Review of The Most Unlikely Champion

[Jose Josphat]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Most Unlikely Champion" by Vera Koo.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Great success is achieved where there is great perseverance. Pain can be a destructive but also constructive force when used to build up. The Most Unlikely Champion by Vera Koo brings out this pretty well. Koo is of Chinese-American origin. She was born in China. Later, together with her family, they migrated to the United States. She has set and broken world records in shooting competitions. She has won many gold and bronze medals. From a very early age, she experienced the challenges of being an immigrant. In addition to the challenges, she suffered from an inferiority complex associated with her looks. This made her feel not good enough. Suffering from the pain of losing her child and her mother-in-law, Koo learned to seek strength in keeping herself busy. After being married for twenty years, her husband became unfaithful to her. This caused her great pain. However, she decided to use this pain as a source of her strength. She participates in and wins the shooting competition while she was sixty-six years of age. By this, she proves that age is just but a number and it shouldn’t limit you to achieving your goals. Koo’s life has been characterized by unmounted challenges and remarkable achievements. I would describe her as a ‘woman of steel.’

There are several things that I like. This book is written in short paragraphs which makes it easy and enjoyable to read. The author incorporates humor in her writings. For example, she narrates how eating a lot of food when she was sick would aid the recovery process. This makes the read more appealing. The book has captured the emotional aspect of the author which I was able to relate to. It helps us appreciate that no matter how insignificant or inferior you may seem to others, you can still rise and be the best that you can ever be.

The author leaves a reader in suspense when she narrates the story of her husband’s infidelity. The husband promises to end the affair but she never indicates to the reader if he indeed ended it. I didn't like this part of her narration.

The book is well organized and has a consistent flow. There is neither use of vulgar language nor profanity. The author has narrated her life in a simple yet elaborate way. I did not encounter any grammatical errors. I can only conclude that it was exceptionally edited. Therefore, I rate The Most Unlikely Champion 4 out of 4 stars.

Family, culture, hard work, perseverance, pain, and loss are the main themes depicted in the book. The author affirms the possibility of going against all odds and that hard work pays. I recommend this book to those who have gone through the pain and loss of their loved ones. It can be an encouragement that it is possible to rise again and develop the courage to face life. Koo is a Christian. She narrates how her faith and trust in God helped her remain strong. The book would also appeal to Christian audiences. Lastly, those who enjoy reading memoirs would love this read.

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The Most Unlikely Champion
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[Tarie07]

I enjoyed reading this book and the great lessons it came with. I must admit you did its review great justice.