This novel follows a young girl in Russia who is chosen to be a gymnast. Despite all the hardships and the grueling training, she rises to compete in trials for the Olympics. This is a heartbreaking story, between the hardships depicted in Russia, her relationships with her father, coaches and friends, one wonders how she can excel at her sport. A book to be discussed about what it is like to be a Russian athlete and the conditions of Russia and its people .

I loved this book!

This novel follows Anya, a young girl in the USSR who aspires to be a gymnast. Her father was in gymnastics and her mother had been a dancer. Her father and her live in a remote city in the northern part of Russia. Her mother left them after years of struggling with the isolation. Her father works in the copper mines and is hopeful that Anya will be selected to represent the Country and bring pride to them.

At the age of 9, Anya is selected to start at the sport school and train to become a gymnast. This is the beginning of her journey and she will become part of the world she knew little truly about and will have to make sacrifices that she has no choice in.

The only downfall of this amazing book, was that I really hoping for more about Anya's mother. The chapters also jumped from current to the past and to multiple characters, which required me as a reader to make sure I focused on the changes to follow the story.