Martina
YA More than a sports biography, this is a candid view of one of tennis' most illustrious stars. Navratilova has won enough championships to gain her a permanent place in tennis history, and while tennis matches play a prominent role in the book, they are by no means the only focus. Readers follow Navratilova's early years in Czechoslovakia and her close but sometimes difficult relationships with her parents and grandparents; her early rise in tennis under the coaching of George Parma; and her difficult decision to defect to the U.S. at the age of 18. Readers learn of her fast-food binges (she was up to 167 pounds at one point), her impulsive shopping (she once owned 7 cars including 2 Rolls-Royces, a Mercedes and a Porsche) and her struggle to reach the top. She discusses her fellow professionals with respect and her controversial relationships with women with discretion. Navratilova comes alive in this book: outspoken, humorous, disarming and friendly. One can understand how she and Chris Evert Lloyd, while fierce rivals, remain good friends. Teens will relate to Martina's independence, spirit and open-mindedness while absorbing some tennis history. Diana Hirsch, PGCMLS, Md.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.