Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith (5/5 stars, currently priced at $8.89) is the autobiography of Gabrielle Douglas, the United States gymnast who won the hearts, respect and admiration of fans the world over in the London Olympics. From Amazon:
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In the 2012 London Olympics, US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas stole hearts and flew high as the All-Around Gold Medal winner, as well as acting as a critical member of the US gold-medal-winning women gymnastics team. In this personal autobiography, Gabrielle tells her story of faith, perseverance, and determination, demonstrating you can reach your dreams if you let yourself soar.
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One Amazon reviewer calls the book “A must-read for teen athletes,” and goes on to say:
Are you a teen athlete or the parent supporting the dream of one? Gabby Douglas unlocks her story, and in doing so, she inspires the young athletes and their parents who follow a similar path. Giving the glory to God, Gabby is living proof that faith and family sustain when the physical body and mind fall short. When I read the end of chapter 18, my eyes filled with tears. Gabby knows my daughter’s conflict! It isn’t just me as a mom and my daughter as a Junior Olympic athlete (a diver, not a gymnast, but it all rings true, regardless of the sport). Even the best, most talented, and most successful like Gabby Douglas are torn between being a top-performing athlete and being a normal teenager. Her writing sings to the heart of a teen, phrased in a way that lets your mind imagine the exact words coming from a little personal text message from Gabby to you.
For those who’d like a fuller view of the entire team, or a less faith-based account, consider The Fab Five: Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, and the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $5.99). From Amazon:
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Meet the five gymnasts who will represent the United States at the 2012 London Olympics. The Fab Five: Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas and the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team tells each team member’s life story as they rose from young gymnasts with big dreams to become international superstars of their sport. Discover the stories of Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Kyla Ross as they aim for gold in London!
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