Ace, Marvel, Spy is the fascinating fictionalized biography of tennis phenom and trailblazer, Alice Marble.
Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh
Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Fictionalized Biography, Sports/Tennis, Competition, Espionage, Setbacks and Successes
***This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links
My Summary:
Thanks @HarperMuseBooks for a complimentary eARC of #AceMarvelSpy upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Alice Marble is a real-life tennis phenom who began her tennis career in northern California. Although her family was supportive, they were poor. As Alice won early championships, she was noticed by a coach who took control of her life. This afforded Alice a coach, living arrangements, and a part-time job. Throughout her career, she experienced setbacks and challenges. Alice was determined and relentless in her pursuits. To her athletic achievements, she added editor of Marvel’s “Wonder Women in History” comic series and WWII spy.
My Thoughts:
Setbacks, Sacrifice, and Success…
Setbacks
Alice began her tennis career in northern California with an early disadvantage: poverty. After a few wins, a renowned coach noticed her and made it possible for Alice to receive lessons, compete, and work part-time. Tennis was a series of ups and downs for Alice but she ultimately found success in her second attempt at Nationals in New York. She married secretly because her coach “owned her” and would not be happy with the distraction of a boyfriend/husband. Alice suffered more setbacks when her husband was killed while serving in WWII and she experienced a miscarriage, grief, and depression. She also endured a respiratory illness and anemia which kept her out of tennis for a year. Alice keeps coming back!
A Trailblazer
Alice’s early success changed women’s tennis in two notable ways: she swapped her skirt for thigh-length shorts, and she used a more aggressive serve and volley than other women (hitting like a man). She inspired Billy Jean King and today’s female athletes stand on her shoulders.
More Than Tennis
In addition to dominating women’s tennis in the 1930s, Alice has a surprising number of talents! She was an editor for the Wonder Woman comic series and enjoyed sharing untold stories of amazing real-life women and created the Wonder Women in History series for Marvel.
The U.S. government also tapped Alice to use her tennis talents to spy during WWII. She agreed to the dangerous assignment in an attempt to avenge her husband’s death.
Themes
Thoughtful and discussable themes include relentless determination, sacrifice, competition, trailblazers, grief, and loss.
Content Consideration: illness, inequality, miscarriage, grief (depression), loss, sexism. car accident, death of parent
Recommending Ace, Marvel, Spy:
I’m recommending Ace, Marvel, Spy for fans of untold stories of real-life women. Anyone who enjoys themes of competition and comebacks will find a great deal to enjoy here.
Related: You might enjoy the author’s recent middle-grade novel, Operation: Happy.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Meet the Author of Ace, Marvel Spy, Jenni L. Walsh
Jenni L. Walsh spends her days knee-deep in words in Philadelphia’s suburbia. Beyond words, Jenni is a mama (of a soulful ten-year-old, a dinosaur-loving seven-year-old, and four needy furbabies), a wife, and a Philly and ‘Nova sports fan. Jenni writes engaging stories for adults and middle-grade readers.
Learn more about Jenni and her books at jennilwalsh.com and @jennilwalsh on social media.
QOTD:
Do you enjoy a fictionalized biography?
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Great timing with the Australian Open starting this week.
🎾🎾🎾
Wonderful review, Carol. I’ve not heard of this book, nor Alice Marble. She sounds like a person more people should know about.
She was new to me as well!