Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters

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Summary: Not everyone trains that way!!!
Review: I am a figure skater, and I've never trained that way, and have never met anyone that does. It is a very one sided book. It should also mention the joys of skating and gymnastics. I agree that it isn't all fun and games, but it's not always bad either. I've never had any of that stuff happen to me!!! I think that Joan Ryan should write a book about the good things of gymnastics and skating. It would sure turn some people back onto the sport who got turned off by this book!!! I'm not trying to be unfair. It was a good book, but a lot of the stories are stretched from the truth. So, don't believe everything you read!!! Even though it is true in 1% skaters and gymnasts, remember that there are some good things about it too!!!

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Summary: Shocking, yet informative
Review: I liked this book from the minute I picked it up to read it. I just couldn't put it down. I had no idea what these girls go through just to win an Olympic medal. Those coaches, whose names I won't mention, need to be ashamed of themsevles. If they could see the lives they ruin with their abuse, maybe they would stop and think. If you think you want to put your child into ice skating or gymnastics, read this book. You may change your mind...

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Summary: Right on the money.
Review: What else is there to say? This book said it all, and it said it truthfully. It's about time the world knew what many of us went through as child gymnasts.

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Summary: An excellent book for parents of children who are thinking o
Review: This book delves into the "dark side" of sports. Along with all of laughter, also comes the heartache. Any parent that has a child that is getting serious with his/her sport should read this book so that they don't fall into the easy trapfalls that these parents and kids did.

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Summary: Great Book
Review: As a gymnast this book tells it exactly how it really is. I wish not to share my own experiences w/ coachs and practice but the book tells no lies!! I was very surprised when I read it that so many things coincided w/ what was going on in my life! If parents have douts about letting there little girls be gymnasts don't threat, this is not very likely to happen to your child. When they start to compete on a regional or national level that is where many of the cases in the book show up!!

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Summary: Gymnastics:The shocking truth
Review: I thought this book was wonderful and it gives a full level of the hard work and skill needed for gymnastics. I am a serious competition gymnast. I suffered through bulemia and I know the truth when I hear it. These diseases are very sad yet very true because many people look at themselves and think yuck I'm so fat and ugly. When really they are pretty girls locked in an invisible box that they can't get out of. I would never look at gymnastics as child abuse but as something that needs hard work and dedication but you also have to look at it as something you can't mess up on or do horrible because you are fat. It is the best sport in the world to me and I wouldn't give it up for the world. The shocking truth is that this book tells the truth and any gymnast or figure skater should listen to the wise words of Joan Ryan. She explains eating disorders as they are which most people don't want to believe. You need to understand that this truely is the shocking and sad truth!!!

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Summary: The Sad Truth
Review: For years, I have watched gymnastics on TV in extreme awe. Watcing these little girls is entrancing as they do stunts that seem to defy gravity. I sat and watched 14-year-old, 70 lb. Dominique Moceanu at the 1996 Olympics and other gymnasts that were just as tiny and wondered why they are so small. Now we know the truth, this sport keeps them from growing up and sacrifices their childhoods in the process. To top it off, their own parents keep them as prisoners of the gym. I will never be able to watch the sport of gymnastics in the same way.

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Summary: you've got to understand
Review: I read this book. I was an eliet gymnast for 9 years. I trained with Bela, and I know what wenton inside the yellow walls. Yes this is what happens. The book is true, but you have to understand that an extreme level requires extreme actions. I trained a long time and did many of the things Ryan wrote about. And I don't regret it. I lost many friends and even my sister to the harsh reality of gymnastics.

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Summary: Gymnastics isn't that bad
Review: I am a serious gymnast and I read the book giving it a fair chance. I know how hard gymnasts have to push themselves and I know how hard our coaches have to push us. I love gymnastics and wouldn't dream of giving it up. The book was single-sided and need to put the positive aspects in too. She (the author) needed to put some success stories to balance it out. It is good to know that people care about us, but if we were really miserable, we would get out our selves. Gymnastics isn't all that bad.

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Summary: Horror Stories
Review: I read this book when I started competing in gymnastics. Although I know many of the stories are true, many are also stretched from the truth. Not every elite level gymnastics/skater had those problems, but the book only focused on them. I don't regret reading the book, but don't let it make you see gymnastics as a cruel form of child abuse.