2. Title: One Step Away
Author: Holly Simpson
Copyright: December 1989
Publishing Comp.: Ballantine Books
Genre: Women’s Issue
3. Monica Wright – a gymnast,
and the main character in the
story who was never sure of
what she really wants.
Kyle Taylor – a singer and
Monica’s leading man
4. Jo Mallory – a tall and
slender gymnast and
Monica’s best friend.
Casey Benson - a small and
compact gymnast also
Monica’s best friend.
5. Ms. McArdelle – school drama teacher
Ross Hartley – choreographer
Chip Martin – her gymnast coach
Mr. and Mrs. Don Wright- Monica’s
Parents
Derek Stone – a good looking boy with a
huge crush on Monica
6. Monica hadn’t had the best year
in gymnastics because her Coach
Chip Marley told her that she was
not yet ready for the Elite Team try
out. She turns her attention
elsewhere.
She imagined herself dancing as
if she was the best dancer in Illinois.
7. When she realized that she was
only daydreaming she found
herself staring at the sign at the
Bulletin Board. She found out that
she loves dancing and decided to
see Ms. McArdelle and won the
Leading Lady part.
8. As she told her 2 best friends
and her parents, they have the
same reactions at first. They’re all
unhappy and worried that
Monica wouldn’t have enough
time for gymnastics and for
school but they still try to
understand her.
9. When the rehearsals started she
sacrifices a lot of things for it, her friends,
her A Grades, her Family and her feelings
for Derek. She doesn’t want to give up
anything but the problem is she can’t
handle and balance the time for her other
duties. She hides her problems from her
parents.
10. Eventually her parents knew
about it, they were angry and
doesn’t want her to be part of the
show but she explained and
insisted to. Besides the show will
be in just a week. She promised to
fix everything after the show.
11. On the last week of the
rehearsal, Ross Hartley
noticed that there was
something bothering Monica.
He told Monica to fix it so
that she could be at her best
performance and she did.
12. She talked to Derek and invite him
to watch the show and be her date on
the cast party. The day has come.
Monica danced at her best.
Her two best friends, parents and
Derek were very proud of her.
13. After the show her best friend
gave her yellow roses to congratulate
her, her parents hugged and praised
her, Derek also gave her a bouquet of
flowers.
Monica knew that she did her best
and decided not to leave gymnastics.
14. Life is full of challenges. Sometimes we
were confused of those things that made
us truly happy. We shouldn't decide when
we were at the peak of our emotion. We
also should consider people around us.
Also we should set limitations on
ourselves and learn to prioritize.
