The Little Gymnast

The Little Gymnast #1

by Sheila Haigh

With a lot of work and determination, Anda becomes the best gymnast in her class but family money is tight and she must win the regional championship and the accompanying scholarship or give up gymnastics completely

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult

135 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

This author now writes as Sheila Jeffries

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

FEBRUARY

as part of my personal reading challenges for 2017, once a month i will be revisiting a favorite book from when i was a little bitty karen and seeing if it holds up to my fond memories and determining if i can still enjoy it as an old and crotchety karen.

fingers crossed.

so: first things first. in answer to the question 'does this book hold up?' yes, it does. again, i read this book so many times as a kid, there was a cozy-blanket familiarity to reading it so many years later, but i felt just as invested in anda's struggle as i did when i was a kid, and the book didn't feel childish at all. it's a genuinely good story with a realistic character at its center whose frustrations and determination make her genuinely sympathetic and likable.

baby-karen's review:



i like this book because i am very good at gymnastics* and i liked it when anda rescued that cat from the roof but it was sad when it got hit by a car but i'm glad it was okay even though it got hit by a car. my dog got hit by a car one time and he was not okay so it's good her cat didn't die. i also liked the blizzard because i love the snow.

adult-review:

i think this book is responsible for my adult love of dance movies. the plot is pretty much the plot for every dance movie ever - young unwealthy girl has all the talent and grit to land her in the highest echelon of competitive world mostly populated by affluent peers, but is held back by poverty-based obstacles: missing a competition because the rusty old truck breaks down, missing practice because a sick goat must be tended to, without even a telephone to make other transportation arrangements, but lo! opportunity in the form of a scholarship is within her grasp, if only she can win better than anyone else and become a STAR!

no better drama, no more fulfilling triumph.

this has all the ups and downs of an olympic backstory: sacrifice MILLIE! MOLLIE!, overcoming illness, injury and innate stubbornness, learning self-control, harnessing all that unfocused energy into discipline, and accepting that life isn't all tumblesaults; sometimes you gotta learn ballet, too.

her mom's kind of a drag, though. i'm not sure why i'm scrutinizing the adults in these books so much as i reread them, except for the fact that i am closer to their age than anda's, and when i was a kid, grown-ups weren't interesting, and i didn't have an adult perspective. but now, money woes are unfortunately very familiar to me, and having just read You Will Know Me, which is about a family with a gymnast prodigy and how everything revolves around her training and the sacrifices they have to make in order to afford that lifestyle, i can understand where her parents are coming from, with the caution and stress-crankiness. but her mom is pretty chilly, for a hippie with a backyard fulla goats and chickens. she's not horrible, but she has enough moments where you wanna shove her outta the way of anda's path to glory.

a few loose comments:

i totally had a crush on anda when i was little, and i used to think this picture was real cute.



but now i am old and that kind of thing is creepy, so i have to get over her. sorry, anda.

i had forgotten this took place in england. there's no big revelation there, it was just a moment of "oh, yeah," when i saw the glossary at the front, where some of the terms are 'translated' for non-british readers.

i did find one error that i must have missed as a kid, because it didn't spark anything in me. but bella is indeed a special cat:

"Oh look, Daddy! She's got pink feet! Her paws are pink on the bottom. Like pink beads! Look at her white whiskers! Oh, she's got little white eyelashes! Why are her eyes blue?"

"They'll change," said Bill, steering Murgatroyd carefully round a group of moorland sheep. "They'll go green as she gets older. Or yellow. Oh, she's magic, isn't she?"

she is magic, because her eyes go both green AND yellow. about thirty pages later, she has green jewel eyes, and then about twenty pages after that, they are yellow. kaleidoscope cat!

i am very excited to continue this rereading project. will they all hold up?? let's find out!


* adult edit - childhood self-confidence aside, i was NOT "very good" at gymnastics. i was tragic on balance beam and, like anda, i hated the floor-dancing parts. the only things i was good at were the ones where you fling your body about without worrying about the landing parts - i was strongest on vault, decent at uneven bars, and i liked the flippy parts of the floor routine, because wheeee. but "very good?" not hardly.

****************************************
just as good as i remember! review to come! for now, fume with me over the fact that there are TWO other books connected to this one, making this a little gymnast TRILOGY, that i never knew about and am now gonna need to track down.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/182760

****************************************

the second of my middle grade rereads for 2017-project.

this one has a different bookplate:



and another "how karen kept track of her reading when she was a baby" account:



and it was even cheaper than Wait Till Helen Comes!



will it hold up!!?? let's see!

JANUARY: wait till helen comes

MARCH: zucchini

APRIL: something queer at the library

MAY: good-bye pink pig

JUNE: the girl with the silver eyes

JULY: the phantom tollbooth

come to my blog!

[Sheila]

I am the author of this book and I now write as Sheila Jeffries. I am currently trying to reclaim the rights so that I can republish it myself. It was the most popular of all the Sheila Haigh books and it has two sequels. I believe a new generation of children will love it.

[stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay, so my reading level was a little beyond where this book was reaching, but i've always been a sucker for an easy read, and hey, this is like chick-lit for youngsters!

ada is adorable. you can't help but love her, and man, i will never forget her balancing on the roof to save her cat.

this was also one of those books that drove home the sacrifices you have to make for your sport/dream/whatever, and i realized i was destined to be an underachiever. a well-read underachiever, but one nonetheless.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a valiant, though perhaps doomed, effort to catch up my inordinately high Goodreads challenge/goal (to be fair, I made the goal thinking that I would NOT be having to homeschool my 8th grader/hoping in vain that COVID would be under control by fall of 2021- obviously that hasn't been the case and I'm busy AF, despite still barely leaving the house), I'm revisiting some extra favorite books from my childhood. Looked up some titles I remember reading a bazillion times from when I was in the 7-11 age range and found used copies to order cheaply online, and this was one of them. Was a bit worried that doing this would tarnish my memories and childhood love of these books, as my Sweet Valley High project has proven time and time again that my taste in reading material as a tween was not great. THIS book, though? Holds up beautifully. A straightforward story of a young, country, British girl with poor"hippie" parents in the mid 60s, who has a penchant for climbing high things and walking on garden walls and fences whose grandmother signs her up for gymnastics, and she's a natural.

Expenses and transportation to the gym make the lessons a hardship for Anda's family (I remember being obsessed with this name- I'd nevwr heard it before- and honestly can't say I've heard it since- reading this book and I loved it. Kind of still do), but she finds a flier for a competition that comes with a scholarship for expenses and works her little tail off to try to win so she can continue her lessons and time with her new friends. Genuinely a sweet, inoffensive story with themes about hard work, gratitude, gymnastics and generosity. Was a perfect, short, nostalgic read before bedtime, and surprisingly well written. 4 stars- recommended for budding gymnasts everywhere.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite book as a child, I read it over and over again. I still have my dog-eared copy in a box in my closet!

[Kelly Samayoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books as a kid, and reading it back as an adult is giving me such a sweet glimmer of nostalgia. My book cover is falling apart but I still cherish it deeply ❤️. (Did not know there were two other books to this one, but this one could be read as a standalone)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid! I read it to one of my 10yo boys and he really liked it too.

[Tjacobs4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! The Little Gymnast is full of nice things and it is great to learn from. This book reminded me of how I became a gymnast and how I moved on and tried my best to succeed. I enjoyed this book so much I hope you would read it even if you are not a gymnast. It is helpful for any sport or even if you don't understand anything or if you want to be in a sport, also it helps you think about what you are capable of and has you believe in yourself. I do believe you should read this book, so if you would like to know more go ahead and drive to a store or bookstore and hunt the book down and read it! Its amazing! :)

[03whitneyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book as long as I can remember. My grandma gave it to me when I was young when I first began tumbling. I am a competitive power tumbler (power tumbling is much like gymnastics) and I have been tumbling for the last 11 years. I have read this book before almost every tumbling competition I have competed at including tumbling competitions in resent years.

Although it is targeted towards children much younger than I, It will always have a special place in my heart.

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a young British girl who falls in love with gymnastics and works extremely hard to win a scholarship to afford her training. It is not great literature by any means, but you can't help but root for the determined daredevil and you will learn a lot of gymnastics lingo. Great for gymfans and gymrats.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was 10. My best friend was a gymnast and I wanted to be just like her. But I was tall and lanky and lacking any physical skills or ambition. So instead I read this book. A lot.

[Ilana Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I quit gymnastics when I was six, I held onto this book a lot longer. I love Anda's no-nonsense approach to achieving her dream. At the time I read it, she seemed to be very wise for such a young girl. Definitely get this book for the talented dreamer in your life--gymnast or otherwise!

[Sahana]

This book is realistic fiction! It is very fun, interesting and makes you want to read more. It is about a farm girl who focuses her energy on gymnastics and overcomes difficulties to become the best she can!

[Bethany]

I vaguely remember this. something about her having to learn to walk a certain way and resenting it until she get's to the competition and is grateful she knows how to present herself. Or that might be another book. Still I definitely remember that cover.

[Brittany Childers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book as a child

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this cheap and wanted to reread it since I read it when I was a kid

[Lucy Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very good!!!

[Sara Hobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this about a million times when I was 9/10, I loved it so much. Have just discovered there are two sequels!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

While other kids were reading Anne of Green Gables and Little Princess in the ‘80s, I was reading book fair bargains like The Little Gymnast. I probably read this book a thousand times. Gus loved it just as much as I did. Nostalgia FTW.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a little girl, I loved this book. I was a huge fan of gymnastics (unfortunately, my training didn't go as far as little Anda's). And it was, I think, the first book I read that took place in another country, namely, England.

Anda Barnes is almost 9 years old and lives in a small village in England. She's a rambunctious daredevil, always breaking things because she swings or jumps on them. She's too full of energy and she's fearless. One day, she discovers gymnastics while watching the Olympics on tv. Instantly taken, her family finds her gymnastics lessons at a nearby gym as a tenth birthday present. A natural, Anda soon has opportunities to compete. Then things hit a snag - her family, who live in a run-down old farm, were never very well off before the added cost of gymnastics. Her parents have made sacrifices for their daughter, but if Anda doesn't win a scholarship competition, she may have to give up gymnastics for good.

As an adult, I still enjoyed the story. Anda is portrayed as a genuine child. She's not bratty or preternaturally mature. She has temper tantrums like any kid her age, and doesn't always understand when things don't go her way. She's determined, and bares some guilt over the sacrifices her family makes for her training. I like that the author, Sheila Haigh, portrayed Anda so honestly and truly. Gymnastics gives Anda a focus and a calmness. After awhile, she no longer flies of the handle, but handles things in a better way. I really felt for Anda. I remember the passion I had for dance when I was her age. I remember having the same spark and drive to practice at home. I don't recall frustrating my parents nearly as much, but I could be wrong. All in all, it was a fun story about the drive it takes to succeed at something you're passionate about.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very excited to rediscover this book, which is still as good as I remember it. Since I lent my copy to a friend back then and never saw it again, I had to order a used copy online. When it arrived, I was so surprised to see the copyright date of 1962. I'm wondering if the American publisher had to edit anything to make it more timeless. Obviously, the pink Apple paperback cover made it circa 1980s for me. The parents are hippies, which I don't think I got as a kid. The author did a great job of making them real; although her mom is a little mean at times, like dropping off Anda at the gym for the first time, refusing to go in with her, saying it will be good for her to go in alone. Loved the grandmother and the fact that she found out about the gymnastics club by asking at the library! I'd forgotten there was a glossary of gymnastics terms was included, since the Brits say "flic-flacs" instead of flip flops, etc. Best thing about rediscovering this book -- finding out there was a sequel (Somersaults) I never heard of! I now have it on order.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost track of how many times I reread this book as a child. Somehow, I understood what it meant to be passionate about something yet to have the looming threat of not being able to follow your passion because of practical constraints. Plus, I was a big fan of gymnastics, which added to the book's appeal. I'd recommend this book to any girl to instill in her the hope of reaching her dreams as she works hard and doesn't give up.

[Mary Taitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and interesting with useful lessons that didn't beat the reader over the head. A lot of hard work and sacrifice is required to do well at any endeavor. But life can still be quite enjoyable. And so can the book. Set in England, Anda discovers gymnastics and the rigors of learning and competition. I will be passing this on to my granddaughter and I belive she will really enjoy it.

[Kris Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this as a kid. LOVED it. Found it at a booksale recently and discovered I still love it, and I don't even care how many exclamation points there are. I liked the idea of a little girl overcoming her temper and impulsiveness and learning to work for something. I never did this myself but it was interesting to read about.

[Mel J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorite books from my childhood. It was the very first book I ever bought at a book fair when I was in 1st grade. I read this book over and over and over as a child, and on a whim one day bought another copy to read it again. I've re-read this story at least three times since I purchased this book again and love it to this day!

[Niya · Rating 5 out of 5]

i LOVE this book. i remember reading it in elementary school, and i found the book online a year ago. its still a good book, i've read it twice since i got it. read this if you like gymnastics... i'm pretty sure it's a little kid book, but still good

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book as a kid. I was in gymnastics, but dropped out around fifth grade when I started to grow. I don't remember if I read this book before or after, but I still remember the joy and tension I felt when reading it. Can't wait to pick it up again and get those tinglies all over.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books growing up. I loved Anda, and I loved reading about her gymnastics training. I love the scene where she gets the new leotard and training clothes. I re-read it in 2004 to see if I loved it as much as I remembered, and I did.

[Jeana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book when I was a little girl. I read it over and over and over.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute..