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A review by keysersuze
Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli
3.0
Audrey Lee is a young US gymnast intent on going to the Olympics. We join her at the end of her journey, as the team is announced. No spoilers, but I guess it’d be a short book if she didn’t make the team. Or would it??
I have a soft spot for gymnastics stories, ever since I bought an old book on gymnastics from a charity shop when I was about 8. I was fascinated by the Olga Korbut pictures. I also remember watching Kerri Strug power through injury to win the Olympic medal in Atlanta, where the whole world caught Strugitis for a few days. There’s something compelling about the strength required coupled with the grace needed to make the moves look good – probably why I like dance, and ballet.
So “Break the Fall”, by Jennifer Iacopelli, tells Rey’s story – short for Audrey – on her way to the big competition with her best friend and teammates. Along the way they encounter some obstacles, of course. It was really weird that it was set in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, having just been postponed due to the threat of Covid-19/Corona virus. That felt very ‘on the nose’, by pure coincidence, of course.
The story was quite quickly something I hadn’t expected – weightier than ‘just’ a fantasy about Olympic level gymnastics. Rey is battling her own injuries, feelings about potentially beating her best friend to a medal and what that would do to their relationship as well as fanning the flames of a newly hatched romance. It comes into its own talking about the female relationships, the graciousness of young adults and the fact that everyone needs someone to lean on, sometimes.
There were a few things I wasn’t a fan of – small, personal to me gripes. Iacopelli clearly knows a lot about gymnastics and while I enjoy a flashy costume and a sing along floor tune, I can’t tell what a triple piked somersault Amanov looks like. There was a lot of this description, especially towards the end of the book where the competing events took place. This took me out a bit, as I couldn’t really follow the routine. I’ll bet it’s easier for people who have done it, though. Secondly, the love interest being called Leo and the shortened name for their kit being ‘leo’ was a bit confusing sometimes!
I would have liked to have seen a bit more on the Olympic village, some interaction with the male gymnasts, maybe – a description of the opening ceremony, even.
I did enjoy being with Rey on her journey, and her character was well rounded and likeable without being a pushover. Recommended by sports fans, team lovers and anyone who likes a good, well written teen romance.
Thanks as always to Netgalley for the platform and for Hachette Children's Group Publishing for the ARC.
I have a soft spot for gymnastics stories, ever since I bought an old book on gymnastics from a charity shop when I was about 8. I was fascinated by the Olga Korbut pictures. I also remember watching Kerri Strug power through injury to win the Olympic medal in Atlanta, where the whole world caught Strugitis for a few days. There’s something compelling about the strength required coupled with the grace needed to make the moves look good – probably why I like dance, and ballet.
So “Break the Fall”, by Jennifer Iacopelli, tells Rey’s story – short for Audrey – on her way to the big competition with her best friend and teammates. Along the way they encounter some obstacles, of course. It was really weird that it was set in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, having just been postponed due to the threat of Covid-19/Corona virus. That felt very ‘on the nose’, by pure coincidence, of course.
The story was quite quickly something I hadn’t expected – weightier than ‘just’ a fantasy about Olympic level gymnastics. Rey is battling her own injuries, feelings about potentially beating her best friend to a medal and what that would do to their relationship as well as fanning the flames of a newly hatched romance. It comes into its own talking about the female relationships, the graciousness of young adults and the fact that everyone needs someone to lean on, sometimes.
There were a few things I wasn’t a fan of – small, personal to me gripes. Iacopelli clearly knows a lot about gymnastics and while I enjoy a flashy costume and a sing along floor tune, I can’t tell what a triple piked somersault Amanov looks like. There was a lot of this description, especially towards the end of the book where the competing events took place. This took me out a bit, as I couldn’t really follow the routine. I’ll bet it’s easier for people who have done it, though. Secondly, the love interest being called Leo and the shortened name for their kit being ‘leo’ was a bit confusing sometimes!
I would have liked to have seen a bit more on the Olympic village, some interaction with the male gymnasts, maybe – a description of the opening ceremony, even.
I did enjoy being with Rey on her journey, and her character was well rounded and likeable without being a pushover. Recommended by sports fans, team lovers and anyone who likes a good, well written teen romance.
Thanks as always to Netgalley for the platform and for Hachette Children's Group Publishing for the ARC.