Go-for-Gold Gymnasts: Winning Team & Balancing Act - Paperback

by Alicia Thompson (Author), Dominique Moceanu (Author)

Read the first two books in the Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series together in this bind-up edition, along with an introduction from three-time World All-Around champion Simone Biles!

In Winning Team, twelve-year-old Brittany Lee Morgan is the best. Or, at least she was at her gymnastics training gym in Ohio. But when her family moves to Texas for a world-class facility, Britt is suddenly a zero in the eyes of her new teammates. The other girls -- graceful Christina, perfect Noelle, and quiet Jessie -- aren't exactly excited by the arrival of the pint-sized powerhouse. Especially since Britt has a way of saying the wrong things at all the wrong times. But, Britt's not scared of a challenge: she's an Elite Gymnast, and she didn't get there without taking some major risks. She's determined to become friends with the other Texas Twisters, whether they want her to or not.

In Balancing Act, twelve-year-old Noelle Onesti has gymnastics in her blood. Not only does she have natural ability, talent, and drive, but back in Romania, her mother was also an Elite gymnast. So if there's one girl destined to come home with a gold medal at the Junior National Championships, it's Noelle. But Noelle's a worrier, and she knows it won't be easy for her family to put up the money to send her to the competition. She tries to focus on her training, but when a boy asks her to the school dance, her mind is a whirlwind of dresses, crushes, and family responsibilities. Noelle knows that if she wants to achieve her Olympic dreams, she can't let anything get in the way. Her teammates -- graceful Christina, quiet Jessie, and lively Britt -- can't wait for the trip to Junior Nationals in Philadelphia, and Noelle doesn't want to let them down.

Praise for Winning Team

Winning Team takes you to the heart of competitive gymnastics, while also teaching meaningful life lessons that transcend sports. Girls everywhere will enjoy this book as much as I did. --Kerri Strug, Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast

Gymnasts will appreciate the insider language and details drawn from Moceanu's knowledge and experience. --Publishers Weekly

Finally, young female gymnasts have a book to call their own. --Kirkus Reviews

[T]he story moves at a good pace and the characters are well developed . . . [A] good purchase for libraries where sports stories are popular. --VOYA

Author Biography

Dominique Moceanu (www.dominique-moceanu.com) is the author of the New York Times best-selling Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion, as well as her memoir, Off Balance. As a member of the women's gymnastics team, she won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. She now tours the country as an ambassador for the sport, doing clinics and summer camps and speaking with young gymnasts. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband and two children.

Alicia Thompson (www.alicia-thompson.com) is the author of the young adult novel Psych Major Syndrome. She also co-wrote an updated version of The Secret Language of Birthdays for teens, and has contributed stories to Girls' Life. She lives with her husband and two children in Riverview, Florida.

Together, they are the authors of The Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series: Winning Team, Balancing Act, Reaching High, and Unexpected Twist.