Break the Fall

by Jennifer Iacopelli

[Beth C.]

My daughter is a competitive gymnast, so I speak from experience when I say that finding books - good books - about this subject that aren't just meant for the preschool set is...impossible. Really. A good fiction book about gymnasts just doesn't exist - until now.

The gymnastics in this book are so realistic that I could picture it in my head. Which is ironic, because my daughter rolls her eyes at me regularly when I ask her to remind me what in the world she's talking about as she mentions new skills. It's edge-of-your-seat athletics (which, to be honest, gymnastics often is), and I could feel myself getting more and more tense during the rotations. Gymnastics is one of THE most underrated sports, in terms of the time and training it requires, and the absolute strength and skill the girls possess. I've actually been sitting at a college meet and heard the guy behind me tell his girlfriend that their child wouldn't do gymnastics because it wasn't really a sport. This book makes it clear that this is NOT the case - that gymnasts are strong, fierce, and have an endurance beyond what many would ever believe. Particularly to get to this level.

But here's the kicker. This isn't just a book about gymnasts competing for a gold. That in itself has enough details to sideline many authors, but it's also about so much more. Iacopelli not only writes about the current elephant in the room (sexual assault in elite gymnastics), but she wrestles said elephant into submission. It's a realistic portrait of the coulds and woulds and should-haves that go through people's minds when someone they've known for years, someone they've trusted with their health, their career, THEIR DREAMS, becomes someone they find they didn't really know. When the people they thought they knew best have secrets, and how those secrets can come tumbling down like a string of dominoes. While this could be a trigger for some, Iacopelli has handled the situation gracefully - no big flashbacks, no horrific graphic imagery. Simply a group of girls, getting ready to compete on the biggest stage in the world, trying to process the truth. I'm also VERY appreciative of the resources listed in the back of the book for RAINN, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and Flip the Switch - there for those who may stumble upon them and realize that help is available.

Speaking of the group of girls in the story - they echoed what I have seen over and over again, even at my daughter's level of gymnastics. Girls on a team, even if they aren't "friends" outside the gym, are absolutely teammates inside of it. They will cheer each other on, high five, and encourage - and hug when needed. They will cheer on girls from *other* gyms when they feel it's warranted. As the parent of a gymnast, it was excellent to see this teamwork and camaraderie brought to light in this book. Gymnasts - or even just women athletes - often seem to be considered bitchy or haughty or aloof, in part because of how hard they've had to work to get to an elite level. But for the most part, while this does exist, it is not in the majority. Again, Iacopelli was able to show the teamwork and empathy that most exhibit, and that really helped to make the characters shine.

Overall, I could not be more thrilled to have a book that my daughter might be interested in reading. One with true characters, some suspense, and even a little romance. I'm not usually a contemporary YA reader, but the gymnastics twist drew me in - and I'm so glad it did.
#BreakTheFall
@PenguinTeen