Synopses & Reviews
Twelve-year-old Noelle Onesti has gymnastics in her blood. Not only does she have natural ability, talent and drive, but back in Romania, her mother was also an elite gymnast. So if there's one girl destined to come home with a gold medal at the Junior National Championships, it's Noelle.
But traveling to and competing at the competition is expensive, and the Onesti family is dealing with some major challenges. Their home is facing foreclosure, their business isn't doing so well, and money is tighter than ever. Knowing how much a trip to the Junior National Championships will cost, how can Noelle ask her parents to make the sacrifice?
Noelle wishes she could talk to her teammates - graceful Christina, quiet Jessie, and spunky Britt - but they're so excited for the trip that she feels like she'll let them down. She considers reaching out to the older (and super cute) boy at her gym, but she gets tongue-tied just being around him. And with every day that passes, it becomes less and less likely that Noelle will get a shot at competing, much less taking home a gold medal. If asked to choose between her family's happiness or her gymnastics future, of course it she'd pick her family. But will she be forced to make that choice?
Synopsis
Twelve-year-old Noelle Onesti has gymnastics in her blood. Not only does she have natural ability, talent and drive, but back in Romania, her mother was also an Elite gymnast. So if there's one girl destined to come home with a gold medal at the Junior National Championships, it's Noelle.
But Noelle's a worrier, and she knows it won't be easy for her family to put up the money to send her to the competition. She tries to focus on her training, but when a boy asks her to the school dance, her mind is a whirlwind of dresses, crushes, and family responsibilities. Noelle knows that if she wants to achieve her Olympic dreams, she can't let anything get in the way. Her teammates-graceful Christina, quiet Jessie, and lively Britt-can't wait for the trip to Junior Nationals in Philadelphia, and Noelle doesn't want to let them down.
About the Author
Dominique Moceanu (www.dominique-moceanu.com) is the author of the
New York Times best-selling
Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion. As a member of the women's gymnastics team, she won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. She now tours the country as an ambassador for the sport, doing clinics and summer camps and speaking with young gymnasts. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband and two children.
Alicia Thompson (www.alicia-thompson.com) is the author of the young adult novel Psych Major Syndrome. She also co-wrote an updated version of The Secret Language of Birthdays for teens, and has contributed stories to Girls' Life. She lives with her husband and son in Riverview, Florida.
Together, they are the authors of The Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series: Winning Team and Balancing Act plus Reaching High and Unexpected Twist (both scheduled for Summer 2012).