SIMONE BILES is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time World all-around gymnastics champion. In 2015 at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, she became the only female gymnast to ever win three consecutive all-around titles. She is also the most decorated American female gymnast, with a total of nineteen medals, fourteen of them gold. Simone, who was born in Ohio and later adopted by her grandparents in Texas, began her training at age 6. During a serendipitous day care field trip to Bannon's Gymnastix, a coach recognized Simone's natural talent and sent home a letter to her parents, requesting that they enroll her in a class. Simone rose quickly through the sport's levels, and in 2011, she began her junior elite career at the American Classics in Huntsville, Texas, where she placed third all-around. Amid a few setbacks in the following two seasons, Simone rebounded in 2013 to claim the first of her three all-around World Championship titles. With her strong faith in God and her triumph against the odds, Simone is inspiring millions to dream big and follow their hearts. Michelle Burford is a #1 New York Times bestselling collaborative writer and a founding editor of O, The Oprah Magazine. She is a Harvard-trained journalist whose work has taken her to more than 35 countries on six continents. A native of Phoenix, Michelle now resides in New York City. Visit her online at www.MichelleBurford.com
Nineteen-year-old Biles, Olympic gold medalist and the most
decorated U.S. gymnast of all time, takes readers along her journey
to the podium in this memoir. After spending her early childhood in
and out of foster care, Biles was adopted by her biological
grandparents. She began her gymnastics training at the age of six
after a field trip to Bannon’s Gymnastix, where the coaches quickly
discovered that she “had what it took to go all the way.” Biles
describes not only her gymnastics training and career but also her
personal life, including her grandmother’s death, the difficult
decisions she made in order to balance school and gymnastics, her
“bratty period” in her early teens, and her love for her car, with
its zebra-print interior. In recent years, Biles has won three
consecutive world championship titles followed by her team gold and
individual wins at the 2016 Olympics. Biles’s narration is
effervescent, showing her to be, as her brother says, “a goofy and
down-to-earth kid.” The tone is conversational and includes casual
phrases such as “if you can’t already tell” and “just kidding.” She
expresses appreciation for her family, friends, teammates, and
coaches and frequently credits God and her faith for her success.
One slight caveat: readers without background knowledge about
gymnastics may not find the terminology to be adequately explained.
VERDICT Essential for libraries serving tween and teen gymnastics
fans.–Magdalena Teske, Naperville Public Library, IL
*School Library Journal*
Who can forget the radiant smile and inexhaustible energy of
four-feet-eight, 19-year-old Simone Biles, Olympian gymnast? This
inspiring and humorous memoir details how Simone, with the help and
support of her family, coaches, faith, and friends, succeeded in
winning five Olympic medals in 2016, four gold and a bronze. After
a brief time in foster care, Simone was six when she and her
younger sister were adopted by her grandparents (whom she refers to
as her mom and dad). Flipping on the family trampoline and an
unexpected daycare trip to the local tumbling gym sparked her love
of gymnastics. Despite her rookie success, she missed being
selected for the USA women’s junior team by one spot and was too
young to compete in the 2012 Olympics. But success was in her
future, due in part to her incredible support system---her parents
even built their own gym. Simone is admirable, but it’s the
unwavering support of her family and coaches that will make a
lasting impact on readers. -Sharon Rawlins
*Booklist*
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