Gold Medal Summer, Donna Freitas
Gold Medal Summer, Donna Freitas
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
Club: $9.97

Gold Medal Summer

Author: Donna Freitas

Narrator: Jaselyn Blanchard

Unabridged: 5 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/01/2012

Synopsis

Joey Jordan loves gymnastics: the thrill of performing a backflip on the beam, the cheers of the audience when she sticks a landing. But even with all her talent and style, she’s never quite made it to that gold medal stand. Now big changes shake up Joey’s life in and out of the gym. Joey wants to break out some daring new beam and floor routines—but she’ll have to defy her strict coach to do it. Her best friend, Alex, is thinking about quitting gymnastics for good. And an old friend named Tanner just moved back to town, and he’s suddenly gotten very, very, cute. Can Joey handle all the challenges coming her way, and make her gold medal summer happen at last? Drawing on her real-life experience as a competitive gymnast, acclaimed novelist Donna Freitas delivers both a terrific gymnastics story and a classic novel about stretching some limits, bending the rules, and finding your balance.

About Donna Freitas

Donna Freitas began her career as a competitive gymnast at the age of eight. She regularly medaled on beam and floor at the state level, and she competed at the Annual Regional Championships with her team until an injury led to her retirement at age fifteen. The author of three young adult novels—The Possibility of Sainthood, This Gorgeous Game, and The Survival Kit—and four adult nonfiction books, she lives in Brooklyn.

About Jaselyn Blanchard

Jaselyn Blanchard attended New York University’s Steinhardt School in Vocal Performance (Music Theatre). While at NYU, she performed in numerous Steinhardt and NYU productions, including 110 in the Shade, Language of Angels, and On My Way: A Cabaret. She continued her education at Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium, where she recently completed her Masters in Fine Arts – Acting. While at Brown, she has appeared in numerous Brown/Trinity Rep productions and was featured as Nimue in Trinity Repertory Company’s production of Camelot.

Reviews

Goodreads review by PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps

Joey Jordan never wins her gymnastics meets. The younger sister of former national champion Julia Jordan, Joey’s artistic skills shine, but don’t have the power winning takes. Alex, her gold medal winning best friend is more interested in her new boyfriend than her sport. Even Joey is distracted by......more

Goodreads review by Princess Bookie

My Thoughts: Do you like gymnastics? Watch Make It Or Break It on ABCFamily? This book reminds me so much of Make It Or Break It, which I love. We are introduced to Joey who is into gymnastics. She wants to follow in her older sister Julia’s footsteps. She wants to be as great as her, but not retire......more

Goodreads review by Sara G

There's just something about sports books about girls that always warms my heart. And this one is lovely. The characters are acting realistically for their age and what they're experiencing, there's no contrived drama, Joey, Alex, and all the other kids are, while sometimes messy and a bit petty, ne......more

Quotes

“Successfully reflects the competitive gymnast’s spunk, thanks to Donna Freitas’ flashier style and relatable protagonist.” New York Times Book Review

“Freitas offers young readers plenty to relate to: living in the shadow of a perfect older sibling, battling with parents over life’s choices, and handling insecurities that make it seem like failure is looming large. Her story also focuses intently on gymnastics: its demanding training, the rivalries between competitors, and the challenges of a sport the requires physicality, grace, and showmanship…Captivating.” Publishers Weekly

“Freitas writes knowingly of this sport and never sugarcoats descriptions of competing through injury, confidence-destroying snide remarks from competitors, and seemingly cruel ultimatums from coaches…A cut above the usual sports fare, this makes a good choice fore gymnastic fans not quite ready for Joshua C. Cohen’s Leverage.” Booklist

“A story that handsprings away from romance and toward a commendable joy in accomplishment.” Kirkus Reviews

“The novel gives an intimate look at the grueling world of competitive gymnastics.” Children’s Literature

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