Gold Medal Winter

December 1, 2013
Dominican-American Esperanza Flores is not a typical world-class U.S. figure skater, but she's going to provide Olympics-eager girls the perfect opportunity to channel their ambitions. After unexpectedly winning a silver medal at Nationals, Espi is selected for the Olympic team, along with spiteful Stacie and Meredith, Stacie's reluctant sidekick and sometime victim. Espi encounters handsome (but conniving) male champion Hunter, who tries to begin a relationship with her, a tempting opportunity even though hockey phenom Danny presents as a better choice. Although Espi's route to top-level skating seems improbable--self-taught until she was 10, then coached gratis by champion Lucy Chen at her private rink--other parts of her ice odyssey, including her quest to land a quad, pack in enough realistic detail to satisfy dedicated skating aficionados. Drama among skaters continues to increase, creating ample tension both on and off the ice after they arrive at the games. Unfortunately, Freitas lets the relationships edge out the skating, and Espi's critical final appearance on the ice gets short shrift. In the face of multiple challenges, Espi remains sensibly and believably grounded, although many other skaters are portrayed far less kindly. An admirable heroine navigates a difficult path to fame and fortune in a tale that will appeal to those looking for a lavish serving of romance along with an interesting backstage glimpse of the international skating world. (Fiction. 10-14)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 5-8-When Esperanza Flores earns a spot on the U.S. ladies' ice skating team, she is immediately thrust into an overwhelming atmosphere; not only is she the first Latina Olympic skater, but she is facing backlash after replacing a rising star forced to miss the competition due to injury. There are people who do not believe Espie deserves her place on the team. In between training, Espie must juggle costume decisions and press junkets, in which she is frequently interviewed side-by-side with fellow Olympian and hockey player Danny Morrison. Tension erupts between the two young athletes and is not helped by the rumors circulating about their supposed relationship. Teammates Stacie and Meredith are mean-spirited, which rattles Espie in a nearly catastrophic way. While the press links her to Morrison, Espie is excited to receive attention from the charming top male figure skater, Hunter Willis. Skating terms are sprinkled throughout the narrative and are explained smoothly for readers unfamiliar with the sport. Freitas maintains a solid balance between description, dialogue, and action. Espie's Dominican heritage is proudly depicted and her relationships with friends and adults in her life, including her mother, her mother's coworkers, and her coach, are positive but not treacly. Readers will eagerly follow Espie's arduous and dramatic road to the Olympics and her final performance, cheering her on to the inevitable but entirely satisfying conclusion.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
Grades 5-8 This companion to Gold Medal Summer (2012) introduces figure skater Esperanza Flores, who has just been named to the U.S. Olympic team. Espi's accomplishment results in a host of new challenges: dealing with an intense media frenzy; mastering a secret new jump that may help land her a medal; and balancing the attentions of two boys, both Olympic teammates. Freitas, a former competitive gymnast, writes perceptively of behind-the-scenes drama among elite athletes, and readers will appreciate her explanations of figure skating scoring intricacies. Sure to be popular with skating fans and those following this year's Winter Olympics.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)