Praise for Gold Medal Winter : "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." -- Kirkus Reviews "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." -- Booklist "A cozy accompaniment to the Winter Olympics." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "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." -- School Library Journal Praise for Gold Medal Summer : " Gold Medal Summer . successfully reflects the competitive gymnast's spunk, thanks to Donna Freitas's flash[y] style and relatable protagonist." -- New York Times "Freitas offers young readers plenty to relate to: living in the shadow of a perfect older sibling, battling with parents over life's choices, and handling insecurities that make it seem like failure is looming large.

[An] enjoyable story of a girl overcoming obstacles to realize her dreams, and for readers who have dreamed of trying out the balance beam or uneven bars, Joey's story will be captivating." -- Publishers Weekly "Joey is likable and believable; even readers unfamiliar with gymnastics will identify with her friendship and first-relationship issues. Due to this year's London Olympics, this novel will probably have a wide audience. Freitas is a former competitive gymnast, and her descriptions of routines are taut and eye-opening. Although the hardships of the sport are not underplayed, this is a largely positive novel about hard work and self-confidence." -- School Library Journal.