School Library Journal

Series Review
Who’s the G.O.A.T.? This series ranks the best players of all time and challenges readers to use their analytical skills to debate the list and create a top ten of their own. The books include newer and older athletes, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo di Stéfano in Soccer’s G.O.A.T., a JLG Selection. And they don’t shy away from controversy, including mention of PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) and segregation in Baseball’s G.O.A.T. Both Soccer and Basketball commingle male and female players, acknowledging stars like Marta and Diana Taurasi alongside Pelé and Wilt Chamberlain. The biggest beef readers will have with these books is the exclusion of some huge stars, like soccer’s Neymar and baseball’s José Altuve. Also, parents may bristle at LeBron James outranking Michael Jordan, but the author offers compelling arguments along the way. A great exploration of educated opinion writing.