This children’s book series is about a group of young girls learning gymnastics at a gym in Denver, Colorado, the Evergreen Gymnastics Academy.  Their team is called the Pinecones, and they’re the intermediate group at the gym.  Like many girls’ friendship series of the 1980s and ’90s, the girls’ friendship is really the heart of the series.  Each of the girls has her own personality and problems, but they work together as a team to solve them.

Throughout the series, the girls take part in gymnastics meets, plan special events, endure rivalries (even within their own gym, especially from a snobby girl named Becky Dyson), and get their first crushes.  For a time, all the girls end up having a crush on their male coach, Patrick. It’s not the kind of crush where they really want to date him or marry him, though. They just all really want to impress him.

The main girls in the series are:

Jodi – She’s 11 years old. Her mother was once a prominent gymnast and is now an assistant coach the gym, putting her under pressure to live up to her mother’s reputation. She goes through a rough time during the series when her divorced mother remarries.  She has a temper that she often has to struggle to control.

Darlene Broderick – An African American girl who is often more mature than her friends. At age 13, she’s older than the others on her team.  Her father plays professional football with the Denver Broncos, but she isn’t stuck up about it.

Lauren Baca – She’s 11 years old. She’s smaller than the others but spirited. She’s best friends with Cindi, and Cindi’s the one who convinced her to get back into gymnastics after leaving it when she was little. During the series, her mother runs for public office. One of her catch phrases is “it’s a proven fact.”

Cindi Jockett – She’s 11 years old. Friendly and easy-going.

Ti-An – She’s 8 years old, the youngest girl on the Pinecones. She’s sweet and shy.

Ashley – She’s 9 years old. She’s a perfectionist and a bit spoiled. Her parents always get her the latest fashions in everything.

Books in the Series:

#1 The Beginners (1988)

#2 First Meet (1988)

#3 Nobody’s Perfect (1988)

#4 The Winner (1989)

#5 Trouble in the Gym (1989)

#6 Bad Break (1989)

#7 Tumbling Ghosts (1989)

Becky makes a bet with Jodi that she can’t organize the gym’s Halloween party.  Jodi, who sometimes lacks focus, does put together a pretty good party, but some unexpected things happen.

#8 Captain of the Team (1989)

#9 Crush on the Coach (1990)

Lauren’s mother decides to run for city council, and Lauren is overwhelmed by her campaign and the attention it brings.

#10 Boys in the Gym (1990)

#11 Mystery at the Meet (1990)

#12 Out of Control (1990)

Jodi seems to be going out of control ever since her mother announced that she’s going to get married again.  Suddenly, Jodi is angry and sarcastic to everyone.  Can anything help her to regain her balance?

#13 First Date (1990)

#14 World-Class Gymnast (1990)

#15 Nasty Competition (1991)

#16 Fear of Falling (1991)

#17 Gymnasts Commandos (1991)

#18 The New Coach? (1991)