kshea1's review
3.0
It's a cute story about a very wholesome, sweet and respected athlete - definitely America's sweetheart! I follow gymnastics and there wasn't much in this book that I didn't already know. I actually listened to the audio book and it was upsetting to hear some names of gymnasts and tricks
mispronounced
mispronounced
watsonle2011's review
medium-paced
3.0
This is a great book for children. However, as an adult and gymnastics fan I was frustrated at how it was written as if the person reading it knew nothing about gymnastics. I don’t think anyone is picking up this book if they don’t know the fundamentals of the sport. I would really like to read a book from adult Laurie in 10 years. I think she would be able to be more honest after years of reflection than she was able to be in this book.
sunshine169's review against another edition
3.0
This was a short audiobook at just over 3 hours. I listened to it in one day. One of my life passions besides books and history is gymnastics so I am drawn into their stories. This is an uplifting account of another tough as bones gymnast. I would recommend this for young people for an extra push in the "go get 'em" direction. Definitely not geared towards adults but I think we can all benefit from the "I got this" mantra.
remigves's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
nlevesque27's review
5.0
I really loved this book. It was a nice insight to Laurie's life and what her inner monologue sounds like.
Book 14/75 (2018)
Book 14/75 (2018)
liralen's review
3.0
Two-sentence summary: very young gymnast tells her life story to date. There's a lot of success, a lot of energy, and exactly zero tension.
It's fine, really. Much like with Simone Biles' [b:book|31847558|Courage to Soar A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance|Simone Biles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1473611232s/31847558.jpg|52516411], this seems like a good one for teens who are just looking for something upbeat. But I'm really truly not joking about the tension level: it's largely a litany of competitions and scores, mixed with upbeat comments about nerves and a dash of naïveté. Hernandez has had some concerning injuries, but even those don't seem to slow her down for more than a paragraph. There are some funny/cute moments, as when Hernandez talks about meeting President Obama and then follows up by describing 'the biggest OMG moment of all' (156)...meeting Beyonce.
Again, I think Hernandez and her cohort will have a lot more to write about in a decade or two, but at least it's light entertainment.
It's fine, really. Much like with Simone Biles' [b:book|31847558|Courage to Soar A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance|Simone Biles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1473611232s/31847558.jpg|52516411], this seems like a good one for teens who are just looking for something upbeat. But I'm really truly not joking about the tension level: it's largely a litany of competitions and scores, mixed with upbeat comments about nerves and a dash of naïveté. Hernandez has had some concerning injuries, but even those don't seem to slow her down for more than a paragraph. There are some funny/cute moments, as when Hernandez talks about meeting President Obama and then follows up by describing 'the biggest OMG moment of all' (156)...meeting Beyonce.
Again, I think Hernandez and her cohort will have a lot more to write about in a decade or two, but at least it's light entertainment.
meliaraastair's review
4.0
Laurie was 16, which is the minimum age of a gymnast at the Olympics. She was an incredibly talented gymnast and I’m a little sad she turned 16 the year of the Games. The girl has so much potential and I think she’s not going to end up continuing in gymnastics. Even one year later and I think she would have beaten out Gabby for the all around spot in Rio. Not that Gabby wasn’t a good gymnast, Laurie was just the baby on the team.
This book was a super light read and a pretty simple recap of her story. Glad I read it, but for a deeper look into the gymnastics world, I’d recommend Aly Raisman’s book instead.
I’ll go 8 of 10 for enjoyment and 5 of 5 for readability. Quick read, and I’m interested to see where Laurie ends up over the next few years. She’s a great young woman and it’ll be interesting to see who and what she becomes after gymnastics.
-Holly
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com
This book was a super light read and a pretty simple recap of her story. Glad I read it, but for a deeper look into the gymnastics world, I’d recommend Aly Raisman’s book instead.
I’ll go 8 of 10 for enjoyment and 5 of 5 for readability. Quick read, and I’m interested to see where Laurie ends up over the next few years. She’s a great young woman and it’ll be interesting to see who and what she becomes after gymnastics.
-Holly
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com
ptsungirl's review
5.0
"You can always change your circumstances in life if you put your mind to it."
°•*⁀➷
Laurie is so special to me. I've been a huge gymnastics fan for what feels like all my life, and I watched every moment she talked about in her book happen right in front of my eyes. I watched her grow up and become an absolute star. And I've never felt such second-hand pride in my life. She's got one of the biggest personalities in the world and she really felt like a little sister to me.
There are so many things I related to about gymnastics. Holding in everything we feel, perfection, the need to push through even when we shouldn't. The pain of not being on the floor or rooting on your teammates on the sidelines. Gymnastics is a very singular sport with the mind games you play with yourself constantly, but it's also such a team sport. Without the backing of the people around you, there's no way to be great. Laurie touches on that so beautifully, and to hear her experiences with people she looks up to becoming her teammates and competing beside them. To hear her talk about the moment Aly came off the floor with tears in her eyes when she knew she clenched gold. It sounds exactly like something I've said a thousand times since 2016.
I loved hearing more about her friendship with Simone, and especially her friendship with Val. Watching her come into herself on Dancing With the Stars has got to be one of the most special things I've ever watched. Especially because I truly watched her grow up. The first time I saw Laurie Hernandez, she was a vibrant, shiny, spectacular presence wowing everyone in the gymnastics world.
Now, she's stepped into advertising. Found herself in ways I'm still trying to. And living a life with an optimism I strive to have. I can't wait to see what she does next. I hope she continues to spread her shine with us all.
I absolutely teared up while writing this. There's just something about feeling seen in someone's words. Especially when you know it all happened, because you watched it.
- Paige
°•*⁀➷
Laurie is so special to me. I've been a huge gymnastics fan for what feels like all my life, and I watched every moment she talked about in her book happen right in front of my eyes. I watched her grow up and become an absolute star. And I've never felt such second-hand pride in my life. She's got one of the biggest personalities in the world and she really felt like a little sister to me.
There are so many things I related to about gymnastics. Holding in everything we feel, perfection, the need to push through even when we shouldn't. The pain of not being on the floor or rooting on your teammates on the sidelines. Gymnastics is a very singular sport with the mind games you play with yourself constantly, but it's also such a team sport. Without the backing of the people around you, there's no way to be great. Laurie touches on that so beautifully, and to hear her experiences with people she looks up to becoming her teammates and competing beside them. To hear her talk about the moment Aly came off the floor with tears in her eyes when she knew she clenched gold. It sounds exactly like something I've said a thousand times since 2016.
I loved hearing more about her friendship with Simone, and especially her friendship with Val. Watching her come into herself on Dancing With the Stars has got to be one of the most special things I've ever watched. Especially because I truly watched her grow up. The first time I saw Laurie Hernandez, she was a vibrant, shiny, spectacular presence wowing everyone in the gymnastics world.
Now, she's stepped into advertising. Found herself in ways I'm still trying to. And living a life with an optimism I strive to have. I can't wait to see what she does next. I hope she continues to spread her shine with us all.
I absolutely teared up while writing this. There's just something about feeling seen in someone's words. Especially when you know it all happened, because you watched it.
- Paige
bookbrig's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.0
Very cute and a really quick, light read. I think I preferred Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance because it got into a little more detail about training and the process of becoming an Olympic athlete, but this was still an enthusiastic and sweet story.