Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America

Written by Karen Blumenthal

Narrated by Christina Moore

Did you know that state universities in Virginia turned away more than 20,000 women in the early 1960s, but not a single man was denied admission? In the 1970s, the University of Georgia men's golf team got all the golf balls they needed, while the women's team was allowed only one per round. Here listeners are treated to the origins of the historic Title IX legislation that, among other things, mandated equal funds must be available to boys' and girls' activities and interests. The seeds for Title IX were sown amidst the violent social upheavals of the 1960s. And through the perseverance of many women and civil rights advocates, it opened-and kept open-many doors for women beginning in 1972. A Junior Library Guild Selection and winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award, Let Me Play is an inspiring collection of stories about women fighting for equality. Read by Christina Moore, this rousing primer is the perfect introduction to a topic that will remain relevant for years to come. "A fascinating look at the birth, growth, stagnation, and final emergence of Title IX."-School Library Journal, starred review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 31, 2008
• ISBN: 9781436187886

Karen Blumenthal

Karen Blumenthal (1959-2020) was a financial journalist and editor whose career included five years with The Dallas Morning News and twenty-five with The Wall Street Journal—where her work helped earn the paper a Pulitzer Prize for its breaking news coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks—before becoming an award-winning children’s non-fiction book writer. Three of her books, Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History, Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different, and Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition, were finalists for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award. Karen was also the author of Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929 (named a Sibert Honor Book), Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX (winner of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award), Tommy: The Gun That Changed America, Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend, and Jane Against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reproductive Rights.

Reviews for Let Me Play

[tahamilton-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was about the implementation of Title IX and the ripple effects it had. Title IX was a law that was passed that said for every boy’s sport an equal girl’s sport had to exist. The book showed some statistics of how the law increased female participation in sports. I liked the amount of pictures shown and the quotes from powerful and respected females about how Title IX changed things. More females were able to go to college because they were now able to get sports scholarships. Females also continued to outpace males in college graduation. I would definitely have this book in my library because many students are unaware that there was a time where females didn’t have sports teams. It’s important for students to realize how far we’ve come, but also how much further we have to go. I think this book will help students appreciate the opportunities they have and maybe push them to demand more.

[tables-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the way this book was organized. The story itself was a great narrative, but enriching the main text were player profiles and instant replays which provided background information and personal stories. The scorecards plainly showed the astounding influence Title IX had on sports and education, and the cartoons were a delight.

[bastet_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A book that surprisingly is not all about sports, but details just why it is that there are so many female newscasters, doctors, lawyers and others in today's society. It's because of Title IX. A great book for adults as well as kids.