Ping-Pong Shabbat: The True Story of Champion Estee Ackerman

K-Gr 3–Koffsky’s biographic tale shows a dynamic young athlete faced with a tough choice between the value of faith and a championship game. Inspired by watching her dad and brother play, Estee works hard to become one of the best ping-pong players in the United States at the young age of 11. Her passion for the game only comes second to her dedication to her Jewish faith. Estee’s family practices the sacred day of Shabbat to connect to God and family. As Estee continues to advance as a player, she earns a spot in the U.S. National Table Tennis Championships—a dream come true. However, when faced with the ultimatum to either play on Shabbat or give up her spot in the championship round, Estee inspires the world by remaining true to her beliefs. Regardless of religion, readers will be able to relate to and be uplifted by Estee’s choice. Koffsky describes the importance of Shabbat in a simple way that younger children will be able to understand. The illustrations contain a powerful punch in conveying the fast-paced nature of ping-pong.