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

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

03/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—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

02/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—Combine grueling daily training with the ultra-competitive life of world-class gymnastics and the life of an extraordinary tween, and you will soar with Simone Biles. True to its title, Biles's autobiography, written with best-selling author and O magazine founding editor Michelle Burford, is a work in balance. Listeners are privy to how a bouncy, energetic toddler became the world's most decorated female gymnast. They will hear of the technical complexities, coaching strategies, frustrating competitive failures, and smashing successes. Listeners get a unique, insider's peek behind the scenes of the gymnastics universe, with its tales of favorite colors, choosing a dream car, lucky leotards, unusual animal obsessions, and even teen crushes. Biles honestly shares stories of her crying binges and bratty phases as well as her adult-size determination and dedication to her sport. The author does not shy away from the rocky side of family life but also describes the generous support and guidance of her close family. Imani Parks is perfect as the narrator. Her pitch is spot on, and she mimics the tones and accents of several adults in Biles's life, just as the teen might. VERDICT Biles presents a candid and upbeat account that will entertain and inspire many middle schoolers. The hopeful gymnasts among them will hang on every word.—Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA