Review: Perfect Match: The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton
Perfect Match: The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton
by Lori Dubbin, illustrated by Amanda Quartey
Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Karin Fisher-Golton
Buy at Bookshop.org
In Perfect Match, author Lori Dubbin recounts the true story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton’s friendship and eventual tennis doubles partnership. As the story opens Althea is already established in her skills, but as a Black American tennis player in the 1950s, she is excluded from the main tennis league. The story flashes back slightly to Angela’s childhood in England in the 1940s, when she is developing a strong interest and talent in tennis, but is unable to join any tennis club because she is Jewish. Angela esteems Althea, and when she has a chance to see her play, she takes it eagerly. Later, when an opportunity to play in the same tennis tour opens up for both of them, they meet and become friends. Eventually Althea and Angela, who both have had trouble finding a doubles partner, decide to pair up to compete in two of the four major tennis tournaments, the French Championship (now called the French Open) and Wimbledon. They work at shifting from playing individually to learning to play effectively as a pair, and ultimately achieve great success.
Dubbin deftly relates a story that takes place over many years of Althea and Angela’s lives, and shows how racism and antisemitism impacted them, in ways that are accessible for a picture book audience. Young sports fans will appreciate how Dubbin depicts the strategies Althea and Angela use to go from playing singles to playing together. The way that Angela goes from admiring Althea to becoming her friend and then playing alongside her at the highest level will inspire young athletes.
Amanda Quartey’s seemingly simple illustrations capture the colors and space of tennis settings and the actions of athletes. The warmth of her depictions are part of what make the friendship between Althea and Angela come through in such a heartfelt way.
An Author’s Note provides biographical information beyond the scope of the story. Action photos of Althea and Angela, individually and together, further bring the book’s subjects to life. A note on the back page lets readers know a little about the author’s sources, which include an interview with Angela Buxton herself.
The Jewish representation in this book depicts both identity and ethnicity. Religion and tradition is not depicted. The overt, exclusionary type of antisemitism that Angela experiences in the 1940s and '50s and the ways it is and is not equivalent to the racism that Althea experiences as a Black American is central to the story, relevant information for today’s young people, and accessible to readers of any background.
In Perfect Match, author Lori Dubbin recounts the true story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton’s friendship and eventual tennis doubles partnership. As the story opens Althea is already established in her skills, but as a Black American tennis player in the 1950s, she is excluded from the main tennis league. The story flashes back slightly to Angela’s childhood in England in the 1940s, when she is developing a strong interest and talent in tennis, but is unable to join any tennis club because she is Jewish. Angela esteems Althea, and when she has a chance to see her play, she takes it eagerly. Later, when an opportunity to play in the same tennis tour opens up for both of them, they meet and become friends. Eventually Althea and Angela, who both have had trouble finding a doubles partner, decide to pair up to compete in two of the four major tennis tournaments, the French Championship (now called the French Open) and Wimbledon. They work at shifting from playing individually to learning to play effectively as a pair, and ultimately achieve great success.
Dubbin deftly relates a story that takes place over many years of Althea and Angela’s lives, and shows how racism and antisemitism impacted them, in ways that are accessible for a picture book audience. Young sports fans will appreciate how Dubbin depicts the strategies Althea and Angela use to go from playing singles to playing together. The way that Angela goes from admiring Althea to becoming her friend and then playing alongside her at the highest level will inspire young athletes.
Amanda Quartey’s seemingly simple illustrations capture the colors and space of tennis settings and the actions of athletes. The warmth of her depictions are part of what make the friendship between Althea and Angela come through in such a heartfelt way.
An Author’s Note provides biographical information beyond the scope of the story. Action photos of Althea and Angela, individually and together, further bring the book’s subjects to life. A note on the back page lets readers know a little about the author’s sources, which include an interview with Angela Buxton herself.
The Jewish representation in this book depicts both identity and ethnicity. Religion and tradition is not depicted. The overt, exclusionary type of antisemitism that Angela experiences in the 1940s and '50s and the ways it is and is not equivalent to the racism that Althea experiences as a Black American is central to the story, relevant information for today’s young people, and accessible to readers of any background.
Perfect Match will be an enjoyable and effective catalyst for discussion for any sports-loving family and/or in first- to fourth-grade classrooms discussing antisemitism, racism, friendship, teamwork, or the history of the twentieth century.
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