The paperback edition of this New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller is the story of gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast and Dancing with the Stars champion Laurie Hernandez's rise to fame.
Almost Broken is a story of personal tragedy and triumph. Starting from my teenage years and carrying me through adulthood, follow me through the most diffi cult parts of my life. Experience every feeling love, loss, acceptance and complete fear of the unknown. Be there as I come close to losing it all but finding the person that I really am in the process. Being abandoned for the fi rst time at the young age of thirteen, it paves the way for things to come and it sets off a huge domino effect for the uncertain future. When secrets of my past, my identity and life as I had known it suddenly start to come undone, I'm brought to my knees with grief, but beside me are amazing people, including the love of my life. I struggle to fi nd my way out of the darkness and into a light of love, but I fi nd it incredibly diffi cult given all I've been through. I can't help but wonder if I'll ever make it through this life in one piece with all my wounds, insecurities and heartaches. The journey is anything but easy and I fi nd myself struggling just to keep my head above water while trying to fi nd happiness again.
A New York Times bestseller! From gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnast and bestselling author Laurie Hernandez comes a picture book about chasing your dreams and never giving up. Even Olympians have to start somewhere. And in this charming illustrated book, Laurie Hernandez tells the story of Zoe, a little girl who dreams of flying—and becoming a gymnast. When Zoe sees a gymnast on TV, she realizes that gymnastics is just like flying. But when she first goes to class and falls off the balance beam, she discovers that following her dreams is harder and scarier than she thought. Through this heartwarming and inspirational story, featuring vibrant art from Nina Mata, Laurie imparts important lessons she learned on her way to Olympic glory: You always have to get back up and try again, and you always have to believe in yourself.