MG Review: Gold Medal Summer by Donna Freitas

Synopsis:
Just in time for the Olympics: A gymnastics novel to flip for!

Joey Jordan loves gymnastics: the thrill of performing a backflip on the beam, the cheers of the audience when she sticks a landing. But even with all her talent and style, she's never quite made it to that gold medal stand.

Now big changes shake up Joey's life in and out of the gym. Joey wants to break out some daring new beam and floor routines--but she'll have to defy her strict coach to do it. Her best friend, Alex, is thinking about quitting gymnastics for good. And an old friend named Tanner just moved back to town, and he's suddenly gotten very, very cute. Can Joey handle all the challenges coming her way, and make her gold medal summer happen at last?

Drawing on her real-life experience as a competitive gymnast, acclaimed novelist Donna Freitas delivers both a terrific gymnastics story and a classic novel about stretching some limits, bending the rules, and finding your balance.

Publication Date: June 1, 2012
Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age
Source: Thanks so much to Scholastic for providing a review copy!


Review:

I haven't read any MG for awhile now. This is another one I'll mark down as 'must read' for my girls when they are old enough. It's such a sweetly moving story of one girl's summer and how she basically matures and gains confidence in herself. I found the content to bring back so many nostalgic memories of my own summers around this time of my life. Maybe not so much the gymnastics part of it in my case :) Your first crush, the nervous anticipation of seeing that someone...your first kiss. It was...moreI haven't read any MG for awhile now. This is another one I'll mark down as 'must read' for my girls when they are old enough. It's such a sweetly moving story of one girl's summer and how she basically matures and gains confidence in herself. I found the content to bring back so many nostalgic memories of my own summers around this time of my life. Maybe not so much the gymnastics part of it in my case :) Your first crush, the nervous anticipation of seeing that someone...your first kiss. It was really easy to relate to all the things that Joey was feeling. I think 13-14 years old is a time of enormous change for kids. Especially one involved in a sport that takes so much sacrifice and dedication. I loved seeing Joey change so much from the first chapter to the last. Her transformation from questioning her abilities and whether there is room for boys (one in particular) in her grueling gymnastics training to realizing what is most important to HER and how to manage her priorities was so well done. And although I don't know much about gymnastics, I really loved every part of this book. This was an entertaining read for any age, but spot on for any Middle Grader. It shines a light on believing in yourself and sticking with your goals. A perfect book just in time for summer!

Review: Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Synopsis:
A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

Publication Date: June 12, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Source: Thanks to EgmontUSA for making this title available on Netgalley!

Review:
I just recently read the first book in this series, Hourglass. I pretty much died over it :) So I've been really excited to dig into this one. It met alot of my expectations and missed a few as well. Overall I'd say it was a satisfying read and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book.

Kaleb was probably (definitely) my favorite character in Hourglass. He's not in it nearly as much as Michael or Emerson, but he makes an impact :) I was surprised to start reading and have Kaleb be the narrator in Timepiece as a opposed to Emerson. I really liked Kaleb as narrator for the most part. It gave me a greater insight into his character and his motivations and whatnot. But it also took away some of the mystery and excitement. And I know this is going to sound wishy-washy, but he was almost too much of a stand-up guy in this book. It totally makes sense why he is, but still :)

The plot in Timepiece is superbly twisty and turny. But not so much so that you fry your brain trying to keep up with time traveling jargon and whatnot. I really love that these are 'time travel' books without all the hurt-your-brain time travel stuff. Does that make sense? Anyway, the story is really fast-paced and action-y. I also got a better understanding of the Hourglass organization within the story and there is plenty of character development across the board. I read this one almost as fast as I read Hourglass.

I think this is a solid second book. I'll be waiting impatiently for Book 3!