Tumbling

Gr 6–10—Five gymnasts. Five Olympic dreams. Two days to make those dreams into reality. Grace is the coach's daughter and a perfectionist with no other choice but to be the best. With her mother out of the picture and her dad acting more like a coach than her father, she struggles to cope with the pressure and expectations that come along with being the best. Leigh is the powerhouse, Grace's best friend and biggest competition. Underneath her smile and easy laugh, she hides a huge secret. Wilhelmina is an "old-timer" at 20, out to prove that she is still among the elite after missing out on the Olympics four years ago. Camille is back for a second chance at the Olympics after her dream was cut short the first time. But are the Olympics really her dream, or are they her mother's? Monica usually blends into the background but finds herself thrust into the spotlight—and Grace's crosshairs—as she surges through the competition. Who will make it? Who will crack? Told in alternating voices, this work brings the cutthroat world of elite gymnastics to life. Rotations and breaks in competition mark the end of each chapter. A glossary at the end of the book explains frequently used technical gymnastics terms, making the jargon accessible to gymnastics novices. Carter has created five memorable characters whose voices resonate long after the story ends and whose lives outside of the gym (or lack thereof) make them relatable to readers.