The Girl Who Figured It Out: The Inspiring True Story of Wheelchair Athlete Minda Dentler Becoming an Ironman World Champion

Gr 1-5–Dentler pens a breathtakingly inspiring memoir, told in picture book form. Readers follow the story of the author, whose journey was anything but easy. After Dentler is diagnosed with polio, her birth mother is unable to care for her and leaves her in an orphanage in India, where she is later adopted by a supportive New York family. From there, Dentler faces numerous challenges as she navigates a world that overlooks her because of her disability. Yet, with the encouragement of her family, she realizes that she can do difficult—seemingly impossible—things. Dehennin’s stunning digital art brings this testament to the human spirit to life. The images vividly depict each stage of emotion that Dentler experiences while she, for example, struggles to do chores, learns how to swim, and runs her first race. As she discovers her passion for athletic competitions, she finds a running team that introduces her to hand cycling. This raw true story shows not only her greatest success, but also her very real failures, allowing readers to see her transformation from vulnerable orphan to confident world champion. Her motto, “I was stronger, I was smarter, I was more confident!” becomes a rallying cry for anyone facing obstacles.