Starred ReviewStarred Review Twist, Tumble, Triumph

“A stirring expression of the triumph of the human spirit.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This is a tale not only of survival, but also a level of determination that is remarkable indeed. Reviewer Rating: 5” —Children’s Literature

“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.” —Jewish Book Council

“An inspiring and fascinating biography for readers interested in sports, history, or simply a good story of resilience.” —starred, Booklist

“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

“Keleti’s life experiences will captivate new generations of readers while simultaneously teaching important history lessons.” – School Library Journal