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The Sports Beat #6
Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics
New York Times bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein dives headfirst into a scandal of Olympic proportions in this exciting sports mystery. Teen sports reporter Susan Carol is competing as a swimmer at her first-ever Olympic games. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and her best friend Stevie is both amazed and envious. Usually they cover sporting events together, now he’s covering her. But Stevie can’t shake the feeling that something’s not right. Everyone wants a piece of Susan Carol’s success—agents, sponsors, the media. Just how far will they go to ensure that America’s newest Olympic darling wins gold? John Feinstein has been praised as “the best writer of sports books in America today” (The Boston Globe), and he proves it again in this fast-paced novel.From the Hardcover edition.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
154 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
John Feinstein
75 books591 followersJohn Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
July 31, 2021
3 Stars
This was a fun book, especially as a I'm a huge fan of the Olympics! Plus, I read it while the Tokyo games were happening. Was fun to read details about swimming in this book and then see it in real life in Tokyo!
This was a fun book, especially as a I'm a huge fan of the Olympics! Plus, I read it while the Tokyo games were happening. Was fun to read details about swimming in this book and then see it in real life in Tokyo!
June 7, 2022
This is a final book in the series of all the young reporters at different sporting events. This one of course is about the Olympics in the sport of swimming
The strength of this one is it shows all of the pressure of the young people have outside of their area of achievement. This is pressure from agents from parents from friends etc.
Like always other books in the series this is an absolute winner.
The strength of this one is it shows all of the pressure of the young people have outside of their area of achievement. This is pressure from agents from parents from friends etc.
Like always other books in the series this is an absolute winner.
August 1, 2021
And so it ends. With the first book released in 2005 and the final one in 2012, John Feinstein's debut series for kids, The Sports Beat, takes a passionate, nostalgic view of sport, following teenagers Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson as they learn the ins and outs of journalism by reporting on the most compelling athletic events of their era. Things are changing for Stevie and Susan Carol as book six in the series, Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics, opens. At age fifteen, Susan Carol has grown to six feet tall in the last year and added a lot of lean muscle. Always a good swimmer, in recent months she has catapulted into the conversation of Americans who might compete in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly races at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. That seemed impossible a year or two ago, but now Susan Carol, her father (Reverend Don Anderson), and her coach, Ed Brennan, are headed to Omaha, Nebraska for the Olympic Trials. If Susan Carol punches her ticket to the Olympics, she'll be a millionaire athlete almost overnight.
Stevie has watched in stunned awe as Susan Carol went from just being his girlfriend to becoming America's potential "It" girl. Endorsement dollars from a company like Speedo or Nike would more than pay for Susan Carol's college education as well as that of her siblings, and Reverend Anderson has acquired an agent, J.P. Scott, to help map her future. Susan Carol doesn't want to dwell on money matters, and she's concerned by the influence J.P. is exerting on her father. Never a materialistic man, the reverend's eyes seem full of dollar signs; he sides with J.P. over Susan Carol whenever they disagree about her personal affairs, and Susan Carol fears the stress could impact her performance in Omaha. Stevie, Bobby Kelleher (his mentor journalist from the Washington Herald), and Bobby's journalist wife Tamara Mearns attend the Olympic Trials to support Susan Carol, but once she's on the starting blocks it's all up to her. She'll have to swim the best two races of her life to qualify for London.
Success in the pool makes J.P. even more insufferable, but Susan Carol has always believed in her father to do the right thing. Surely he won't let J.P. ruin Susan Carol's Olympic experience. She loves her teammates, the ambience of London, and the electric excitement of the nearly twenty thousand screaming fans who pack the London Aquatics Centre for the finals of each race. Stevie loves it in London, too: catching quick moments alone with Susan Carol in the Olympic Village, seeing a wide array of world-class athletes vying for gold in their own events, and running into old friends from earlier adventures, such as basketball player Chip Graber and tennis phenom Evelyn Rubin. Stevie and Susan Carol have gained notoriety for exposing major scandals and solving mysteries at the sporting events they covered together, but he'd be just as happy this time to relax, do his job as a freelance columnist for the Washington Herald, and cheer Susan Carol on to gold.
It won't be that simple. When Stevie spots J.P. Scott secretly conversing with an unsavory character in the sports agent business, he suspects something isn't kosher. J.P. wants to promote Susan Carol as a future star if she wins at least one gold, but he's less enthusiastic about committing to her if she falls short. Stevie thinks J.P. is covertly angling to represent one of Susan Carol's opponents, Russian Svetlana Krylova, if she takes gold instead of Susan Carol. That's not illegal, but it's sleazy, and Stevie trusts the agent less than ever. J.P. shows no interest in marketing the other top American butterfly swimmer, Elizabeth Wentworth, who isn't photogenic like Susan Carol or Krylova. A Wentworth double gold would be the worst financial outcome for J.P., but he and his cronies wouldn't try to illegally affect the race outcomes in Susan Carol or Krylova's favor...would they? Stevie intends to find out just how far J.P. would go, all while trying to be a supportive boyfriend as the biggest moments of Susan Carol's life rush ever closer. However it ends, these Olympics will be unforgettable.
The Sports Beat series holds a special place in my heart. John Feinstein is terrific at creating characters, and I'll miss Stevie and Susan Carol now that our window into their story is closed. I rate Rush for the Gold two and a half stars and considered rounding to three; those early scenes between Susan Carol, her father, and J.P. are intense, as are some of the moments in London that reveal the beauty and poignancy of Olympic competition. These athletes stand atop the mountain of their sport for a few fleeting years, and then a new crop of hungry young stars arrives who worked just as hard to get here, leaving the old guard with only memories of their own halcyon days. I'd probably have rated this book higher if its themes were deeper or the intensity lasted beyond the early chapters, but I did like Rush for the Gold. In my opinion the best book of the series is Cover-Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl, followed by Rush for the Gold. Then comes Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery, and then Change-up: Mystery at the World Series, though I could see swapping that one with Last Shot. I rank Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open fifth, and last is The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game. This series had a real effect on me; I hope to read it again, meeting Stevie and Susan Carol from the very beginning and enjoying their story once more. Well done, John Feinstein, and thank you for everything.
Stevie has watched in stunned awe as Susan Carol went from just being his girlfriend to becoming America's potential "It" girl. Endorsement dollars from a company like Speedo or Nike would more than pay for Susan Carol's college education as well as that of her siblings, and Reverend Anderson has acquired an agent, J.P. Scott, to help map her future. Susan Carol doesn't want to dwell on money matters, and she's concerned by the influence J.P. is exerting on her father. Never a materialistic man, the reverend's eyes seem full of dollar signs; he sides with J.P. over Susan Carol whenever they disagree about her personal affairs, and Susan Carol fears the stress could impact her performance in Omaha. Stevie, Bobby Kelleher (his mentor journalist from the Washington Herald), and Bobby's journalist wife Tamara Mearns attend the Olympic Trials to support Susan Carol, but once she's on the starting blocks it's all up to her. She'll have to swim the best two races of her life to qualify for London.
Success in the pool makes J.P. even more insufferable, but Susan Carol has always believed in her father to do the right thing. Surely he won't let J.P. ruin Susan Carol's Olympic experience. She loves her teammates, the ambience of London, and the electric excitement of the nearly twenty thousand screaming fans who pack the London Aquatics Centre for the finals of each race. Stevie loves it in London, too: catching quick moments alone with Susan Carol in the Olympic Village, seeing a wide array of world-class athletes vying for gold in their own events, and running into old friends from earlier adventures, such as basketball player Chip Graber and tennis phenom Evelyn Rubin. Stevie and Susan Carol have gained notoriety for exposing major scandals and solving mysteries at the sporting events they covered together, but he'd be just as happy this time to relax, do his job as a freelance columnist for the Washington Herald, and cheer Susan Carol on to gold.
It won't be that simple. When Stevie spots J.P. Scott secretly conversing with an unsavory character in the sports agent business, he suspects something isn't kosher. J.P. wants to promote Susan Carol as a future star if she wins at least one gold, but he's less enthusiastic about committing to her if she falls short. Stevie thinks J.P. is covertly angling to represent one of Susan Carol's opponents, Russian Svetlana Krylova, if she takes gold instead of Susan Carol. That's not illegal, but it's sleazy, and Stevie trusts the agent less than ever. J.P. shows no interest in marketing the other top American butterfly swimmer, Elizabeth Wentworth, who isn't photogenic like Susan Carol or Krylova. A Wentworth double gold would be the worst financial outcome for J.P., but he and his cronies wouldn't try to illegally affect the race outcomes in Susan Carol or Krylova's favor...would they? Stevie intends to find out just how far J.P. would go, all while trying to be a supportive boyfriend as the biggest moments of Susan Carol's life rush ever closer. However it ends, these Olympics will be unforgettable.
The Sports Beat series holds a special place in my heart. John Feinstein is terrific at creating characters, and I'll miss Stevie and Susan Carol now that our window into their story is closed. I rate Rush for the Gold two and a half stars and considered rounding to three; those early scenes between Susan Carol, her father, and J.P. are intense, as are some of the moments in London that reveal the beauty and poignancy of Olympic competition. These athletes stand atop the mountain of their sport for a few fleeting years, and then a new crop of hungry young stars arrives who worked just as hard to get here, leaving the old guard with only memories of their own halcyon days. I'd probably have rated this book higher if its themes were deeper or the intensity lasted beyond the early chapters, but I did like Rush for the Gold. In my opinion the best book of the series is Cover-Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl, followed by Rush for the Gold. Then comes Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery, and then Change-up: Mystery at the World Series, though I could see swapping that one with Last Shot. I rank Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open fifth, and last is The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game. This series had a real effect on me; I hope to read it again, meeting Stevie and Susan Carol from the very beginning and enjoying their story once more. Well done, John Feinstein, and thank you for everything.
July 7, 2012
As an Olympics junkie, I just had to check this out. (I even took a grad course in the history of the Olympics) Because we start school July 30, I also wanted to read it to decide how many copies to have ready in the library. I agree with other posters that the Olympics part was the most interesting, and the "mystery" was definitely secondary, and not really that necessary.
Once you get over the somewhat contrived situation, the main thing is that the book does a pretty good job of describing competitions, security, the Olympics, etc. You do have to read it noting that you're being subjected to Feinstein's biases. (Obviously, he thinks the opening ceremonies are too long, he took an unnecessary dig at Omaha, still criticizing the Atlanta Olympics, must be a big Coach K and Mark Alarie fan)
I felt the book could have done with some tighter editing, maybe because they raced to get it out before the Olympics, or do they not give kids enough credit. It would have been less confusing with only one character named "Bobby", and there's too much mention of the names of the different agents, sports reps, etc. On p. 109, they're eating at "Spaghetti Works", but on page 117 it's properly named as "Spaghetti Factory".
Was Feinstein being prescient when he described Ann Curry appearing to be nervous about keeping her "Today Show" job? Will Sebastian Coe really be the only to light the torch during the opening ceremonies? The inside touches are nice, and I have new respect for the swimmers in the 200 Fly. For myself, I would give this book 3 stars, but for students, 4.
Once you get over the somewhat contrived situation, the main thing is that the book does a pretty good job of describing competitions, security, the Olympics, etc. You do have to read it noting that you're being subjected to Feinstein's biases. (Obviously, he thinks the opening ceremonies are too long, he took an unnecessary dig at Omaha, still criticizing the Atlanta Olympics, must be a big Coach K and Mark Alarie fan)
I felt the book could have done with some tighter editing, maybe because they raced to get it out before the Olympics, or do they not give kids enough credit. It would have been less confusing with only one character named "Bobby", and there's too much mention of the names of the different agents, sports reps, etc. On p. 109, they're eating at "Spaghetti Works", but on page 117 it's properly named as "Spaghetti Factory".
Was Feinstein being prescient when he described Ann Curry appearing to be nervous about keeping her "Today Show" job? Will Sebastian Coe really be the only to light the torch during the opening ceremonies? The inside touches are nice, and I have new respect for the swimmers in the 200 Fly. For myself, I would give this book 3 stars, but for students, 4.
August 30, 2012
Weeellllll . . . much of it read like a Wikipedia entry for Olympic records. :( Not a hugely compelling mystery for someone who is a mystery fan. Feinstein's experience as a sports reporter shows through. This book reads much like a sports article. Given its publication date, it also seems like a shameless effort to capitalize on the London Olympics. How about writing a story in which there is some personal passion involved?
December 11, 2015
****SPOILER ALERT**** “Rush for the gold” is a novel written by John Feinstein. It is the sixth book in a series called “The Sports Beat”. Susan Carol Anderson is the main character in this book. She swims butterfly, and is very good at it. She won at worlds, got second at the olympic trials, and got second twice at the olympics. She broke world records in the 200 fly, and likes to solve mysteries with her boyfriend (Stevie Thomas) and her friends (Tamara and Bobby Kelleher) who are reporters. She met Stevie while reporting in Philadelphia for a basketball game. Although she lives in south carolina and he lives in Philly, they still are able to communicate with each other. All four of them report at sporting events, where they team up to try and find out what is going on around there. For the olympics, it becomes harder to talk to each other and meet because Susan Carol is always swimming.
They first notice something is wrong when they see one of Susan Carols agents talking with another one of the women competing in the 100 and the 200 butterfly. They find this a bit odd, so they start to talk with one of their friends who is on the American mens basketball team, Chip Graber. They had got word that one of the athletic companies (Brickley) is trying to start a new line of swimwear. The group found this piece of information quite interesting, considering the fact that Brickley was never a swimming company. They talked to Chip, and found out that Brickley is going after swimmers to represent their company. When they found this strange, they investigated a little more and found out that someone was trying to sabotage Elizabeth Wentsworth, the other american butterflyer who had won the 100 butterfly. They didnt tell Susan Carol because they did not want to worry her before the 200 Butterfly. During the race, one of the officials called Elizabeth out on her turn. They DQued her. After further review, the officials took back the DQ and Elizabeth got first. The Olympics finished, everyone went home, and all was well. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2012
I haven't read the others in this series, so the characters and their back stories were new to me. Feinstein seems to do a good job giving you enough information about their history without going overboard (and, therefore, boring folks who have read the others). I'm an Olympics fan and a mystery fan, so this was a fun read; it's typical of mysteries--light reading, fun plot, and likable young sleuths. I think kids in the 7th-9th grade range will enjoy this series--both girls and boys. (There's a boy and a girl main character; in this pair, the girl is the super athletic one, but both want to be sports writers). I enjoyed the sports-related information as well as the behind-the-scenes details about big sporting events, agents, sponsorships, etc. I'll be watching the Olympics with a whole new eye this year!
The setting is the London Olympics, so this might be worth picking up when it hits stores next week if you know a child who be interested. Lots of current names are thrown out (such as Michael Phelps--the main girl is a swimmer, so most of the names are swimmers' names).
The setting is the London Olympics, so this might be worth picking up when it hits stores next week if you know a child who be interested. Lots of current names are thrown out (such as Michael Phelps--the main girl is a swimmer, so most of the names are swimmers' names).
August 31, 2018
Have you ever gotten to the end of a series and read the last book and thought it could be better? Well this book, the last of John Feinstein's teen sports mysteries, is anything but that. Rush for the Gold by John Feinstein is a terrific book that has the voices of two kid reporters. Susan Carol and Stevie have been reporting about sports events together for a numbers of years. Along with loving to write about sports, Susan Carol became the best woman in the world for swimming the butterfly. As well as being a world champion, she qualified for the 2012 Olympic team. Her talents and her looks gained her three agents and she became the new “Teen Wonder Girl”. Being a star doesn’t seem that bad at first, but after a while, she starts to lose her say in a lot of the decisions being made about her career. Even her Dad, who she could always trust, supports these agents. She was promised at least 20 million dollars for a gold medal, which would take care of college payments for her family. Stevie, has been reporting about Susan Carol’s career the whole time. He joins her in London, for the games. After talking to Susan Carol’s agents and the companies that are offering her deals, Stevie starts to realize something is up. Everyone is relying on Susan Carol for a Gold, and he knows just how far people will go in order to make money. “After the greatest 200-butterfly in swim history.....all she could think was: This is not right” (298).
Personally, being overwhelmed with stress and being relied on by people connects to me. During group projects, I am responsible for a group grade, and messing up could penalize not only me but the group.
Personally, being overwhelmed with stress and being relied on by people connects to me. During group projects, I am responsible for a group grade, and messing up could penalize not only me but the group.
January 28, 2025
3.5 Stars: So fun to revisit a book from one of my favorite YA series years later! So impressed with the amount of character development accomplished in a relatively short text. Fun, easy read that definitely stood up
May 31, 2019
I love to swim and this is one of the best books I ever read, it was so hooking.
December 13, 2019
Išgavota istorija, bet tik veikėja yra netikra, visi kiti dalyviai/plaukikai yra realios pavardės. Todėl skaitant labai smagiai iškyla vaizdiniai iš Londono olimpinių žaidynių. Net vienu momentu pradėjau ieškoti pagrindinės veikėjos plaukimų video įrašų youtube, kad pasižiūrėti tuos nuostabius plaukimo rekordus :)
Kam plaukimas neįdomu, manau nevertėtų skirti šiam kūriniui laiko, nes labai daug niuansų ir gali būti nuobodu. Tiesiog sportinė drama, kuri įtraukia pamažu ir laiko paskui iki pačio galo....
Kam plaukimas neįdomu, manau nevertėtų skirti šiam kūriniui laiko, nes labai daug niuansų ir gali būti nuobodu. Tiesiog sportinė drama, kuri įtraukia pamažu ir laiko paskui iki pačio galo....
April 28, 2023
FINALLY A GOOD SWIMMING BOOK
September 4, 2023
there’s a reason this copy is no longer in the school library
March 9, 2017
This book is a very good book for boys and girls as its about the struggles of a girl who is attempting to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. She has a very bumpy road there and she takes you along the way. One of her problems is sexism and in a way looking down on women. This story is perfect for boys and girls because girls can learn about what goes on in some cases in the real world and boys can learn to realize that sexism is a very real thing and that we need to respect and appreciate our women as they are one of us. This type of story takes you on the journey with her to glory and that makes it an awesome story to read. I recommend that anyone and everyone read this book as it teaches a very important lesson that hardly any other book teaches and this book does it while taking you on an amazing journey at the same time.
June 8, 2013
Pre-read reaction: The author's a sportswriter, it's about the Olympics, and it's a mystery? I think I might enjoy this. :)
Post-read reaction: This was very well written. Loved Susan Carol and Stevie's characters and how they toggle between the swimming competition and media tours that athletes travel on. It felt quite vivid and immersed me in the overarching journey. The story has a very decent mystery involving corrupt agents and race fixing, not to mention a few surprises with a nice cast of side characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this and I'm a little sad I didn't read this sooner.
Full review:
"Rush for the Gold" was a wonderful sport related mystery involving a young prodigy swimmer named Susan Carol Anderson, who in previous adventures in the "Final Four Mysteries", had served with her boyfriend Stevie Thomas as junior level reporters for sports events. Susan Carol finds herself in a thrilling scenario when she makes qualifying times enough to make the London Olympics in 2012. Yet, there are problems with this, what with her minister father taking advice from shady, money grubbing agents and neglecting his daughters wishes on every turn, even to the point where he allows the agents to substitute her long time coach (Ed), specify specific details on what she wears and the press she gets (and this does a really good job at portraying sexism of female athletes), and even limiting time that she spends with Stevie among other other friends in substitution for practice.
Suffice to say, Susan Carol doesn't like it one bit, and she lets people know it in her rather Southern drawl. :)
John Feinstein uses his sportswriting background to a wonderful degree in this book. I felt like I was right there in the competition, getting the play by play details among the swimming matches, and it was fun to see some cameo appearances from actual figures such as Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, and even media figures like Bob Costas, Ann Curry and Matt Laurer, among others in the NBC lineup. You can tell this is fiction and taking place in an alternative scenario to the actual Olympic games, but it touches home on so many issues within the sports realm, and does so in a realistic way. I also liked the overarching mystery in that it builds up to a scandal that you're not necessarily sure where it happens, but it builds things up to light where you see the players in that game and how the characters are able to detect it.
In the end, I was very intrigued with this novel and I really loved watching both Susan Carol and Stevie's interactions through the narrative. I would certainly read more of this series in the future.
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Random House BYFR.
Post-read reaction: This was very well written. Loved Susan Carol and Stevie's characters and how they toggle between the swimming competition and media tours that athletes travel on. It felt quite vivid and immersed me in the overarching journey. The story has a very decent mystery involving corrupt agents and race fixing, not to mention a few surprises with a nice cast of side characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this and I'm a little sad I didn't read this sooner.
Full review:
"Rush for the Gold" was a wonderful sport related mystery involving a young prodigy swimmer named Susan Carol Anderson, who in previous adventures in the "Final Four Mysteries", had served with her boyfriend Stevie Thomas as junior level reporters for sports events. Susan Carol finds herself in a thrilling scenario when she makes qualifying times enough to make the London Olympics in 2012. Yet, there are problems with this, what with her minister father taking advice from shady, money grubbing agents and neglecting his daughters wishes on every turn, even to the point where he allows the agents to substitute her long time coach (Ed), specify specific details on what she wears and the press she gets (and this does a really good job at portraying sexism of female athletes), and even limiting time that she spends with Stevie among other other friends in substitution for practice.
Suffice to say, Susan Carol doesn't like it one bit, and she lets people know it in her rather Southern drawl. :)
John Feinstein uses his sportswriting background to a wonderful degree in this book. I felt like I was right there in the competition, getting the play by play details among the swimming matches, and it was fun to see some cameo appearances from actual figures such as Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, and even media figures like Bob Costas, Ann Curry and Matt Laurer, among others in the NBC lineup. You can tell this is fiction and taking place in an alternative scenario to the actual Olympic games, but it touches home on so many issues within the sports realm, and does so in a realistic way. I also liked the overarching mystery in that it builds up to a scandal that you're not necessarily sure where it happens, but it builds things up to light where you see the players in that game and how the characters are able to detect it.
In the end, I was very intrigued with this novel and I really loved watching both Susan Carol and Stevie's interactions through the narrative. I would certainly read more of this series in the future.
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Random House BYFR.
August 18, 2012
Why I picked it up: I’ve read at least 2 other books about Stevie and Susan Carol before, and this one is set at the London Olympics.
Teenage sports reporters Stevie and Susan Carol have been at many major sporting and they have found some sort of mystery or controversy at each. The Olympics are no exception, except that this time, Susan Carol is an athlete and something doesn’t seem right with the sports agency she & her dad have signed a contract with. With Susan Carol competing, Stevie is left to figure out what is going on largely by himself so Susan Carol can concentrate on the 100 and 200 Butterfly swim events.
The book takes a while to actually get to the Olympics, but that didn’t bother me. I think that without the set-up of a major meet and then the Olympic trials, readers wouldn’t fully understand how competitive swimming works or have the time to get invested. The mystery is not as much of the focus here as it has been in the others I’ve read with these characters, but the behind-the-scenes stuff at the Olympics (and the meets that came before) were interesting enough that I didn’t care about that. Overall, a fun, enjoyable romp that is likely to have readers dreaming of moments of Olympic glory, even if they (like me) have no athletic talent. I liked that some of the (fictional) sports figures from previous books were characters here, though you do not have to have read previous installments to understand what is going on or the relationships between the characters. As usual, real sports figures are included as well, including Michael Phelps. As in the others, characters seem to have more freedoms than would be realistic, so if you want absolute realism, look elsewhere. But for sports-based entertainment, Stevie and Susan Carol are a good bet.
Contains: nothing objectionable
Genre Bingo: Sports
Teenage sports reporters Stevie and Susan Carol have been at many major sporting and they have found some sort of mystery or controversy at each. The Olympics are no exception, except that this time, Susan Carol is an athlete and something doesn’t seem right with the sports agency she & her dad have signed a contract with. With Susan Carol competing, Stevie is left to figure out what is going on largely by himself so Susan Carol can concentrate on the 100 and 200 Butterfly swim events.
The book takes a while to actually get to the Olympics, but that didn’t bother me. I think that without the set-up of a major meet and then the Olympic trials, readers wouldn’t fully understand how competitive swimming works or have the time to get invested. The mystery is not as much of the focus here as it has been in the others I’ve read with these characters, but the behind-the-scenes stuff at the Olympics (and the meets that came before) were interesting enough that I didn’t care about that. Overall, a fun, enjoyable romp that is likely to have readers dreaming of moments of Olympic glory, even if they (like me) have no athletic talent. I liked that some of the (fictional) sports figures from previous books were characters here, though you do not have to have read previous installments to understand what is going on or the relationships between the characters. As usual, real sports figures are included as well, including Michael Phelps. As in the others, characters seem to have more freedoms than would be realistic, so if you want absolute realism, look elsewhere. But for sports-based entertainment, Stevie and Susan Carol are a good bet.
Contains: nothing objectionable
Genre Bingo: Sports
October 9, 2013
Rush for the Gold written by John Feinstein is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes sports ,it is a sports mystery .I liked the way that the author combined reporting and swimming in this book it was very interesting.
In this story Susan Carol Anderson,our main character, is a rising star in the swimming world. She is fast and she is also pretty,which is what the agents look. When Susan Carol and her father find out that agents are looking to sign with her they become ecstatic.They get even more excited(or her father does) when they see what she could be making,money wise, if she does well at the Olympics.
Now don't get me wrong Susan Carol was very excited about the offers and promises she was getting from her agents but she was not so happy when they started advertising her in a way she did not agree with.She tried to consult her dad on it but he did not listen to her.When she became upset by this Stevie,her boyfriend, tried to help by seeing if her father would listen to him,but he didn't.
Susan Carol tried not to focus on that though, but on her races.Then something else came up,Stevie saw one of Susan Carol's agents having a meeting with another swimmer.Which makes him suspicious.Will Susan Carol's father start listening to her? Will they find out what was going on with her agents? And will Susan Carol take home the gold?to find out:READ THE BOOK!!!!!
This book was very interesting and kept it kept you wondering,I would very much recommend you reading this book.
About the author,John Feinstein lives in Potomac,Maryland, and on Shelter Island,New York with his wife and three children.he began his career writing for the Washington Post as a political and sports reporter.Now he is the author of many bestselling books like,Last Shot,Change-Up,and The Rivalry.
In this story Susan Carol Anderson,our main character, is a rising star in the swimming world. She is fast and she is also pretty,which is what the agents look. When Susan Carol and her father find out that agents are looking to sign with her they become ecstatic.They get even more excited(or her father does) when they see what she could be making,money wise, if she does well at the Olympics.
Now don't get me wrong Susan Carol was very excited about the offers and promises she was getting from her agents but she was not so happy when they started advertising her in a way she did not agree with.She tried to consult her dad on it but he did not listen to her.When she became upset by this Stevie,her boyfriend, tried to help by seeing if her father would listen to him,but he didn't.
Susan Carol tried not to focus on that though, but on her races.Then something else came up,Stevie saw one of Susan Carol's agents having a meeting with another swimmer.Which makes him suspicious.Will Susan Carol's father start listening to her? Will they find out what was going on with her agents? And will Susan Carol take home the gold?to find out:READ THE BOOK!!!!!
This book was very interesting and kept it kept you wondering,I would very much recommend you reading this book.
About the author,John Feinstein lives in Potomac,Maryland, and on Shelter Island,New York with his wife and three children.he began his career writing for the Washington Post as a political and sports reporter.Now he is the author of many bestselling books like,Last Shot,Change-Up,and The Rivalry.
November 18, 2012
So.... I've been a competitive swimmer for about 45 years. I HAD to purchase this book from the book fair this fall. For me personally....I liked the book (didn't LOVE it), but was thoroughly engaged during the whole read. The details of the swimming were on par. I got excited reading about all the nuances of the races, and the Olympic Trials (which I attended) and the name-dropping of all the "real" swimmers. That part was FUN for me!
What bothered me was:
1) the book is billed as a "mystery" which is pushing it big time! The only mystery involves the agents and who they want to sign for big contracts. yawn....
2) the main character is only 15 or 16 years old, yet seems about 10 years older in terms of maturity. Seriously???
3) the main character and her boyfriend are big time reporters who have access to the Olympics - yet they are only teenagers?????
Ok, maybe I'm too cynical, but this seems a bit far fetched.
Bottom line...if you're a competitive swimmer, or follow competetive swimming, it's a great read. Otherwise... not so sure...
What bothered me was:
1) the book is billed as a "mystery" which is pushing it big time! The only mystery involves the agents and who they want to sign for big contracts. yawn....
2) the main character is only 15 or 16 years old, yet seems about 10 years older in terms of maturity. Seriously???
3) the main character and her boyfriend are big time reporters who have access to the Olympics - yet they are only teenagers?????
Ok, maybe I'm too cynical, but this seems a bit far fetched.
Bottom line...if you're a competitive swimmer, or follow competetive swimming, it's a great read. Otherwise... not so sure...
July 29, 2012
I decided to read this book in antipaction or the upcoming Olympics. This book does a great job of explaining how athletes get ready to compete at a high level and juggle life school and other issues. Susan Carol is a world championship swimmer working on preparing for the Olympic trials when agents and sponsors bombard her and pressure her dad to sign with them. The money is very tempting and causes friction in the dad/daughter relationship. I really enjoyed just reading the story to get a deeper inside look at how it all comes together for this incredile journey to the peak of the Sports world. The mystery came very late in the story and actually wasn't even needed to tell this compelling story.
September 22, 2016
This is the last book in the series by John Feinstein. I read the first book, Last Shot, and I really liked it. I then later started to read all of the books in the series. When I read the first book, I was hooked onto it because it had a lot of sports action and a mystery. The two main characters, Susan and Stevie, are kid reporters who go to major sorting events. While they are there, there is always a scandal that happens, whether its blackmailing, a fixed game, or even lying about drug test results. Something always seems to happen. Susan and Stevie always seem to find a way to find outs what's happening, and then act on it by reporting it in the newspaper. Rush for the Gold was very good, and the overall series was amazing.
January 13, 2020
I really loved the book. I also learned a lot about swimming, which is something that I did't know much about. I loved that the book was educational but there was also mystery in it too. I loved the character development throughout the book and the growing relationship between Stevie and Susan, and Susan and Elizabeth. I really liked the ending because even though there was a problem with Elizabeth's swim, Stevie fixed it and in the end Elizabeth won a gold medal and Susan won a silver medal. I also loved the face that Susan didn't care about winning a gold medal because 8 months ago she did not expect to be an Olympian and have a silver medal, that was a win enough for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2021
This book gives an amazing example of the difficulties that come with being an Olympian.
May 20, 2024
Az eSport fogadások leggyakoribb típusai
Az esport fogadási oldalak sokféle esport piacot kínálnak, amelyek száma a játéktól, az esemény fontosságától és magától a fogadóirodától függ. Ezen az oldalon megtalálja útmutatónkat, amely segít elindítani a szerencsejáték kalandját az online eSport szerencsejátékban! Itt megnézzük a leggyakoribb esport fogadási piacokat, de más esport fogadási lehetőségekkel is találkozhat az esport fogadási oldalakon.
A mérkőzés győztese
Az eSport fogadás egyik legegyszerűbb formája az adott mérkőzés győztesének megjóslása. Itt nincs döntetlen, és arra a csapatra vagy játékosra fogad, amelyről úgy gondolja, hogy nyer. Például, ha a Solar a Classic ellen játszik a StarCraft játékban, akkor megjósolhatod, hogy a kettő közül melyik nyeri meg a meccset. Ha Solarra fogad, és ő nyer, az esport fogadása nyer, és a fogadóirodák fizetik ki a nyereményeket.
Kártya nyertes
Az esport meccsek gyakran egynél több kártya kijátszása után dőlnek el. Minden egyes kártya kimenetelét külön-külön megjósolhatja, mivel a kártya nyertesének esélye gyakran jobb, mint a mérkőzés győztesére. A kártyafogadás különösen alkalmas, ha jó oddsokat keres a körökben. Így például, ha Solar elveszíti az első kártyát, fogadhat, hogy megnyeri a második és esetleg a harmadik lapot is, ami lényegesen nagyobb esport profitot gyűjt, mint ha a mérkőzés győztesére fogad.
Összes kártya
Ez a fajta fogadás abból áll, hogy megjósolják az adott mérkőzésen kijátszott kártyák teljes számát, és általában túl/alatt fogadás. Arra tippel, hogy a mérkőzés gyorsan véget ér-e, vagy vitatkoznak-e, és minden kártyát kijátszanak. Például, ha a FaZe NiP-vel áll szemben egy CS:GO versenyen, ahol meccsenként 3 lapot játszanak ki, akkor 2,5 felett vagy 2,5 alatti kártyákra fogadhat.
Első vér/gyilkosság
Ha gyors fogadást keres, az első vér vagy ölés jóslata megfelelő az Ön számára. Ezen a piacon arra a csapatra fogadsz, amelyről úgy gondolod, hogy elsőként öl meg egy játékost az ellenfél csapatából. Ez az esport piac rendkívül népszerű a Dota és a LoL játékok körében, a CS:GO alternatívája az, hogy egy csapatra fogad, aki megnyeri az 1. fordulót.
Összes ölés
A Total Kills egy másik over/under piac. Az egy térképen végrehajtott ölések teljes számára fogad. Ez a fogadás rendkívül szórakoztató, mivel az általános szabály az, hogy a gyengébb csapatok mérkőzései eredményesebbek, a jó játékosok pedig tudják, hogyan kell megvédeni magukat, és kevesebb a gyilkosság. Így például az alacsony osztályú Dota-csapatok, a NoPing és a Mad Kings mérkőzésén megjósolhatod, hogy az összes ölésszám 55,5 ölés alatt lesz-e.
Abszolút győztes
Az Absolute Winner a türelmes játékosok piaca, itt a torna győztesére fogadsz, és meg kell várnod az egész verseny végét, hogy összeszedd a nyereményed. Az év során több tucat eSport versenyt szerveznek, amelyek több millió rajongót gyűjtenek össze. A legnagyobb esport versenyek közé tartozik a Dota's The International, a Fortnite's FNCS. League of Legends LoL Worlds, ahol akár hónapokkal a verseny kezdete előtt fogadhatsz az abszolút győztesre.
Az esport fogadási oldalak sokféle esport piacot kínálnak, amelyek száma a játéktól, az esemény fontosságától és magától a fogadóirodától függ. Ezen az oldalon megtalálja útmutatónkat, amely segít elindítani a szerencsejáték kalandját az online eSport szerencsejátékban! Itt megnézzük a leggyakoribb esport fogadási piacokat, de más esport fogadási lehetőségekkel is találkozhat az esport fogadási oldalakon.
A mérkőzés győztese
Az eSport fogadás egyik legegyszerűbb formája az adott mérkőzés győztesének megjóslása. Itt nincs döntetlen, és arra a csapatra vagy játékosra fogad, amelyről úgy gondolja, hogy nyer. Például, ha a Solar a Classic ellen játszik a StarCraft játékban, akkor megjósolhatod, hogy a kettő közül melyik nyeri meg a meccset. Ha Solarra fogad, és ő nyer, az esport fogadása nyer, és a fogadóirodák fizetik ki a nyereményeket.
Kártya nyertes
Az esport meccsek gyakran egynél több kártya kijátszása után dőlnek el. Minden egyes kártya kimenetelét külön-külön megjósolhatja, mivel a kártya nyertesének esélye gyakran jobb, mint a mérkőzés győztesére. A kártyafogadás különösen alkalmas, ha jó oddsokat keres a körökben. Így például, ha Solar elveszíti az első kártyát, fogadhat, hogy megnyeri a második és esetleg a harmadik lapot is, ami lényegesen nagyobb esport profitot gyűjt, mint ha a mérkőzés győztesére fogad.
Összes kártya
Ez a fajta fogadás abból áll, hogy megjósolják az adott mérkőzésen kijátszott kártyák teljes számát, és általában túl/alatt fogadás. Arra tippel, hogy a mérkőzés gyorsan véget ér-e, vagy vitatkoznak-e, és minden kártyát kijátszanak. Például, ha a FaZe NiP-vel áll szemben egy CS:GO versenyen, ahol meccsenként 3 lapot játszanak ki, akkor 2,5 felett vagy 2,5 alatti kártyákra fogadhat.
Első vér/gyilkosság
Ha gyors fogadást keres, az első vér vagy ölés jóslata megfelelő az Ön számára. Ezen a piacon arra a csapatra fogadsz, amelyről úgy gondolod, hogy elsőként öl meg egy játékost az ellenfél csapatából. Ez az esport piac rendkívül népszerű a Dota és a LoL játékok körében, a CS:GO alternatívája az, hogy egy csapatra fogad, aki megnyeri az 1. fordulót.
Összes ölés
A Total Kills egy másik over/under piac. Az egy térképen végrehajtott ölések teljes számára fogad. Ez a fogadás rendkívül szórakoztató, mivel az általános szabály az, hogy a gyengébb csapatok mérkőzései eredményesebbek, a jó játékosok pedig tudják, hogyan kell megvédeni magukat, és kevesebb a gyilkosság. Így például az alacsony osztályú Dota-csapatok, a NoPing és a Mad Kings mérkőzésén megjósolhatod, hogy az összes ölésszám 55,5 ölés alatt lesz-e.
Abszolút győztes
Az Absolute Winner a türelmes játékosok piaca, itt a torna győztesére fogadsz, és meg kell várnod az egész verseny végét, hogy összeszedd a nyereményed. Az év során több tucat eSport versenyt szerveznek, amelyek több millió rajongót gyűjtenek össze. A legnagyobb esport versenyek közé tartozik a Dota's The International, a Fortnite's FNCS. League of Legends LoL Worlds, ahol akár hónapokkal a verseny kezdete előtt fogadhatsz az abszolút győztesre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2019
Can you imagine going to a worldwide championship/sporting event and there's a problem/catch? Well, that's what happens in this book. In the other books in this series, (The Sports Beat by John Feinstein) Susan Carol Anderson and Steve Thomas are a dynamic duo, but in this book, Rush for the Gold, Stevie is on his own to figure out what's going on. Susan Carol is going to the Olympics in London, England!!!!! After going to many sporting events, beginning when she won a writer's competition with the other main character in this book, Stevie, she finally is going to take part in one. She started swimming when she was 12, and now at just 15, she is going to swim at the Olympics. She’s been to the Final Four, the U.S. Open, the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the Army-Navy game. But finally, she is taking part in her own mystery, she just doesn't know it yet.
In this book, my favorite characters are probably Susan Carol and her coach Ed Brennan because Susan Carol showed that girls can do the same thing as boys, also, it's just pretty freaking amazing for a 15-year-old to get into the Olympics. “ She couldn’t believe it. She was an Olympian!” Ed Brennan is her high school coach who encouraged her to do what she desired and encouraged her to what mattered to her. He's a very kindhearted person, and very nice.
This book has a lot of good things except for one thing. That thing is, I didn’t like it when Don Anderson ( SC dad ) turned his back on Susan Carol. It made an interesting plot twist, but it gave me a bad feeling. Would you want your dad to turn their back on you? Or anyone? No, you probably wouldn’t. For instance, when Susan Carol wanted to do something with Stevie, her dad said no. He sided with her nasty agents and didn’t let her do what she wanted. It made Susan Carol feel angry and hurt inside, and presumably shocked because her dad didn't take her side. I mean, that’s what I would feel.
So, overall this was a really good book. I think that John Feinstein is a good writer and that his books pull you in and make you feel like you're there, seeing the whole thing. I think that people who like sports and/or mysteries would like this book because it has both.
In this book, my favorite characters are probably Susan Carol and her coach Ed Brennan because Susan Carol showed that girls can do the same thing as boys, also, it's just pretty freaking amazing for a 15-year-old to get into the Olympics. “ She couldn’t believe it. She was an Olympian!” Ed Brennan is her high school coach who encouraged her to do what she desired and encouraged her to what mattered to her. He's a very kindhearted person, and very nice.
This book has a lot of good things except for one thing. That thing is, I didn’t like it when Don Anderson ( SC dad ) turned his back on Susan Carol. It made an interesting plot twist, but it gave me a bad feeling. Would you want your dad to turn their back on you? Or anyone? No, you probably wouldn’t. For instance, when Susan Carol wanted to do something with Stevie, her dad said no. He sided with her nasty agents and didn’t let her do what she wanted. It made Susan Carol feel angry and hurt inside, and presumably shocked because her dad didn't take her side. I mean, that’s what I would feel.
So, overall this was a really good book. I think that John Feinstein is a good writer and that his books pull you in and make you feel like you're there, seeing the whole thing. I think that people who like sports and/or mysteries would like this book because it has both.
October 23, 2018
Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics by John Feinstein is a wonderful mystery novel for athletes. The book is about a 15 year old girl by the name of Susan Carol Anderson who one day goes from a normal age group swimmer to world champion and is thrown into the spotlight over night. As we travel throughout the book on her athletic journey we also see what it is like for a teenager and significant other to watch. Stevie, Susan Carol's boyfriend, who is also a sports reporter travels and covers the olympics and like in other Feinstein books, discovers some shady business going on with her agent and other people surrounding her race. It is up to stevie to save the olympics and susan carol from corruption of big time agents and restore glory to the olympics.
Feinstein is a great writer of mysteries and is able to use characters from other books of his to help contribute to his current novels. He attracts young athletes to his books because what kid who plays sports doesn't like sports. As a swimmer myself it is extremely interesting to watch someone who does my same sport and shares the same struggles and makes her dreams come true. Feinstein does a wonderful job of explaining the pain and struggles of a 200 fly and is very accurate. It is one of the most daunting and difficult events to do. He shows the struggles of being big time in a sport and not being marketed just for that. He shows the sexism of marketing and how it can take a toll on someone as Susan Carol just wants to go back to her quiet life and swim because she loves it.
Overall a very good read that I highly recommend for up and coming middle and high school athletes, especially swimmers. He shows the struggles of being a teenage athlete and making it big time and some athletes can relate to it. 10/10
Feinstein is a great writer of mysteries and is able to use characters from other books of his to help contribute to his current novels. He attracts young athletes to his books because what kid who plays sports doesn't like sports. As a swimmer myself it is extremely interesting to watch someone who does my same sport and shares the same struggles and makes her dreams come true. Feinstein does a wonderful job of explaining the pain and struggles of a 200 fly and is very accurate. It is one of the most daunting and difficult events to do. He shows the struggles of being big time in a sport and not being marketed just for that. He shows the sexism of marketing and how it can take a toll on someone as Susan Carol just wants to go back to her quiet life and swim because she loves it.
Overall a very good read that I highly recommend for up and coming middle and high school athletes, especially swimmers. He shows the struggles of being a teenage athlete and making it big time and some athletes can relate to it. 10/10
November 20, 2017
I picked up the book Rush For the Gold by John Feinstein because of my interest of swimming as a sport and the intriguing mystery theme.
The book introduces you to the main character fifteen year old teen reporter and competitive swimmer Susan Carol Anderson. Susan Carol’s life changed forever when she went from being a solid age group swimmer to a national contender all in one swim meet. All of a sudden she is no longer an average fifteen year old girl. Tons of sponsors, agents, and media are all over her and trying to sign her going into that years Olympic games. Stevie is Susan Carol’s best friend and is always looking out for Susan Carol. That is why he is super cautious and starts to question if all the reporters, agents, and media really have Susan Carol’s best interest in mind. The shortcuts and money they are offering is all contingent on her success at the Olympics. Could they go too far to get it for her? Stevie is on the hunt to find out.
I really enjoyed this book not just because I am a swimmer myself but because it was very interesting and exciting to read. The book had your rooting for Susan Carol and hoping that she could win it all. The book really gives you an insiders eye on what it is like to be a professional athlete and how much really happens behind the scenes not only surrounding the athlete but also their fame. This story really raises lots of questions on these topics and makes you wonder how "fair" the world of professional sports really is. The book had me flipping the pages as fast as possible and wanting to know more. Not only did I really enjoy the plot and characters I also learned a lot about the swimming world and what it is like as swimmers become faster and start going to higher level meets.
There was very little to none that I did not enjoy about this story. The one negative I would say is that I wished that the mystery portion of the book was incorporated a little earlier in the novel just because of how compelling that part of the story was. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and especially loved the ending and trying to solve a bit of the mystery myself.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has read any of John Feinstein’s other novels or likes a book about sports and athletes. Also, if anyone likes a good mystery with an interesting cross-premise I would recommend this book.
- Ella G
The book introduces you to the main character fifteen year old teen reporter and competitive swimmer Susan Carol Anderson. Susan Carol’s life changed forever when she went from being a solid age group swimmer to a national contender all in one swim meet. All of a sudden she is no longer an average fifteen year old girl. Tons of sponsors, agents, and media are all over her and trying to sign her going into that years Olympic games. Stevie is Susan Carol’s best friend and is always looking out for Susan Carol. That is why he is super cautious and starts to question if all the reporters, agents, and media really have Susan Carol’s best interest in mind. The shortcuts and money they are offering is all contingent on her success at the Olympics. Could they go too far to get it for her? Stevie is on the hunt to find out.
I really enjoyed this book not just because I am a swimmer myself but because it was very interesting and exciting to read. The book had your rooting for Susan Carol and hoping that she could win it all. The book really gives you an insiders eye on what it is like to be a professional athlete and how much really happens behind the scenes not only surrounding the athlete but also their fame. This story really raises lots of questions on these topics and makes you wonder how "fair" the world of professional sports really is. The book had me flipping the pages as fast as possible and wanting to know more. Not only did I really enjoy the plot and characters I also learned a lot about the swimming world and what it is like as swimmers become faster and start going to higher level meets.
There was very little to none that I did not enjoy about this story. The one negative I would say is that I wished that the mystery portion of the book was incorporated a little earlier in the novel just because of how compelling that part of the story was. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and especially loved the ending and trying to solve a bit of the mystery myself.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has read any of John Feinstein’s other novels or likes a book about sports and athletes. Also, if anyone likes a good mystery with an interesting cross-premise I would recommend this book.
- Ella G
September 30, 2025
Little Free Library find. I didn't know John Feinstein had written a YA series. I've enjoyed some of his other books, so I picked it up.
The main characters are Stevie, a teenage print reporter, and Susan Carol, a swimmer who is also a reporter. Apparently, they've worked together as reporters over the last few years before Susan Carol's swimming career really took off in the last year or so. This book takes place as Susan Carol qualifies for and then swims at the London Olympics in 2012. The mystery turns out to relate to shady behavior by sports agents, sports companies, and swimming officials. It doesn't really get going until the second half of the book. I was sort of waiting for someone to get killed, so in a way this plot was more likely to happen IRL and a nice change of pace.
The swimming and sports agent machinations seemed realistic and provided a lot of insight into the pressures the big money places on young athletes and their families - and this was in 2012! I'm not sure how likely it would be for a 15 yo to be largely on his own covering the Olympics in London, but not so much that he'd be incapable as that no one would allow it. Feinstein has the kids interact with some real people and, of course, manages to work Duke basketball and Coach K into it.
Even though in today's world the pile of money would be even larger, and the kids would be podcasters and influencers, I'd still recommend this for anyone with kids interested in sports.
The main characters are Stevie, a teenage print reporter, and Susan Carol, a swimmer who is also a reporter. Apparently, they've worked together as reporters over the last few years before Susan Carol's swimming career really took off in the last year or so. This book takes place as Susan Carol qualifies for and then swims at the London Olympics in 2012. The mystery turns out to relate to shady behavior by sports agents, sports companies, and swimming officials. It doesn't really get going until the second half of the book. I was sort of waiting for someone to get killed, so in a way this plot was more likely to happen IRL and a nice change of pace.
The swimming and sports agent machinations seemed realistic and provided a lot of insight into the pressures the big money places on young athletes and their families - and this was in 2012! I'm not sure how likely it would be for a 15 yo to be largely on his own covering the Olympics in London, but not so much that he'd be incapable as that no one would allow it. Feinstein has the kids interact with some real people and, of course, manages to work Duke basketball and Coach K into it.
Even though in today's world the pile of money would be even larger, and the kids would be podcasters and influencers, I'd still recommend this for anyone with kids interested in sports.
July 23, 2017
I am really surprised with this book. First off it broke a major rule that most books this age hits right on. (I'll say what I mean a little later.)
My first opinion of this book was ugg. I thought it was going to be boring but we got it from Chapters because it is unique story idea. Can I say just how wrong I was, I really underestimated this book. As someone that doesn't enjoy sports this took me into this world of Olympic swimming.
One thing I really like is that this books biggest mystery is that is there really a mystery. That is such a cool concept for a mystery.
The characters are like able even though there are a good few of them. But they do pass on and new ones are introduced. I love all the references in this book. (Even if I don't know them yet.)
The Major Rule that he broke was that there was no jealously between Stevie and Susan Carol. If anything he poked fun at it or hinted at it but what was shown was a strong relationship. It was just amazing! Without the jealous drama in it the book is a hundred times better than it could have been. The direction and guidance the author put in to describing the sport was just a good as Dave Huggleschaffers description of how fire burns. You can see it feel it and practically live it. Good job on John Feinstein's behalf.
My first opinion of this book was ugg. I thought it was going to be boring but we got it from Chapters because it is unique story idea. Can I say just how wrong I was, I really underestimated this book. As someone that doesn't enjoy sports this took me into this world of Olympic swimming.
One thing I really like is that this books biggest mystery is that is there really a mystery. That is such a cool concept for a mystery.
The characters are like able even though there are a good few of them. But they do pass on and new ones are introduced. I love all the references in this book. (Even if I don't know them yet.)
The Major Rule that he broke was that there was no jealously between Stevie and Susan Carol. If anything he poked fun at it or hinted at it but what was shown was a strong relationship. It was just amazing! Without the jealous drama in it the book is a hundred times better than it could have been. The direction and guidance the author put in to describing the sport was just a good as Dave Huggleschaffers description of how fire burns. You can see it feel it and practically live it. Good job on John Feinstein's behalf.
June 12, 2019
Susan Carol and Stevie are kid sports reporters, who always find themselves in the middle of a sports scandal. The root of it is always the same. Money. They've already helped uncover a scandal at the Final Four and the U.S. Open. Now they are at the Olympics and Susan Carol is at the center of the scandal. She is competing in the women's 100m and 200m Butterfly. Because she is attractive, all the big name sports apparel companies are hoping she will win, and sign on to endorse their line. The Russian frontrunner is also favored for the same reason. But when the other American, who isn't attractive, wins the Gold in the 100m, the company reps become desperate to ensure either Susan Carol or the Russian wins Gold in the 200m. In high stakes sports, where money talks, sabotage is always on the table.
I love Feinstein's sports mysteries. His books are good, clean writing that are appropriate for middle school through high school. Rush for the Gold covers the fine details of competition swimming, Olympics security, and the media presence. No other book series approaches sports like Feinstein. Highly recommend.
I love Feinstein's sports mysteries. His books are good, clean writing that are appropriate for middle school through high school. Rush for the Gold covers the fine details of competition swimming, Olympics security, and the media presence. No other book series approaches sports like Feinstein. Highly recommend.
August 31, 2017
This is a really entertaining story. I liked the characters and I liked the insight into the Olympics, swimming, newswriting, and the slimy underbelly of big company sponsorship.
The best thing about this story is its readability. It falls down in a few areas: a little bit in the believably of what 15 year olds are going to be doing so independently, and somewhat in the depth of their thoughts, the reader stays very surface level with them, and in the family relationships as I wanted more about Susan Carol's relationship with her siblings and her mom. I suspect a lot of that may be found in the books earlier in the series, which I haven't read. They weren't the focus for this story.
The mystery doesn't really develop until more than halfway through the story, and it is a mystery set in reality, so I did like that.
But the great thing about this story is the enjoyable nature of reading along. The tone and tenor of this book are relaxing, even if the mystery has some tense moments, and you end up being glad you made the journey.
The best thing about this story is its readability. It falls down in a few areas: a little bit in the believably of what 15 year olds are going to be doing so independently, and somewhat in the depth of their thoughts, the reader stays very surface level with them, and in the family relationships as I wanted more about Susan Carol's relationship with her siblings and her mom. I suspect a lot of that may be found in the books earlier in the series, which I haven't read. They weren't the focus for this story.
The mystery doesn't really develop until more than halfway through the story, and it is a mystery set in reality, so I did like that.
But the great thing about this story is the enjoyable nature of reading along. The tone and tenor of this book are relaxing, even if the mystery has some tense moments, and you end up being glad you made the journey.
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