Quotes
“Sey’s memoir has sent shock waves through the tightly knit world of top athletes, sparking controversy…She hopes her book might serve as both a wake-up call to a sport that she says she still loves and a lesson to parents whose children enter the world of top athletics.” The Observer (London)
“A remarkably candid, unblinking portrait of what it truly takes to become a champion…that may forever alter the way you watch sports.” Jake Tapper, award–winning journalist and television host
“A courageous story befitting a comeback kid.” Publishers Weekly
“Sey writes with vivid, clear-eyed candor.” Library Journal
“Fascinating and disturbing…[a] literate and painfully honest sports autobiography.” Booklist
“A cautionary tale for children, parents, and gymnastics coaches alike…A book that will scare the hell out of many an aspiring gymnast…[and] makes the book so crucial for stage mothers, malleable preteens, and obsessive teenagers.” Kirkus Reviews
“I am grateful to Jennifer Sey for sharing such an honest account of her experiences as an elite gymnast. She has eloquently and fairly exposed a dark side to our sport that parents have long needed to be made aware of.” Dominique Moceanu, Olympic Gold Medal–winning gymnast
“A cautionary tale to not just athletes, parents, coaches, and judges but to fans of gymnastics…Intense, gripping, and powerful.” Kathryn Bertine, former figure skater and triathlete
“Twelve years after publication, Sey’s personal story is as powerful an indictment—and as furious a warning as anything you’ll read in sports.” Joan Ryan, author of Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
“Jen’s book is a searing exposé of the dark underbelly of USA gymnastics. Engaging, vulnerable, and profound, Jen uses her own story to demonstrate how abusive environments operate in plain sight and give survivors a voice and hope for healing. I can’t recommend it highly enough.” Rachael Denhollander, author of What Is a Girl Worth