For Sera Wheeler  the Olympics is the reason for everything: it’s why she trains thirty hours a week, starves herself to under 100 pounds,  and pops Advil like Tic Tacs.

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For her mother, it’s a means to achieve the glory she never had. It’s why she rises before dawn to drive Sera to practice. And why the family scrimps, saves, and fractures. 

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It’s why, when her best friend and fellow elite gymnast reports their doctor to the authority who selects the Olympic Team, Sera denies all that she knows about his treatments.

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The Happiest Girl in the World is a novel that explores the dark history behind an athlete who stands on the world stage, biting down on a gold medal. It's about the sacrifices a parent will make for a child, even as a family is torn apart. It’s about the price of pursuing greatness.