Review: Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli

Audrey Lee is going to the Olympics.

A year ago, she could barely do a push up as she recovered from a spine surgery, one that could have paralyzed her. And now? She’s made the United States’ gymnastics team with her best friend, Emma, just like they both dreamed about since they were kids. She’s on top of the world.

The pressure for perfection is higher than ever when horrifying news rips the team apart. Audrey is desperate to advocate for her teammate who has been hurt by the one person they trusted most–but not all the gymnasts are as supportive.

With the team on the verge of collapse, the one bright spot in training is Leo, her new coach’s ridiculously cute son. And while Audrey probably (okay, definitely) shouldn’t date him until after the games, would it really be the end of the world?

Balancing the tenuous relationship between her teammates with unparalleled expectations, Audrey doesn’t need any more distractions. No matter what it takes, she’s not going to let anyone bring them down. But with painful revelations, incredible odds, and the very real possibility of falling at every turn, will Audrey’s determination be enough?

Title: Break the Fall 
Author: Jennifer Iacopelli
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Sports
Targeted Age Range: Young Adult
Representation: Half South Korean main character, half Black love interest, Mexican American secondary main character, Black secondary main character
Trigger Warnings: Serious/chronic injury (back), mentions of racism, grooming and manipulation, mentions of drugs (painkillers prescribed by a doctor), police (FBI), sexual assault (nothing on page, major discussions as it’s a main plot point), victim blaming, mentions of vomit
Rating:  ★★★★★

All her life Audrey Lee has dreamed of being an Olympian. She has put her blood, sweat and tears into gymnastics her entire life, and now that dream is becoming a reality. But when the Team USA coach is accused of sexually assaulting one of her teammates, Audrey realizes that her coach is not the person that she thought he was and that achieving her dreams is going to be even more difficult than she anticipated.

So, I’m gonna be real honest here, I love the Olympics. I’m a huge sports nerd. In fact, when I was a kid playing competitive soccer, I wanted to be a soccer player. Since the Olympics have now started (though I do have mixed feelings about it this year, but that is not what this post is about), I thought it would be fun to revisit one of my favorite books centered around the Olympic games. Since Break the Fall takes place at the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, it was obviously the perfect choice.

When I first read Break the Fall last year, I was completely blown away by it. Gymnastics is my favorite Olympic sport. In fact, the London 2012 games were my absolute favorite and I watched the women’s gymnastics competition over and over until it literally was not available on demand anymore. I’ve always followed the sport, and when I heard about this book I knew that I had to read it. While it is not explicitly stated, it’s clear that Break the Fall is inspired by USA Women’s Gymnastics and the sexual assault case involving Team USA doctor, Larry Nassar. I followed that case extensively and am sickened by how the abuse had been covered up. Seeing a book that so clearly approaches the topic and calls out the injustice made this a must read for me.

Iacopelli does not shy away from the difficult conversations in this book, she dives right into them. She calls out the ways in which abusers groom and manipulate victims and how that affects their psyche. She discusses the way in which that manipulation and grooming leads them to blame themselves and quickly shuts that notion down – it never ever is the victim’s fault and Iacopelli makes sure that her audience is aware of that. I also really love that she talks about the difference between a toxic coach and a supportive coach. There’s a lot of toxicity in the way that professional athletes are treated by coaches and in training (or so I assume based on things I’ve read) and I think she does a great job of discussing the issues. I especially think that her portrayal of coach Janet Dorsey-Adams, shows how you can be a coach at the elite level while prioritizing your athletes mental, emotional and physical health. 

Honestly, there are so many things that I love about this book, but my favorite thing about this book is that no matter how many times you’ve read it, it has the same emotional impact. I remembered a lot of very specific details while reading, so even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, I still held my breath every time Audrey described a routine and I still got incredibly emotional throughout the book. The ending made me cry the first time that I read it, and I was just as emotional this time around. Watching these girls band together to take back their power and use their voices to speak up and say “this is not okay, and you will never hurt me or anyone else ever again” is so important and beautiful and moving. 

“What our team has been through was impossible. Yet here we are. We did it. As amazing as this ride has been, I hope it never happens again. I hope no one has to go through what we did these last few weeks. But it’s more than hope. I know it’ll never happen again because we won’t let it”

Our main character, Audrey Lee, is one that I particularly love. She is simply a good person. That’s not to say that she isn’t flawed, she absolutely is, but at the end of the day she will always choose what is right over what is easiest for her. When the news of her coach sexually assaulting her teammate Dani comes out, never once does she doubt that Dani is telling the truth and she makes it very clear that she will do anything she can to support her. When another teammate, Sierra, tries to blackmail her into giving up her spot on the team in exchange for Sierra telling the police that she witnessed their coach abusing Dani? Audrey barely even hesitates, she agrees to it. Audrey knows that the situation is bigger than her, and even though winning Olympic gold is her dream, she knows that preventing anyone else from experiencing the trauma that her friends went through is more important. Audrey puts her money where her mouth is, and I have huge respect for anyone (real and fictional) that does so.

Another thing I love is that Iacopelli discusses the importance of representation. Three out of the four starters for the team are women of color. Audrey is half South Korean, Chelsea Cameron is a Black woman, and Dani is Mexican American. We all know the importance of representation and I think especially on a world stage like the Olympics, it’s even more important. A moment that I really love is early on when Chelsea, who has been to the Olympics before, pulls Audrey aside and says,

“It can be tough for women of color in this sport. We’re held to a different standard sometimes. If anything weird happens, come to me. We’ll figure it out together”

I just think it’s so important that, even though ultimately, they compete alone and against each other, the girls really look out for and protect each other.

Speaking of athletes supporting each other, I love the way that the other athletes at the games show their support for Team USA. During the games, Audrey suggests that all the girls on the team wear teal eyeshadow as teal is the color of sexual violence protection. All the girls do so, and it quickly becomes their signature. After their former coach releases a statement of innocence (one would assume, the girls smartly make the choice not to watch his statement) the next time they step foot into the gymnastics center, every single country competing is wearing something teal to show their support. It’s such a beautiful moment to read about in the book, honestly, I’m tearing up just thinking about it. That moment shows that the situation is bigger than the competition and throughout the games all the athletes from around the world show support for one another which just warms my heart.

In my opinion, the mark of a great book is one that you not only think about after reading it, but one that has the same emotional impact each time you read it. For me, Break the Fall is that book. It’s emotional, inspirational, heart wrenching and inspiring. I love this book and if you’re a fan of gymnastics, I guarantee that you will as well!

Links for Break the Fall: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | Indie Bound

Resources:

To learn more on how you can advocate for sexual assault survivors, or if you or someone you know needs help please contact one of the organizations found at the end of Break the Fall.

RAINN: 
The nations largest anti-sexual violence organization.
www.rainn.org
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Sexual Violence Resource Center: 
NSVRC provides research & tools to advocates working on the frontlines to end sexual harassment, assault, and abuse with the understanding that ending sexual violence also means ending racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression.
www.nsvrc.org 

Flip the Switch:
#FlipTheSwitch is a call to all adults to take action by educating themselves to prevent, recognize, and react to child sexual abuse.
www.fliptheswitchcampaign.org