Get our latest book recommendations, author news, competitions, offers, and other information right to your inbox.
Table of Contents
About The Book
From gold medalist and reality TV star Shawn Johnson comes an “absorbing portrait of a young athlete’s quest to achieve her Olympic dreams” (Kirkus Reviews) inspired by her own experiences as an elite teenage gymnast.
Charlie Ryland has a secret.
She may seem like your average high school sophomore—but she’s just really good at pretending.
Because outside of school Charlie spends all her waking hours training to become one of the best gymnasts in the world. And it’s not easy flying under the radar when you’re aiming for Olympic gold…especially when an irresistible guy comes along and threatens to throw your whole world off balance.
Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson writes a delightfully entertaining novel about chasing big dreams and falling in love, all while trying to keep it real.
Charlie Ryland has a secret.
She may seem like your average high school sophomore—but she’s just really good at pretending.
Because outside of school Charlie spends all her waking hours training to become one of the best gymnasts in the world. And it’s not easy flying under the radar when you’re aiming for Olympic gold…especially when an irresistible guy comes along and threatens to throw your whole world off balance.
Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson writes a delightfully entertaining novel about chasing big dreams and falling in love, all while trying to keep it real.
About The Author
Photograph by Cameron Powell
Shawn Johnson has accomplished a lifetime of achievements that include winning four Olympic medals, writing a New York Times bestselling memoir, starting her own business, and establishing a career in broadcasting. Johnson is a 2007 World Champion gymnast, a 2008 Olympic women’s gymnastics gold and silver medalist, and a 2006, 2007, and 2008 Olympic women’s gymnastics gold and silver medalist, and a 2006, 2007, and 2008 gymnastics National Champion—all titles she attained by the time she turned sixteen. At the age of seventeen, she became the youngest-ever contestant on ABC’s eighth season of Dancing with the Stars, and in May 2009 she was crowned champion. The Flip Side is Shawn Johnson’s debut YA novel. Find out more at ShawnJohnson.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (June 7, 2016)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781481460231
- Ages: 12 - 99
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"Johnson adeptly captures Charlie's life as an elite athlete and effectively addresses the more familiar teen issues of first dates and first romantic relationships. She skillfully builds the emotional intensity of the tale, culminating in a suspenseful finale at the Olympic trials. Johnson's first novel for teens is an absorbing portrait of a young athlete's quest to achieve her Olympic dreams."
– Kirkus Reviews
"Writing with Sonnichsen (Red Butterfly), Johnson offers crisp accounts of Charlie’s grueling gymnastic training and physical and mental fortitude, while also credibly conveying her anguish atmaintaining dual identities and her remorse at the hurt that her deceptions cause. Though there’s little doubt that Charlie will stick the landing, so to speak, in the novel’s exhilarating finale, readers will be drawn into her passionate devotion to both spheres of her life."
– Publishers Weekly, April 11, 2016
"Readers will be drawn into [Charlie's] passionate devotion to both spheres of her life."
– Publishers Weekly
"Romance fans seeking a quick fix will speed right through."
– School Library Journal
"Readers interested in gymnastics and what it takes to succeed should find this illuminating, while gymnast Johnson’s experiences as an Olympic gold medalist add additional insight."
– Booklist
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Flip Side eBook 9781481460231
- Author Photo (jpg): Shawn Johnson Photograph by Cameron Powell(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
