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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I don't know why I love gymnastics and cheerleading so much when I'm pretty useless at any kind of sport. Either way, I loved this book! I got a ton of Make It Or Break It vibes and now I'm considering watching the show again.
However, I wish this book focused on more days than a weekend. I wish we got more backstory and a bit more about the future of the gymnasts, but I do understand the timing of the plot. It was quite diverse, focusing on family, friends, social life, eating disorders, and not predictable at all! I loved the dynamics between the 5 main characters.
However, I wish this book focused on more days than a weekend. I wish we got more backstory and a bit more about the future of the gymnasts, but I do understand the timing of the plot. It was quite diverse, focusing on family, friends, social life, eating disorders, and not predictable at all! I loved the dynamics between the 5 main characters.
"Tumbling" is a teen drama set in the world of gymnastics. I started reading it as a palate cleanser (I'd been reading about genocides and needed something fluffy), and "Tumbling" served that right up. The book has enough detail about the world of gymnastics that a sports fan would enjoy it, enough teen girl angst to feel familiar to the reader, and a sufficiently critical eye at the sport to include the well-documented problems gymnasts face. Overall, "Tumbling" was a very enjoyable little read that fulfilled its role as teen fiction well.
I honestly didn't expect this book to surprise me, but I was a bit surprised by the places it went. The characters came across as real people, which is something that's often lacking in YA, I feel. I didn't love them, but I didn't hate them. I rooted for them at times and other times I was guiltly hoping they'd fail. They all had their own backstories, hopes and dreams, shortcomings, and Carter presents all of these without bias. No one is more or less deserving of making the Olympic team, no one girl is the hero or a villain.
And in the end, I didn't totally like what happened to all of the characters, but at the same time, it didn't seem like Carter made any wrong choices with the narrative. Unfair things happen to nice and good people all the time. People who should deserve things don't get them, because who don't, do. Etc, etc.
I did really feel bad for Leigh, because she didn't really want to be partially-closeted, but she was afraid that her sexuality would eclipse her actual skills. And I felt that rang so true.
And in the end, I didn't totally like what happened to all of the characters, but at the same time, it didn't seem like Carter made any wrong choices with the narrative. Unfair things happen to nice and good people all the time. People who should deserve things don't get them, because who don't, do. Etc, etc.
I would not have picked up this book if I realized that it's by the same author as my best friend, maybe, but I'm happy to say that tumbling is a solid 3.5 star, enjoyable book! there's something about the author's writing style that just doesn't sit right with me, and the characters' struggles feel a little convoluted at times, especially with five (!) narrators, but all of the main characters were interesting people I cared about. I love gymnastics stories and this felt like a very real look at what the sport is really like.
I didn't go into this book expecting too much; mostly a guilty pleasure read for me. I liked the premise behind it (Olympic gymnastic hopefuls competing for their shot at glory), but the story came to be kind of predictable and it wasn't too hard to figure out how this book would end. Tumbling did have some bursts of great writing when the author narrated a particular girl's gymnastics routine, but overall, this book wasn't anything too special for me. I could have also done with a few less characters; while eventually I got to the point where I could distinguish the five girls, there was this overtone of self doubt in all of them that sounded very one note. If you're looking for a book that's a pretty quick and easy read, this will do the trick.