Winterland by Rae Meadows

1973 USSR
Anya is the daughter of a ballerina who left her and her father suddenly years ago. Anya is very talented in gymnastics and wants nothing more than to be the next Olga Korbut. Her coach sees something in her and pushes her more than anyone should be pushed. Like prized racehorses these girls are verbally and physically pushed, prodded, and shot up with drugs to deaden the pain and keep them in perpetual childhood. While the program doesn't care if these girls have friends or attend school, Anya does develop a close friendship with Elena an older gymnast who becomes her roommate. These are the children of the new regime whose parents only know the new fear after war, imprisonment and doing everything for the good of the motherland. It is a brutal look at what it takes to create a champion in a country where you are lucky to get one chance and never given a second one. A second story connects the back story of Anya's mother and her struggles at taking her chance through the memories of a neighbor and friend.  4 stars