First Meet

The Gymnasts #2

by Elizabeth Levy

It's the Pinecones' very first meet - and they're competing against the Atomic Amazons. That team is tough! It's a real challenge for all the gymnasts, especially Cindi. She'll have to perform a very difficult move on the uneven bars - the Eagle. It's not enough to do it right - she'll have to do it with a style all her own. Cindi wonders if she can meet the challenge, for herself and for the team.

Genres: Childrens, Juvenile

123 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

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

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle grade series written in the late 80s was a favorite of mine when I was about 10, and they've actually held up really well. Am glad I grabbed them at a used book sale- I had fond memories reading about this team of intermediate Gymnasts, and revisiting them has been so far pure fun. Any little gymnasts would still enjoy them immensely today, I think. This one was a favorite, as it has some very realistic storyline about overcoming fears through trusting yourself and hard work. 3 stars because it's just a kids book, but recommend for kids for sure.

[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.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read March 2013... I still can't fully visualise the Eagle and it annoys me! It does sound scary though.

Also Becky so got what she deserved. :P

The meet against the Atomic Amazons is fun to read about. I love how it's not a sudden and unrealistic triumph for the Pinecones, yet neither is it a completely clean sweep for the Amazons.

[Adelaide Scheirich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this story because it reminds me so much about me and how I am trying to find my style! Gymnastics for me is so much fun and I just love Judi, Cindy and Lauren’s friendship.

[Elizabeth]

I read this a million years ago.

[Stinkydiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first novels I ever read and I totally loved it!