I have read it and I found it interesting that her parents appeared to be informed about her gymnastics, but they really had no clue what it was like. It gave me insight to know what type of questions to ask as my daughter gets older. I don't find the competitive aspect to be much of a problem, since my continual prayer is for my gymnast to want to quit, but I know of some parents who do get themselves too wrapped up in it. We too are at a very competitive gym and there are elite girls, one who is possibly going to the Olympics---and while our coaches seem stern, they also seem very level headed at this point. I think if a parent gets a goal in their head for their gymnast and it doesn't match the gymnast's goal, then there is the problem. As far as the stress and eating disorder situation, Jennifer seemed to me the type of child that would have gotten caught up in any sport in the same way. She was very driven, a perfectionist and hard on herself. My daughter seems to have some of those traits, but not to the extreme Jennifer did. I found it to be a depressing and challenging book as the parent of a gymnast, but also grateful for some of the insight it provided. It is a great book for the parent of a child who is on the elite path to gymnastics.
I would also be interested to talk to someone who has their child at Parkettes---this book did not put this gym in a very favorable light, and after the CNN story, I would be concerned. I know not all gyms are as they seem, and I am sure if our gym was profiled, it would not be all positive as well. But, as the parent of a gymnast at another high powered gym, it would be interesting to see how the younger girls start off with that coaching. All in all--I think it was an interesting book with a great insight to elite gymnastics--however, I did not let my gymnast read it.
Can't wait to hear what other people said...