Gold Medal Summer by Donna Freitas

Pages: 231

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Sports fiction (Gymnastics)

Notes for Parents: There is no content that should be of concern to parents.

The Back Cover

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. She 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?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author holds a PhD in religious studies and is a frequent university lecturer, especially on topics like belonging and alienation of young women and teens. She has written a companion book to this one called Gold Medal Winter about a figure skater.

What’s good?

Strong themes and a realistic plot makes this a fun and engaging story about a teen gymnast who must make some important decisions. Despite having many angles to the storyline, the plot is easy to follow and reflects not only the many issues the average teen faces, but the unique issues of elite teen athletes. Main character Joey is instantly likable, narrating the story with sincerity in a genuine voice. Themes include friendship, tough choices, hard work, self-expression, confidence, pressure, and goal-setting. The story includes a light romance.

Best Part: Joey Jordan.

What isn’t good?

The mean girl is a little too mean and the coach is a little too stubborn, making them seem like cartoonish stereotypes. The passive support reluctantly given by Joey’s parents is strange. There are lots of technical gymnastics terms, but it doesn’t hinder the story most of the time, and there is a handy illustrated guide of some of the moves at the beginning of the novel.

Worst part: Sarah Walker.

Recommendation ☻☻☻☻☺ (4/5)

There was no grit or great conflicts; it wasn’t edgy or even particularly original, but its simple plot, heartfelt narrative, and realistic characters made this story entertaining and inspiring. It will appeal mostly to young teens, especially gymnasts and fans of the sport, but the story will be relatable to many. Recommended.

Freitas, Donna. Gold Medal Summer. New York: Scholastic, 2012.