Every 4 years, TV coverage of the Olympics propels new young readers to vault over couches and seek out books about gymnastics. This book cowritten by Olympic Gold medalist Moceanu and Thompson mixes up an insider's command of competitive details, from defining a Yourchenko vault to describing how a bad-lift-off from the beam feels, with story elements more familiar to most 12-year-olds, such as sleepover rounds of "Truth and Dare." Initially, Britt is not so aware of what her family sacrifices when they move to Texas for her training, but she learns that a new gym doesn't mean an instantly fabulous world. Britt also has an almost Olympic ability to put her foot in her mouth. Without heavy messages, the plot addresses parental pressure and eating disorders as young team members might experience them. Fans growing out of the American Girl McKenna books will discover a good step-up series, Go-for-Gold Gymnasts, through this book.

Finally, young female gymnasts have a book to call their own in this first title in The Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series, co-authored by Olympic gold medalist Moceanu. Having recently achieved Junior Elite status, Brittany Morgan (who's 12 but looks like a 9-year-old) and her family uproot from Ohio to Austin, Texas, so Brittany can train with the prestigious Texas Twisters and continue her path to the Olympics. The overconfident, homeschooled girl's biggest chance to make new friends is with fellow trainees Christina, Noelle and Jessie, but somehow she keeps putting her foot in her mouth rather than solidly on the beam before her. She tries to temper her impulsivity in the face of Christina's insecurities and Jessie's possible eating disorder. The pedestrian, first-person narration's self-comparisons to Boo Radley will probably be lost on most in this audience, who are unlikely to have read To Kill a Mockingbird. In a predictable ending, Brittany realizes the true meaning and spirit of teamwork and brings her renewed enthusiasm to the rest of the Texas Twisters. This insider's view gives an interesting perspective on gymnasts' lives, from their grueling work schedule and training methods to risk of injuries and even superstitious obsessions, but don't expect any winning medals. (Fiction. 10-12)

Gr 4-8 In this new series, 12-year-old Brittany and her parents move from Ohio to Austin, TX, so that she can join an elite gymnastics training program. Problems arise when she tries to fit in with her three new teammates: Jessie, the friendliest until Britt blabs her suspicions about Jessie's bulimia; Christina, the best gymnast, who dislikes the new girl and the new competition; and Noelle, a total Christina-follower. There's plenty of preteen angst to keep the plot thickening, and the authors skillfully include plenty of facts about the sport. However, the vocabularyespecially in the dialogue among the girlsseems way too difficult and improbable for 12-year-olds—e.g., "heinous," "archnemesis," "livid," "celebratory," "conspiring." A recurring theme in which homeschooled Brittany compares herself to Boo Radley and her situation to his in To Kill a Mockingbird seems totally wrong. It appears to be a failed attempt to lend some literary value to an otherwise rather lightweight book. With a dearth of good sports fiction on this subject aimed at middle-grade girls, this one is acceptable even with its drawbacks. It will no doubt be a popular choice for the intended audience.— Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI