I just finished reading Shawn Johnson’s new book called “The Flip Side”. Shawn Johnson is one of my favorite gymnasts and I was excited to see that she released a Young Adult novel. This book was so good! “The Flip Side” gives us all a look into the life of a young Elite gymnast who is trying to balance life at a public school while trying to achieve her goal of making the Olympic team. This book is not a biography although I am sure that Shawn pulled a lot of her own experiences to create this story. As a former gymnast, I knew that this book would be up my alley but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book appeals to people that aren’t involved in the sport of gymnastics as well. I was thrilled when the librarian told me that this book came in and was available for check out. I think anyone, especially those involved in extra-curricular activities can relate to the characters in this book. It can be difficult juggling all the things that life throws at us. Being a teenager is hard. There can be a lot of pressure and sometimes the pressure comes from ourselves more than anything. Sometimes we want to give up on our dreams but it is a great feeling to push through and overcome the obstacles. It makes the end result so much sweeter when you can look back and think “I did it!” This book talks about managing school, being an athlete and also managing relationships with friends, family. She even talks about what dating is like for an Elite athlete. Shawn Johnson’s book is very easy to follow and I thought it was a quick read. If you are looking for a feel good story, check out “The Flip Side.”
Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com
