Courage to Fly

Perfect Balance Gymnastics #7

by Melisa Torres, Eric Zaragoza (Illustrator)

Trista returns in this authentic gymnastics story about overcoming fear.Trista Thompson is enjoying a fun summer before entering 5th grade. She is training for Level 5 at Perfect Balance Gymnastics Academy and gets to attend a gymnastics camp with her friends. For the first time in her gymnastics career she is learning her new skills in plenty of time for testing day at the end of summer. Just when Trista feels great about her progress, she has a major setback. Can she overcome her challenges and fears to reach her goal of making the Level 5 team?Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books teach girls to be kind to each other, flexible in life, courageous, strong, and most of all, confident. The books set the reader in the world of gymnastics. The characters are relatable and have age-appropriate challenges. Each book explores a major life lesson that empowers girls to understand their own inner strengths.Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books increase reading level from 2nd grade to 6th grade as the series progresses. Courage to Fly is the seventh book in the series and is a 5th/6th grade reading level. This book appeals to 9-13 year-olds. Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books are chronological, but each story can stand alone.

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2019

About the author

Melisa grew up in San Jose, California where she trained at Almaden Valley Gymnastics Club for ten years. Melisa moved through the competitive Junior Olympic levels of USA Gymnastics. She then went on to compete for Utah State University. At Utah State Melisa was part of a record breaking team who won Big West Championships in 1996 and 1998. Melisa was also a two time Academic All-American and team captain.

At Utah State Melisa got her BS in Psychology and a minor in Literature.

​Melisa stays involved in gymnastics by occasionally coaching (as a sub) at local gyms and choreographing floor routines. She also loves following elite and college gymnastics.

Melisa lives in Utah and is a single mother to two active boys. Their favorite things to do together are skiing, swimming, going to the library, and dancing in the kitchen.

Reviews

[M.K. Tufft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally hooked on this series

I absolutely love all the characters, the in-depth look at gymnastics, and all the challenges these girls have to overcome.
I also love the way real issues are handled in these books.
Can’t wait until I finish this series… maybe I’ll finally catch up on some sleep!