Fear of Falling

The Gymnasts #16

by Elizabeth Levy

Everybody knows Jodi is no chicken - but lately she panics every time she gets on the beam. Why is she so scared all of a sudden? Is it the new trick she's working on - or something else? Jodi can't figure it out. It's driving her crazy - and so is her coach. The more he tells her not to worry, the scarier it gets.

Genres: Childrens

99 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1991

About the author

Elizabeth Levy has been writing and publishing books for over thirty years and sometimes now she meets kids whose parents read her books when they were children! She has written over 80 books, a number that continues to surprise her, as it surprises her how long she's been at it.

Over the years they've printed lots of her books - over five million of them.

She loves to try writing different types of books - everything from funny mysteries to novels about kids who get in trouble to history.

One of the most pleasant surprises about writing is that she's been invited to travel all over the country and even the world speaking to children, teachers, and librarians. She's made some wonderful friendships and gotten lots of ideas for her books. One of the most special treats is that kids have drawn wonderful pictures of one of her favorite characters, Fletcher.

She grew up in Buffalo, New York, then went to Brown University, where she majored in history. When she graduated, she came to New York City and worked for ABC-TV and then for Senator Robert Kennedy. She has lived in New York ever since, and she loves it. She knows all the best places for salami, she has run four marathons, and she has completed many 5-borough bike tours, so she thinks she really knows this place well.

At certain times of the year, she can be found out at Shea Stadium watching her team, the New York Mets. She has always loved baseball.

Mostly she enjoys hanging out with her friends. They spend lots of time going to movies or plays, playing sports, having meals together.

When she's alone and not writing, she is usually reading. She reads mysteries a lot, always has, which is probably why many of her books are mysteries.

Reviews

[Kate H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a bit cheesy but I loved it growing up because I always wanted to take gymnastics but we did not have the funds to afford it. It is fairly realistic in the level of skill that girls obtain and it gives you plenty of gymnastics whilst still allowing for real lie stories and difficulties in the books.

[Olive Guidry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another new one! And another one where the theme actually kind of mirrors my own life at the moment, wtf. Not that I take gymnastics or am actually scared of something like Jodi, but I'm having a bloody lot of trouble with a new step and can feel it getting to me, and I can understand Jodi's frustration when she sees everyone else but her mastering the new dismount and her feelings that she's never going to get it right. Of course she more or less gets it in the end and you know now she's that close she'll eventually nail it. Finger crossing for my own current step o' doom that by next Wednesday I am that close to nailing it ;)

Also, suddenly her mother is married and Nick is her brother and there's a new baby on the way! And then the new baby appears. Yet the girls are still all eleven I think?

[Torey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like me and the beam.. :)

[Jenna (Falling Letters)]

Found a reading log from grade two.