Best of the Best in Gymnastics (Women of Sports) [Library Binding]

Rachel Rutledge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Women of Sports

Discusses the past and future of women's gymnastics and presents biographies of eight of the sport's most famous players: Simona Amanar, Vanessa Atler, Dominique Dawes, Ling Jie, Svetlana Khorkina, Kris Maloney, Shannon Miller, and Dominique Morceanu.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-The first 10 pages of this volume describe the ancient and modern history of gymnastics and culminate with an overview of the accomplishments of the "magnificent seven," the nickname of the successful U.S. women's team at the 1996 Olympics. The eight chapters that follow present biographical sketches of three of those team members (Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, and Dominique Moceanu) and five up-and-coming stars (Kris Maloney and Vanessa Atler of the U.S., Svetlana Khorkina from Russia, Simona Amanar of Romania, and Ling Jie from China). Each chapter includes three full-color photos and a chart of career highlights. The book does not shy away from controversial issues, addressing eating disorders, injury and sometimes even death, pushing young girls too hard, and Moceanu's legal separation from her parents due to financial matters. For more detail on the USA team of 1996, try Nancy Kleinbaum's The Magnificent Seven (Bantam, 1996). Joel Cohen's Superstars of Women's Gymnastics (Chelsea, 1997) highlights four stars, only one of whom is duplicated here. Rutledge's attractive book complements these titles.
Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 64 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761313214
• ISBN-13: 978-0761313212
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,474,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A rushed, but interesting book, August 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Best Of The Best/Gymnastics (Women of Sports) (Paperback)

I liked the people in this book, but there were incorrect facts and many typos. If a little more effort would have been put in this book it would be excellent.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars TERRIBLE!, July 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Best Of The Best/Gymnastics (Women of Sports) (Paperback)

I am totally in love with gymnastics, but please, don't ell me that Kim Zmeskal was on the '96 Olympic Team. Nor that Vanessa Atler's name is spelt ZVanessa! I love the pictures, I hate the inaccurate info!!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worse than John Tesh's commentary, July 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Best Of The Best/Gymnastics (Women of Sports) (Paperback)

This book is filled with inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Not only does it state that Kim Zmeskal was a member of the 96 Olympic team, (There is a picture of the team on the opposite page. The author has left out Amanda Borden - the team captian - in her prose [yes prose]) but according to the author, Lilia Podkopaeva is from Romania. Please!!! The book is filled with mushy language that strays from fact. It is hard to trust very much of the text when there are such grave errors right in the first chapter.