Strive for Excellence

Marissa is back in this story about gymnastics, middle school, and understanding perfectionism.

The start of sixth grade is a big deal. Marissa’s first day of middle school is also her first day training with the Level 6 optionals team at Perfect Balance Gymnastics Academy. Marissa knows she is smart and a hard worker; she expects to get straight A’s in school and have a successful competition season this winter.

However, middle school is proving to be difficult. Marissa is having a hard time keeping track of six classes and staying organized. It seems like she is the only one who can’t manage her schoolwork. Thankfully, she has gymnastics, her happy place where she is feeling successful. But her coaches are leaving some big decisions about her routines up to her and she’s not sure what to do.

Marissa’s entire identity is that she is smart and consistent in meets. What happens if she is neither this year?

Perfect Balance Gymnastics Optionals is a realistic gymnastics series for tween girls navigating middle school, confidence, friendship, competition, and the challenges of growing up. This series is a spin-off to the best-selling series, Perfect Balance Gymnastics Series. The main characters readers have grown to love are now in middle school and training optionals (Level 6 to Level 10).

Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books teach girls to be kind to each other, flexible in life, courageous, strong, and most of all, confident. The books set the reader in the world of gymnastics. The characters are relatable and have age-appropriate challenges. Each book explores a major life lesson that empowers girls to understand their own inner strengths.

The Perfect Balance Gymnastics Optionals Series increases reading level from 6th grade to 8th grade as the series progresses. Strive for Excellence is written at a 7th grade reading level and appeals to ages 11 to 14. Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books are chronological, but each story can stand alone.