Winner Takes Gold by Eloise Smith ~ Blog Tour

Eloise has a bit of a history with swords, particularly stabbing people with swords. Indeed, it is said that she was once an Olympic fencer. Others say she won three Commonwealth gold medals. And some whisper that she could kill you in a duel. Probably.

Luckily, she has since discovered the pen is mightier than the sword. She’s built a career in advertising, writing all sorts of marvellously silly adverts about everything from shampoo to motorbikes. Recently, she’s turned her wordsmithery to children’s fiction. Sister to a Star is her first book, an action-packed adventure about sibling rivalry, brimming with glamour and skulduggery. (from the Chicken House website)

I’m so pleased to share Eloise Smith’s second book for children, Winner Takes Gold!

Eleven-year-old Pearl dreams of training with the Mini-Elites national gymnastics squad and earning a place at the World Cup competition in Paris. She loves training at her local club with her best friend Ryan but she knows she can do more. Things have been difficult since her mother passed away last year. Her dad is working all the time – everything about gymnastics reminds him of her mum who loved coaching and was once a successful gymnast herself.

When Pearl and Ryan win a spot in the Mini Elites, they can’t believe it! They’re thrilled to be able to train with the best but know they have a lot of work ahead of them! These coaches are going to do all they can to turn ordinary children into winning machines. Rumours of a curse on the training group, problems with the equipment and unexplained injuries leave them feeling nervous. Is cheating, bullying and sabotage really what gymnastics is all about?

When I was growing up in Canada, my sister was a national level gymnast. She trained most days and I spent a lot of time at the gym – picking her up from practice, cheering her on at competitions and, eventually, coaching the younger, recreational gymnasts. At the time, my sister’s intense training schedule and focus on sport was not represented in the chidlren’s books available. I think she would have loved Winner Takes Gold and it would have inspired her to read more often. The positive messages about what it truly means to be a champion and how gymnastics is about so much more than winning is exactly what these young athletes need to hear.

Eloise Smith’s descriptions of gymnastics skills as well as the determination and resilience required to be a high-level gymnast are very accurate. Readers who are familiar with gymnastics will enjoy the descriptions of the apparatus but there is enough explanation that non-gymnasts will be able to work out what’s happening.

Pearl is a wonderful role model for children who have a passion. She is dedicated, tries her very best and looks after herself. It’s a harsh world with coaches who demand nothing but the best. Pearl approaches this with grit while staying true to herself and the lessons her mum taught her. She knows a champion is someone who is fair and honest. Nothing will stop her from lighting up the world with her shine.

Thank you to Chicken House & Laura Smythe for this exciting book!

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