Althea Gibson was the quickest, tallest, most fearless athlete in 1940s Harlem. She couldn't sit still! When she put her mind to it, the fleet-of-foot girl reigned supreme at every sport?stickball with the boys, basketball with the girls, paddle tennis with anyone who would hit with her.

But being the quickest, tallest, most fearless player in Harlem wasn't enough for Althea. She knew she could be a tennis champion.

Because of segregation, black people weren't allowed to compete against white people in sports. Althea didn't care. She just wanted to play tennis against the best athletes in the world. And with skill and determination, she did just that, eventually becoming the first black person?man or woman?to win a trophy at Wimbledon.

Author Megan Reid and artist Laura Freeman tell the story of history-making Althea Gibson?and the talent, force of spirit, and energy that made it possible for her to break barriers and ascend to the top of the tennis world.

Megan Reid works in books and television. She's lived in seven states and two countries, but now she's happy to be based in New York with her dog, Luna. Meg is also the author of Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis' Fleet-of-Foot Girl. You can visit her online at www.meganreid.co.