ZIMMY

Russian American swimmer Charles Zibelman wowed audiences with his stamina and flair for drama.

Born in St. Petersburg in 1893, Charles (later nicknamed Zimmy) soon relocated to Chicago; like other Jewish families targeted by pogroms, the Zibelmans fled the country for a better life. At age 9, Charles was hit by a trolley, and his legs were amputated. Undaunted, he attached a roller skate to a board and propelled himself with his arms. He made money by offering swimming demonstrations (his missing legs allowed him to bounce “like a cork” in the water). Dubbing himself Zimmy, the Human Fish, he performed at carnivals and competed in international endurance contests. Noting his declining American audiences, the cigar-smoking showman decided to do something impressive in 1937: swim the Hudson River for 145 miles from Albany to New York City. After six days, he succeeded, setting a new record. Shepperson’s cartoon illustrations vividly convey both setting and Zimmy’s determination, while Adler’s text is upbeat and engaging, with well-chosen biographical details (for instance, Zimmy’s insistence that “cigars were as important to him as goggles”). The book’s final lines, however, offer a dubious takeaway: “Zimmy was unique. He refused to allow his disability to limit him.” Adler risks implying that disabled people facing societal or physical barriers simply aren’t trying hard enough. Most figures, including Zimmy, present white.

An absorbing introduction to a talented showman and athlete, marred by a problematically framed conclusion.