Laura Sieveking, High Flyers (The Royal Academy of Sport for Girls #1), Random House Australia, 29 May 2017, 160pp., $14.99 (pbk) , ISBN 9781925324587
High Flyers is the first in this competitive series for middle to upper grade readers with a penchant for sports. Debuting with the gymnastics scene, Laura Sieveking puts her own sporting background into this action-packed, intense experience. With themes including friendship, determination, and overcoming self-doubt, any pre-teen with the drive for success will be able to relate. And where there’s tough competition, there’s also jealousy and rivalry that add to the heat sensed throughout the story.
Abigail Rogers, known as Abby, excels with her floor routines above any other apparatus. And her excellence has just earned her a place at the very prestigious Royal Academy of Sport for Girls. Without a familiar face in sight, Abby is thrust into the fierce world of competition. Soon, she makes friends, but it seems there is also an enemy playing mind games to sabotage Abby’s chances of achieving a spot in the State Prelims. There are moments of insecurity and self-inflicted pressures, which momentarily divert her focus, but the support of her friends and coaches help her to realise her winning edge; her passion for the sport. In the end, Abby’s nobility and inner strength bring her the highest intrinsic, and consequentially, extrinsic rewards she could have hoped for.
High Flyers is for those who love the glitz of shiny leotards, the glamour of impressive somersaults, double rotations, tumbles, twists and dismounts, and the drama of the background scenes associated with gruelling training. The momentum of the story steadily glides along just like those gymnastic routines, facing the obstacles of social, academic, emotional and physical pressures through to a satisfying conclusion. I do feel a second instalment of the gymnasts’ story would make it feel more complete, however the snippets of future titles based on new characters in different sports would certainly entice fans to continue their ‘Royal Academy’ experience.
Reviewed by Romi Sharp
