Jim Thorpe was one of the greatest athletes who ever lived He played professional football Major League Baseball and won Olympic gold medals in track field But his life wasnrsquot an easy one Born on the Sac and Fox Reservation in he encountered much family tragedy and was sent as a young boy to various Indian boarding schoolsmdashstrict cold institutions that didnrsquot allow their students to hold on to their Native American languages and traditions Jim ran away from school many times until he found his calling at Pennsylvaniarsquos Carlisle Indian School There the now-legendary coach Pop Warner recognized Jimrsquos athletic excellence and welcomed him onto the football and track teamsFocusing on Jim Thorpersquos years at Carlisle this book brings his early athletic careermdashand especially his college football daysmdashto life while also dispelling some myths about him and movingly depicting the Native American experience at the turn of the twentieth century This is a book for history buffs as well as sports fansmdashan illuminating and lively read about a truly great American.
