“Trudy’s Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World by Storm” by Sue Macy, illustrated by Matt Collins.
Holiday House, New York, 2017, 32 pages, Grades 2-4.
Swimming is one of the most enjoyable sports during the summertime. Usually, we think of leisurely splashing around in the water and then lying in the sun. However, there is another side of swimming and that is competitive swimming. Besides Olympic speed events, there is also distance swimming.
One of the most famous distance swims is the English Channel. Though only 21 miles at its narrowest point, tides and currents usually force swimmers to cover extra distances to reach the opposite shore. It is at this spot that Gertrude Ederle began her famous swim across the English Channel. Sue Macy tells the exciting story of the event in the interesting book, “Trudy’s Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World by Storm.”
On the morning of August 6, 1926, the water in the English Channel is fairly calm. An American gold medal Olympian walks down to the English Channel washing up on the French coast. This woman, Trudy Ederle, is already a renowned swimmer. But now she wants to have her name etched in history as the first woman ever to swim the English Channel. A few men have completed the arduous, painful swim but no woman has ever completed the adventure.
Trudy selects the normal starting point in France that is 21 miles from England. Many swimmers get blown off course by powerful currents and are occasionally stung by jellyfish. The cross currents cause the distance to increase and usually leave most swimmers in a state of exhausted defeat. Hoping this does not happen, Trudy dons her red swim cap, coats her body with grease to ward of the cold, and enters the Channel.
Trudy’s trainer, Bill Burgess, has failed the crossing 12 times before successfully conquering the Channel. Burgess, Trudy’s sister and father, and several other crewmen follow her in a boat. With dauntless determination, Trudy plunges through the water, hour after hour. Taking an occasional break while treading water, to drink hot chicken broth, Trudy turns again and powerfully swims toward England.
Now the wind and the sea begin to churn up waves. Trudy is caught in a cross current that will take her far away from her original target destination. Her arms begin to tire and she wonders if she has the strength to make it. The boat crew continues to encourage her. Most of the grease has washed off as Trudy continues to plunge through the water. With the cold and exhaustion beginning to set in, the brave woman struggles through the increasing waves. Can she overcome these freezing odds? What happens?
Does Trudy Ederle swim across the English Channel? Does she succeed where many men and all women have failed? Where does she find her courage? Have you ever done anything really painful and difficult? Where did you find the strength? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this exceptional biography, “Trudy’s Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World by Storm” by Sue Macy.
This is an exceptional story about a brave woman overcoming daunting odds. It is a story of courage and determination. The illustrations are striking and you will want to root for Trudy throughout the book. It is a great book to read aloud in class or to share with a younger member of your family. I hope you get a chance to read this book and appreciate the great character of Trudy Ederle. I am sure you will enjoy it, I certainly did.
