1930s time period.  There are three sprinters from the Womens Olympic team as the main characters and this story mixes fact with some fiction to tell their journey to the Olympics.

This is definitely a book I would recommend to women athletes, historical fiction fans and book clubs. These brave and courageous women need to be remembered. Thanks to the author for bringing this time to life.

Fast Girls by Elise Hooper is an excellent historical fiction novel that is based on real barrier-breaking women that mainly focusses on three women in particular: Betty Robinson, Helen Stephens, and Louise Stokes. Three strong, talented, independent, fiery, talented, and ground-breaking women that persevered through so many barriers, trials, adversities, and nay-sayers to become successful track and field athletes that made it all the way to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
 
To read so many of the things that these women had to hurdle and overcome to be part of the Olympic team that traveled to Berlin on the brink of WWII. To read their separate and intertwined stories, to read about their fears, hopes, and dreams, and to see success be achieved is very, very exciting. As a former college runner, and a huge fan of historical fiction, this book was right up my alley. I truly enjoyed it.
 
I also enjoyed the author's notes of the real life women that graced these pages at the end of the book.
 
5/5 stars
 
Thank you to NG and William Morrow/HarperCollins for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
 
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I loved reading Fast Girls by Elise Hooper! The stories of these women was so poignantly told through Elise Hooper’s writing. I felt I could most relate to Helen Stephen’s story and loved reading about Fulton, as I’m a professor at one of the colleges discussed! This was such a beautifully told historical fiction, it left me reaching for more stories on these women and the real life outcome of each. Couldn’t put this one down and would absolutely recommend!

Elise Hooper does it again with this engaging, historical fiction novel focused on some amazing women.  I love how she takes real life people and creates a fictional version of the historic events they were involved in.  She tackles a lot of different social issues of the 1930's - sexism, racism, classism, all through the lens of the USA Women's Track and Field team.  I am a runner and I love the Olympics, so I was destined to enjoy this book.  Learning about the struggles Louise, Helen and even Betty faced for the opportunity to compete for their country was inspiring.  If you're a fan of Laura Hillenbrand's narrative non-fiction, you should read this book.  Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book!

A perspective often over looked in athletic and world history, female athletes who risked and gave all to pursue something at which they were passionate and talented. Hooper gives a voice to three talented women, each with her own struggles and dreams.

Spanning the years 1928 through 1936, this book gives a fictional account of the real "fast girls" who ran in the Amsterdam and Berlin Olympics.  Chapters alternate among the  main characters,  Betty Robinson, Helen Stephens, Louise Stokes and  their personal trials and tribulations.  I was really uplifted and inspired by these women and the author does a great job of describing the many obstacles women and people of color had to overcome (and sadly still do!).  And I had no idea the Olympics were so political and not necessarily ethical at all times.  I learned a lot!

Wow! Such a great book and a must read for lovers of historical fiction! 

This book is told from three different viewpoints of three very different women.  Told from the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam through the Berlin Olympics of 1936. It was amazingly well researched and I was in awe of the things these women and their peers went through to compete! They endured a ton to pave the way for the rest of us.  

Trigger warning: one of the characters is raped by a family member at age 10. Not graphic but definitely upsetting

This is definitely a book I’ll be recommending to my book club!

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Fast Girls
A Novel of the 1936 Women's Olympic Team
by Elise Hooper
HarperCollins Publishers
William Morrow Paperbacks
Historical Fiction
Pub Date 07 Jul 2020   |   Archive Date 07 Jul 2020

This is a must-read for historical fiction readers!  Well written!  Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins publishers for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.  This book has some emotional jarring parts (rape) which might be hard for some readers.  I enjoyed getting to know the characters and how they supported each other through trying times.

Riveting tale about three female Olympians.

Historical Fiction.

This was a little slice of history I did not know much about and was very exciting to read about. In 1928, Betty Robinson competes in track and field in the Olympics. She is the first to compete. A woman has never competed before. This story will also tell of two other women who defy society's norms and compete in the Olympics.

Hooper's attention to detail was unlike any other. I was glued to the pages and could not stop reading. For any historical fiction fan, this book is a MUST!

Fast Girls is a thoroughly enjoyable book about the power of women and the will to persist and succeed. It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about a book and an author who was new to me. Thank you Elise Hooper for digging into this part of history and teaching many of us something new about a few of the first American women to compete in the Olympics. You don’t have to be a sports fan to feel the building tension, heartache, and excitement in the story of Betty, Louise, and Helen. The novel opened a compelling window into the lives of these women and showed the obstacles in their way. Much that woman take for granted today was difficult and downright demeaning for women athletes in the early twentieth century. I can’t wait to have my library book club read and discuss Elise Hooper’s Fast Girls!