Gold Medal Summer

Gold Medal

by Donna Freitas

Joey Jordan loves 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.

Genres: Sports, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Friendship, Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Donna Freitas is the author of The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, Consent: A Memoir of Unwanted Attention, and many other novels and nonfiction books for adults, children, and young adults. Her latest YA novel is a rom-com that takes place in her favorite city, Barcelona: Stefi and the Spanish Prince. She has been featured on NPR and The Today Show, and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The LA Times, among many other places. Donna currently serves on the faculty at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s MFA program. She also lives half the year in Barcelona where she loves partaking of its many bakeries and delicious restaurants galore. Learn more about Donna at www.donnafreitas.com and on Substack: https://donnafreitas.substack.com.

Reviews

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 a cute boy. Then her assistant coach has an idea that might help Joey win, but it means going behind her strict coach’s back. Joey needs to decide what she wants, and if she’s brave enough to go after it.

GOLD MEDAL SUMMER is a perfect middle grade novel for tweens interested in sports, coming of age and friendship. Writer Donna Freitas’s experience as a competitive gymnast gives the book a realistic feel while staying true to the sport without sanitizing the competitiveness and sometimes unkind words from coaches.

GOLD MEDAL SUMMER would be a great addition to classrooms and libraries.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved and been a fan of gymnastics my entire life, and I especially love the summer Olympics and watch everything I can of each gymnastics event, so I loved this book.

Joey Jordan follows in her older, retired (from the sport) gold medalist sister Julia's footsteps and Joey pretty much eats, breaths, and sleeps gymnastics. She hits some bumps in the road when her best friend, trainer and gold medalist, Trish, deals with some physical issues with her body and Joey starts getting more interested in boys. But she wants so much to win Regional and move on to National. So what's a girl to do?

Her coach reminded me of Abbey Lee Miller of Dance Moms because he seems so mean, just as I always thought Ms. Miller was so mean to her students. Yet, they still went to her because she created winners. Both have a hard core set of rules to follow, and Joey has to decide whether to follow them or break them. It's a hard thing to give up being a typical teenager for a passion.

I thought the author did a superb job of describing the moves on the various apparatus and I could easily visualize the moves. I thought it was also real-to-life regarding how hormones start to kick in and one becomes interested in some more than a platonic relationship but at times one has to make choices.

[Princess Bookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 like her.

Joey wants to win the Gold. Not the Silver or the Bronze, but the Gold.

Joey spends all of her time training, she doesn’t have time for anything else. As she watches her friend Alex give up the dream of gymnastics, it just encourages Joey to spend more time focusing on herself than other things such as boys.

But as a boy comes back to town named Tanner, Joey has a lot of decisions to make and fast! A gymnast must focus. She must not let boy drama stand in her way.

Joey knows she can be better, do better; if only she had a better routine to fit her needs and talents so she goes behind her coach’s back and starts practicing with someone else. It’s just what she needs to win Nationals. With the support of her family (finally) and friends she believes this will be the chance she has been wanting for.

Gold Metal Summer was a fun read. I actually knew all the lingo for bends and tumbles because I have watched a few shows and read a few books about gymnastics. I wasn’t completely in the dark, I knew what Joey was talking about!!! I could see her doing the moves in my mind.

This novel was a bittersweet read. It made me so happy. I felt giddy for most of it wanting to succeed in this dream with her.

Overall: What can I say? This book actually had depth to it, but it was also quirky and fun. I liked experiencing Joey’s life with her. Joey was such a serious girl who had a bit of fun trapped inside her just waiting to get out. And the pool scene with Tanner, so cute. I could easily relate to her. I loved how much it could change so quickly and how she had to handle it fast. Gold Metal Summer is a novel to read if you like competitive sports or have a gymnast inside you waiting to get out.

Cover: Love it! The way she is posing, duh it totally fits! Go Joey!!!

What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
______________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com

[nona ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean the ending was the typical pre-teen-book ending, but it was so good!
It had so many great wisdoms and motivations and it was written pretty realistic!
After having done gymnastics for 4 years professionally and quitting one year ago, I am really motivated to start doing it more again as a hobby at home!

[Sara G · Rating 5 out of 5]

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, never turn vicious, conniving, or actively harmful, like they sometimes tend to in books like these to add drama. This book is about Joey and Joey gets to shine, her results completely depending on her hard work and dedication. I would have loved it as a kid and I would absolutely recommend this for a kid.

[Ronica Stromberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the cover, I was expecting this book to be commercial fluff, but it surprised me and dug deep into the psyche of gymnasts.

The main character, Joey Jordan, has decided to sacrifice “normal” teen experiences to devote most of her time to practicing gymnastics to win a gold medal. Her sister previously won gold, and the girls’ parents support Joey financially but fear seeing her injured so don’t attend her meets. The story and situations seemed credible, and I bought into the storyline even though I don’t typically read sports stories.

I considered giving this book 5 stars, but in the last quarter of the book, after Joey goes to her coach to tell him of her new routine, the pacing seems off. A bunch of short, sappy scenes are crammed together like a battered bow on what had been a neatly wrapped package.

[Avery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever dreamed that one day you could be a gold medal gymnast? That I'd what Joey Jordan wishes every day. This book wasn't very long, only 231 pages. I would say this book is geared towards 8-12 year olds. This is the story of Joey Jordan, a gymnast that dreamed of one day becoming a gold medal gymnast. She wants to change her routine, but she has to go behind her coaches back to do it. And her best friend is quitting gymnastics. Then on top of that, Tanner has moved back into town, and Joey thinks she likes him. I liked Joey in parts of the book, but not in all of it. Sometimes she became boring. She acts like a real person because she isn't to far fetched. I dont think there was a moral to this story, it was just written for the pure joy of it. "If good medal glory does ever happen to me, Joey Jordan of the gansett stars, lover of the beam and floor, hater of the vault, proud wearer of the sparkly leotard, tears will not be on the menu that day. I'll be smiling as big as ever on the podium." I thought this line was very important to this story. It really gave you an idea of what the main character was like. It was set in the present. The author painted a picture in my mind to tell me what everything looked like. I think people that really like sports would enjoy this book. My favorite part of the book was when she was working on her new routines. This book was a fun read, and I really hope you enjoy it.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a gymnast named Joey Jordan. Joey Jordan Loves gymnastics, but can't quite obtain her goal to winning a gold medal. She is very talented but when it comes to her beam routine she's not that good, she never sticks her backflip. Big changes occur: Her best friend is thinking about quitting gymnastics and a cute boy named Tanner moves into town. These changes allow her to keep improving and working on her backflip on beam. Joey gets very disappointed since nationals is almost up and she still doesn't have her beam routine.

The day of nationals came and she was very nervous. After her floor, vault, and bars routine was beam. Her turn was up and her coaches cheered and cheered hoping she stuck her backflip. It was the time, she couldn't believe it, but she stuck it. She stumbled a little overall in her routine, but it was perfect compared to the other gymnasts routines. Awards. Joey was very anxious since she has never one the gold medal. They called Second and first runner ups and she couldn't believe that they didn't call her name. At last it was time to say the golden medal winner, and she couldn't believe it, but it was her. She won the gold medal!

[Alyssa Hanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book gold medal summer written by Donna Freitas is about a young gymnast named Joey Jordan. This book shares the daily struggles she goes through and choices she has to make. Joey Jordan is a elite gymnast, her goal is to do something she has never done before... win gold at a competition. In order to do this Joey has to focus on nothing but gymnastics. Focusing soon becomes hard when an old friend Tanner moves back into town. Also practice becomes a lot harder and Joey loses her closest teammate who is her best friend. This book leaves you wanting to keep reading. What will happen between her and Tanner? Will Joey be okay without her best friend by her side? Will Joey win gold at regionals? These are all questions I was asking myself through the story. If you are interested in gymnastics or are just looking for a good book to read, this is one I suggest.

[Paige]

I read this book a few years ago and loved it! As a gymnast, I was able to relate to many situations that the main character, Joey, went through, but not all of them. I enjoyed this book mainly because it was very unpredictable and that's what made me not want to put it down! I defiantly recommend this book to not only gymnasts, but athletes in general as it has a great plot and not a dull moment!

[Alyssa Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a amazing book so please read it to it is the first gymnastics book that I have ever read so please read it it is one of the best

[Jordyn H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book teaches you to stand up for yourself and to never ever lose confidence in yourself.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to watch Gymnastics if you love Gymnastics you will love this book!

[Berkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a super short read, and it was pretty good, I just felt like it was a little young for me. The storyline kept my interest, I just thought it was kind of cheesy.

[Shayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers Ahead!!!
Gold Medal Summer
By:Shayla Hardee

https://www.scholastic.com/content5/m...

Gold Medal Summer is a story written by Donna Freitas about a gymnast who has a bumpy road to become a gold medalist like her older sister and best friend. Everything was going as usual until boys started to get into the picture and changed all that Joey Jordan and her friends ever knew. Joeys world is turned upside down but changes for the better even if she didn’t expect it to end the way it did. This book shows how a little change might seem bad at first but can end really well in the end.
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Joey Jordan is a gymnast whose life revolves around gymnastics. She did nothing besides gymnastics all summer so she could prove to be a national champion just like her older sister. Her coach seemed like the meanest person on earth and if you made one wrong mood everyone was for sure that he would kill you. The coaches number one rule though is “NO BOYS!!!” so they don’t get distracted. One day though that rule that the girls had followed their entire lives was broken. Joey met an old friend that had changed a lot at the beach during her morning workouts and once they laid eyes on each other it was like it was meant to be or at least that is what Joey and probably the boy which is named Tanner were thinking. Soon after she thinks that she is the only one who is breaking the rule she soon finds out that her best friend Alex is secretly dating a boy also. Soon though Joey realizes that boys do get in your head and can distract you so she decided that Tanner could wait until after she won her gold medal but Alex didn’t think the same and she though so opposite that she quit gymnastics so she could be with her love. Soon though after realizing that she can handle boys and gymnastics Joey confronts Tanner and things go back to the way they used to be and when she finally is at the competition she has a section cheering for her. Which ends in her confidence rowing like crazy and she wins the gold all round and gets to see her friends, family, and even some very close people as she gets what she has dreamed of for years.

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My favorite part of this book would honestly have to be the part where Joey and Tanner are in the pool at Joey’s house and you can sense what is going on with those two before you can even get to read it. I honestly love this book and don’t hate anything about it. This is such a great book to read and imagine. As the story progresses and builds it gets even harder to stop reading. This story relates to my life by having something really important to me and I try to reach that long term goal just like Joey did with her gymnastics.

https://www.eng.ufl.edu/wp-content/up...

Overall I would give this book a 5/5 stars because I absolutely love this book and plan on reading the next book call Gold Medal Winter very soon. Donna Freitas did an amazing job with this book and I wish she would make a whole collection of these books. If my friend asked for a good book to read I would totally recommend it because of how good it was. In the end though this is going to be my favorite book for a long time.

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[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joey Jordan spends the vast majority of her time practicing gymnastics, just like her older sister Julia did before she retired. Her best friend Trish has trained with her since they were tiny, but things are changing. Trish's ankle has been giving her trouble, and as the girls enter high school, Trish is more interested in boys than in practicing nonstop. Joey is interested in Tanner, with whom she had been friends and who has moved back to town. He is interested in her, but when he wants to walk her home from practice and get a milk shake, she freaks-- she doesn't have time to spend with him, and Julia warns her that "boy drama" will slow her down. Joey tells Tanner she can't really hang out with him until after regionals, because she DOES spend a lot of time thinking about him. The assistant coach agrees with Joey that floor routine the head coach wants her to do is boring, so the two work on a jazzy number that Joey really enjoys. She wants to win the national championship like her older sister did, but has to make a choice-- does she want to devote all of her thought and energy to gymnastics, or does she want to have a regular teenage life?
Strengths: Finally! A great book about gymnastics! It is very apparent that Freitas knows her stuff-- the descriptions of events are fantastic. The pull between the drive to succeed and being interested in a boy will make this story relevant to girls who are not into gymnastics as well.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of girls in my middle school who did gymnastics, but I don't seem to have any students who participate. It's more soccer now. Still, a great story!

[Melissa Killian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun gymnastics read for a middle grade audience. I love watching gymnastics during the Olympics and wish I had that kind of skill, but since I'm not built for it, I live vicariously through those who are. I liked the diagrams at the front of the book that show exactly what some of the moves look like, for those who might not know or remember the terminology.

The story is about thirteen-year-old elite gymnast Joey Jordan, who dreams of being in the top spot on the podium and winning a gold medal, just like her older sister Julia. Gymnastics is her life. But this summer brings a lot of changes. Her best friend Alex, currently considered the best of the best, wants to quit gymnastics to spend time with a boy, which would allow Joey a real chance at the gold, but she's never competed without her best friend. Then Joey gets caught up in a little boy drama herself when an old friend, Tanner, moves back to town and wants to hang out. Joey has to figure out if she can balance a "normal" life with her gymnastics dreams because she still really wants that gold medal!

Joey needs to discover who she is and let her light shine, both as a gymnast and as a person, even if her parents and coach aren't entirely supportive of all her goals. (I was actually kind of surprised at her parents' reaction to her gymnastics dream. I'd never seen that portrayed in that way before.)

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adult rating: 4 stars
Kid rating: 4 stars

Joey is an elite gymnast who wants to achieve gold at nationals. The challenge is the amount of time that must be devoted to the sport. To be the best you must give up everything, including a social life. This means no boys, no dating. Joey is doing fine with her coach's rule until her old friend, Tanner, moves back to town. Even as she warns her friend, Alex, to stop dating, her own feelings for Tanner are growing. She must make a choice.

This is a book that will appeal to more than just gymnasts. The message is universal. Stick to your goal. Avoid fleeting urges that might lead you off track. You have your whole life to do all the things you want to do. Have patience.

[Paige H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it kind of takes you through the life of a gymnast showing you the struggles you have to overcome and all the good things that come out of being a gymnast. It also was really is to follow along with what was happening with the character and what she did to help the story move along. I've read things book 2 different times because I do think it was that good.

[Maddie Birk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot! Since i'm in gymnastics this book was really easy to understand. One of the things I didn't like was some parts it was really slow and it didn't catch my attention. Joey is the main character and now shes having hard decisions her best friend Alex is quiting gymnastics for good. She wants to learn new skills but her coach keeps saying no.

[Kim Bakos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story for middle-grade girls. What I like is that the only "romance" is a couple of kisses, so it is a book I would feel comfortable letting a younger girl read if they were a more advanced reader. As someone who was reading books that were totally inappropriate for my age, I am always aware of who might read a story and if it is OK for them.

[Lydia Latch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because I always like watching gymnastics with my sister. My 7 year old sister was upset that she cant read it. I hope to read more books like this in the future. I also read gold medal winter and I really enjoyed it because I figure skated for 6 years.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been amazing so far and it is very inspiring to keep doing what you love even if its hard and to never get up. This is inspiring for younger and older kids. Even if you're not into gymnastics this book can be really inspiring and have an impact on what you do.

[Pamela Israel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was too cliche and predictable for me. And I really didn't like her coach.

[Jia ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please make more!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute gymnastics book similar to some of the teen/tween gymnastics movies on Netflix.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not the best

[nat 🧙🏻📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

GYMNASTICS IS THA SPORT. no but fr fr i remember VIVIDLY there was a hot tub scene where she went swimming with the boy in that book. WTF.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joey Jordan , a gymnast is hoping that this is the year that she will win gold and be at the top of the podium . But will her wish come true ?

[Carolyn Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was sooooo good I love summer and gymnastics books so this was perfect! Absolutely amazing