Smith’s story told in verse along with bold, colorful illustrations by Bryan Collier combine for a powerful biography of one of the country’s best known athletes. Smith divides the story into twelve rounds, each of which reads as a chapter explaining an important era of Ali’s life.
Each round begins with a quote pertinent to the upcoming chapter. The story begins with a lyrical description of the baby Cassius Clay, born in 1942 in racially divided Kentucky. Smith includes an anecdote in which someone steals Clay’s bicycle. He wants revenge but a police officer informs him, “First, kid, you hafta learn to fight!” Clay takes these words to heart, and his career in fighting begins.
Smith includes many of Clay’s boxing highlights, such as his gold medal turn in the 1960 Olympics, and he explains Clay’s conversion to Islam which leads him to change his name to Muhammad Ali, which means “worthy of praise, high-exalted one.” He also covers Ali’s refusal to join the Army when drafted because it conflicts with the beliefs of his faith. This decision costs him his boxing title and, for several years, his ability to compete.
The story also includes some of Ali’s most notable fights, such as those against George Foreman and Joe Frazier, and it concludes with his current and enduring battle, that against Parkinson’s disease. The portrayal here is one of a tough, disciplined, principled man who influenced his sport perhaps more than anyone else thus far. Twelve Rounds to Glory was awarded the Coretta Scott King award in 2008.
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