Skaters on the Page
The chill of the ice, the thrill of the spin, the devastation of the failed jump — ah, competitive ice skating! Never a skater myself, I often find myself sucked in to watch on TV. The sparkling costumes, the athletic ability, and the music all capture my attention. When you can’t find skating on the television, here are a few books that bring the same magic to you.
Spinning by Tillie Walden (2017)
This graphic memoir tells of Walden’s experience as a competitive skater, both in individual and synchronized group events. She also writes about being queer, how she never felt she fit in, and how she kept skating long after she fell out of love with the sport. The drawing style feels dreamy and nostalgic as we travel back in time with the author.
Every Reason We Shouldn’t by Sara Fujimura (2020)
Olivia’s parents were Olympic skaters, and as a kid her whole life was pairs skating. But that career has ended after a disastrous competition. Instead she’s focusing on helping her parents run the rink they own and being a normal teenager. When Jonah, a speed skater laser focused on competing, arrives in town, she wonders if she’s really ready to give up the spotlight.
Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass (2020)
Ana did so well at her last skating competition that she’s training at a new rink and working with a new choreographer. She’s feeling increasingly uncomfortable with being asked to wear skirts in competition or portraying a princess in her routine. When she meets a trans skater, she realizes that she is non-binary. The book follows Ana through her journey to accept herself, come out to her friends and family, and find a future in skating. (If you are interested in more books with non-binary characters, check out this post, too.)
Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien (2018)
Here’s a bit of a wildcard choice for you. This novel isn’t about competitive figure skating, but it is about a fantasy world where martial arts are done on skates! Peasprout travels with her younger brother to Pearl to study and compete in the best school and serve as an ambassador for her homeland. As she tries to prove herself, she discovers secrets of both her original and new homes.