Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Parents' Guide to

I Am Muhammad Ali: Ordinary People Change the World

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Upbeat bio of "The Greatest" features courage, principles.

I Am Muhammad Ali: Ordinary People Change the World Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is an engaging portrait of a hero who stands firm at enormous personal cost and goes on to become "The Greatest." Author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopolous spotlight the noted boxer and civil rights icon whose hard work, persistence, and determination in standing by his principles raised him to legendary status. Part of the Ordinary People Change the World series, I Am Muhammad Ali is overly rosy in spots -- for example, the authors focus on relatable issues like being a kid on the receiving end of discrimination, and portray the boxing world as a paradise of interracial harmony, never mentioning the physical injuries and brain damage Ali sustained as a result of his career path.

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate