Jake Maddox - Balance Beam Boss

Emma Carlson Berne has written numerous historical and biographical books for children and young adults, as well as young adult fiction. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two sons.

Katie Wood fell in love with drawing when she was very small. Since graduating from Loughborough University School of Art and Design in 2004, she has been living her dream working as a freelance illustrator. From her studio in Leicester, England, she creates bright and lively illustrations for books and magazines all over the world.

(AWR-uh-skohp) an instrument with a light used for examining the ear (bahyl) a thick, bitter yellow or greenish fluid produced by the liver to aid in digestion of fats in the small intestine (kuhn-KUHSH-uhn) an injury to the brain caused by a hard hit on the head (dih-STRES) a great suffering of body or mind (EK-si-kyoot) to carry out or perform (he-JAHB) a traditional scarf worn by Muslim women to cover the hair, neck, and sometimes the face (moh-MEN-tuhm) the characteristic of a moving body that is caused by its mass and its motion (TRAW-muh) a serious bodily injury caused by an accident or violent act, or an abnormal psychological or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or injury (vahst) very great in size or amount

1. Sofia is hesitant to talk about her fears with her best friend, her coach, and her aunt. How do you think her story would have been different if shed been open about her fears from the start?
2. Sofias fall is scary and traumatic for her. Talk about a time something scary or upsetting happened to you. What did you do to help yourself through the incident?
3. Coaches and teachers offer a support system for students and players. They can also sometimes push students or players too far or not far enough. Talk about a time that a coach or teacher supported you. Then talk about a time when you did not feel supported by a coach or teacher.

1. Rana is Sofias best friend, but she also has her own story to tell. Choose a scene in this story and rewrite it from Ranas perspective. How does the scene change when Rana is telling the story?
2. Sofia loves gymnastics and pushes herself hard. Make a list of five activities you love to do. Do you push yourself to do better at these activities, like Sofia? Why or why not?
3. This book begins after Sofias parents leave for their work trip. Give the book a different beginning: show us Sofia saying goodbye to her parents. What kinds of thoughts and emotions can you express through dialogue?

BACK WALKOVER

a gymnastic move in which a person leans forward to perform a handstand, then arches backward to a similar handstand and moves the feet to the floor

BALANCE BEAM

a piece of gymnastic equipment that is a narrow, horizontal beam raised off the floor

CORE

the muscles that lie deep in the pelvis, abdomen, and rear end

LAYOUT STEP-OUT

a gymnastic jump in which a gymnast jumps with both feet, pushing the body upward, and flips in the air with legs together, landing first on one foot, then on the other

PELVIC MUSCLES

muscles that lie like a hammock across the pelvis and support the pelvic organs

PRANCES

high, springy steps

UNEVEN BARS

a pair of parallel bars set at different heights; part of womens gymnastic equipment

VAULT

a piece of gymnastic equipment similar to a table, which the gymnast uses as a springboard for flips and other maneuvers

Riverside Gymnastics Center always smelled of rubber and sweat and burnt sugar from the doughnut factory next door. But to twelve-year-old Sofia Martinez, it was the best smell on Earth.

No matter how late shed been at the gym the night before, her heart always surged as she entered the space filled with beams and bars and ropes and mats. Riverside was her gym, but really, she often thought, it was her home.

Sofia, wait! called Rana, Sofias best friend, as she climbed out of her mothers car and raced up to Sofia. You think Coach is going to make us do push-ups today?

Sofia held the heavy door open for her friend, who wore a purple with her leotard today. Rana had chosen to start wearing a hijab when she turned twelve last month, and now she had a whole collection in all different colors.

Ugh, hopefully not, Sofia replied. Tia made tamales last night. I had like ten.

Sofia was living with her aunt, or tia, this year while her parents were with Doctors without Borders in Yemen. Home felt a little weird without Mom and Dad there, but theyd be back by Christmasjust six months away. And in the meantime, Tia Elizabeth was super nice and a great cook.

Girls! Get going on warm-ups, then Sofia, I want to see you on the beam! Coach Jackson shouted as Sofia and Rana entered the gym. The other members of the Riverside team were already stretching and running sprints.

Sofia and Rana dropped their bags and hurried to one of the mats to stretch. The eight Riverside gymnasts did their prances, pointing their toes with each step around the edge of the floor mat. Then they went through their planks, crunches, and side planks, designed to build core strength.

When her warm-up was finished, Sofia headed over to the balance beam. It was her strongest exercise. She liked the vault and the uneven bars fine, and floor was always fun, but the beam was where she felt the most at home.

Coach Jackson joined her. Remember, our next meet is with Forest Hills, the coach said. Their beam is particularly strong. We took first in uneven bars and beam last year. I want us to have just as strong a showing this year.

Sofia nodded. Shed win. She always did. One wall of her bedroom at home was solid blue with the fluttering satin of all her first-place ribbons.

A couple of other girls lined up to watch as Coach started Sofias competition musictheWilliam Tell Overture, which she loved.

Now watch, girls! Coach Jackson called. I want you to see how Sofia focuses on the setup here. A lot of times we tend to focus on the flip itself. But the setup is just as important for a flip, because there is no time to correct in the air.

Sofia took a deep breath and swung onto the beam. The smooth, slightly nubby leather was familiar under her hands. She could feel her core muscles tighten. Her arms and legs balanced. The world looked right from up here. The beam was where she belonged.

She leapt to her feet, feeling her feet gripping the beam exactly right. Her heels were in the middle, toes to either side, like she was a gecko climbing up a wall. Her feet were sticky pads. Theyd never let go of the beam.

The horns in Sofias competition music sounded, and she brought her arms up in opening position. She made sure to keep her chin high, chest out, lower back straight, and legs perfectly poised.

As the music continued, Sofia pranced forward. Then she bent forward and lowered her hands to grip the beam.

Taking a deep breath, Sofia swung her pelvis and legs backward into a smooth back walkover. Then another, and another, her body whipping over her head, until she was back where she started.

Nice! Coach Jackson called.

The horns were picking up speed now. This was Sofias favorite part: the layout step-out. It was basically a no-hands flipa dramatic, difficult showstopper.