Twist, Tumble, Triumph
The Story of Champion Gymnast Ágnes Keleti
Doing gymnastics, Ágnes Keleti feels free—until the day her coach tells her there’s a new law in Hungary barring Jewish athletes from the gym. Once Germany sends soldiers into Budapest, they are impossible to ignore and Ágnes hatches a plan. With identity papers from a Christian woman, she goes into hiding in a small farming village. She does housework for a family who support the Nazis, but she never stops dreaming of the day she will be able to compete at the Olympics.
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979-8-7656-1977-3
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| Interest Level | Kindergarten - Grade 3 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 2 |
| Genre | Social Studies |
| Category | 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Narrative Nonfiction, Biography, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diversity, SEL: B Self-Management, SEL: C Social Awareness, Social Emotional Learning, Sports |
| Copyright | 2025 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Kar-Ben Publishing ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2025-02-04 |
Author: Deborah Bodin Cohen
Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen is the author of many award-winning children’s books including Papa Jethro and Nachshon Who Was Afraid to Swim. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children.
Author: Kerry Olitzky
Rabbi Kerry Olitzky led Big Tent Judaism and has taught at Hebrew Union College. A leader in the development of innovative Jewish education, he is the author of nearly 100 books. He lives in New Jersey. His previous children’s books include Where’s the Potty on this Ark?, An Etrog from Across the Sea, and Twist, Tumble, Triumph: The Story of Champion Gymnast Ágnes Keleti.</
Illustrator: Martina Peluso
Martina Peluso studied at the Art Institute of Naples. Her artwork has been exhibited throughout the world. Her previous books include Joseph and the Sabbath Fish and Og’s Ark. She lives in Naples, Italy, with her cats Peppe and Ernesto.
Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
“A stirring expression of the triumph of the human spirit.” — Kirkus Reviews
Jewish Book Council
Agnes’s story is one of perseverance, determination, and strength. Her life is an inspiration, proving that it is possible to overcome trials and extreme hardships even in the most difficult of times. This book will appeal to children who are interested in Jewish history or who need a reminder that their own goals are worth pursuing, no matter what.
Booklist
“An inspiring and fascinating biography for readers interested in sports, history, or simply a good story of resilience.” — starred, Booklist
Publishers Weekly
“The story of Hungarian Jewish Olympian Agnes Keleti (b. 1921) inspires in Bodin Cohen and Olitzky’s chronicle of how the gymnast persisted throughout WWII. The story opens with Keleti, the Hungarian national champion, being told that a new law blocks Jewish athletes from training at the national team’s gym. Undeterred, the protagonist and a teammate begin covertly practicing at a school: “doing tumbles and flips, she could forget about prejudice and the war.” When Nazi forces arrive in Budapest, Keleti flees, doing housework for a Nazi-supporting family, and a field suffices as practice space. Postwar, an injury keeps Keleti from her Olympic dreams until finally, she wins a gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki games. With somber coloring and smooth lines, Peluso’s painterly renderings capture the difficulty of the period with pathos, adding emotional heft to this remarkable life story. An author’s note and photos conclude. Ages 5-9." – Publisher’s Weekly
School Library Journal
“Keleti’s life experiences will captivate new generations of readers while simultaneously teaching important history lessons.” – School Library Journal
School Library Journal
“Keleti’s life experiences will captivate new generations of readers while simultaneously teaching important history lessons.” – School Library Journal
School Library Journal
“Keleti’s life experiences will captivate new generations of readers while simultaneously teaching important history lessons.” – School Library Journal
School Library Journal
“Keleti’s life experiences will captivate new generations of readers while simultaneously teaching important history lessons.” – School Library Journal