Gabrielle Douglas
Nonfiction/Sports/Gymnastics
From the cover:
I started gymnastics back when I was six, but I never imagined my life would become this amazing--or this crazy! I'm loving every minute. Since winning two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, I've appeared on TV shows, traveled to amazing places, and watched my entire life transform. At the same time, I have to find time for schoolwork, practicing new gymnastic routines, and, well, sleep. Balancing everything has meant a lot of hard work--but it's so worth it. I'm glad some things in my life will never change. I still like to laugh with my family, hang out with my friends, and listen to my favorite music whenever I can (and catch the latest episode of my fave TV show).
Get to know the people in my life--old and new--who have helped me reach my dreams, and see what it's been like to wow the world. I'm thankful for everything I have and can't wait to share my world with you!
My thoughts:
I just had the privilege of reading through Raising the Bar with my grade-school aged granddaughter. We loved watching Gabby perform on TV so it was a real treat to read her chatty-style book where we got a sneak peek inside her life.
The book is over-sized so the pictures are large and absolutely beautiful. The story starts at the beginning and introduces the reader to Gabby's family and how she began gymnastics at the age of six. It was inspiring to learn about the sacrifices that not only Gabby made but also what her family did to make sure she could continue.
At the age of fourteen, Gabby left her home and family to train with a new coach. In order to do that she had to live with a new family. I was struck by the honesty of the struggles to make that transition. Moving to a new town and living with people that you don't know took a lot of faith on everyone's part.
This book gave my granddaughter and I the opportunity to discuss what it would be like to leave all that you know to pursue a dream. We talked about how hard that would be and how you would have to rely on God to get you through the tough times. We also talked about what it means to be dedicated and to persevere. Long after we were finished reading the book together, my granddaughter continued to pour over the pictures.
This is a great book about what it means to be a family (both biological and through circumstance). It is also a story of faith and determination. I loved the message that was presented through Gabby's story. We need more role models just like her for our young girls!
Connect with Gabby:
Gabrielle Douglas was one of the Zonderkidz authors nominated for the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for 2014. To celebrate that we are offering one of our readers a chance to win a copy of Raising the Bar for their household. If you are interested in entering please use the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway is open to any U.S. resident age 18 and over.
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