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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was so good! I love the way this story tackled issues of bullying, racism, and friendship. It didn’t follow the generic middle grade formula of "it was all a misunderstanding” or "I have to be the bigger person" and the direction this story took was honestly so refreshing. It's perfect for middle grade readers and I could definitely see this having a long lasting impact on young readers.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun read, focuses on figure skating, friendship and racist bullies in equal parts.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
**Thank you to NetGalley, author E. L. Shen, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**
This own-voice, middle-grade novel is an intricate maze of growing up, developing skills, experiencing life, and standing up to those who try to put others down.
I could not put this story down and ended up reading it in one sitting. From the beginning, I was invested in Maxine's story and her interest in figure skating. She holds onto this dream of being a champion, even an Olympic, skater even in the toughest times of her skating career, but she is also realistic with her abilities and the goals she wants to accomplish. This was a great mix of determination and self-understanding. Maxine knows where she wants to be with her skating, but she also knows that day is still a few years into the future.
Maxine's character development was really dynamic and engaging to follow throughout the story, as well. Shen's use of the champion skaters to support Maxine (in her imagination) was really unique and I thought this added an element to the story that really emphasized Maxine's commitment and dedication to the sport.
Maxine fought many battles in this story, both in skating and in school. Reading about how she develops and grows from each challenge was really inspiring and I think this book teaches some good lessons for middle-grade-aged readers. *The analogy that Maxine's mom shares about trees growing at different paces is something that I think every person should hear and apply to their lives.*
Initially, there were a few phrasings that I didn't love. One example of this was when the ballet coach tells Maxine that the move she is struggling to execute "See...Not that difficult!" This rubbed me the wrong way because this is not something that should be said to someone who is struggling with something, but after thinking more about it, I feel like it captured yet another struggle that Maxine was faced with. It is frustrating to read, but I think it shows the ignorance of how individuals can think they are doing something positive when it can actually be pretty harmful.
I am definitely looking forward to recommending this book to middle-grade readers in the future, and I am very excited to see the final edition.
This own-voice, middle-grade novel is an intricate maze of growing up, developing skills, experiencing life, and standing up to those who try to put others down.
I could not put this story down and ended up reading it in one sitting. From the beginning, I was invested in Maxine's story and her interest in figure skating. She holds onto this dream of being a champion, even an Olympic, skater even in the toughest times of her skating career, but she is also realistic with her abilities and the goals she wants to accomplish. This was a great mix of determination and self-understanding. Maxine knows where she wants to be with her skating, but she also knows that day is still a few years into the future.
Maxine's character development was really dynamic and engaging to follow throughout the story, as well. Shen's use of the champion skaters to support Maxine (in her imagination) was really unique and I thought this added an element to the story that really emphasized Maxine's commitment and dedication to the sport.
Maxine fought many battles in this story, both in skating and in school. Reading about how she develops and grows from each challenge was really inspiring and I think this book teaches some good lessons for middle-grade-aged readers. *The analogy that Maxine's mom shares about trees growing at different paces is something that I think every person should hear and apply to their lives.*
Initially, there were a few phrasings that I didn't love. One example of this was when the ballet coach tells Maxine that the move she is struggling to execute "See...Not that difficult!" This rubbed me the wrong way because this is not something that should be said to someone who is struggling with something, but after thinking more about it, I feel like it captured yet another struggle that Maxine was faced with. It is frustrating to read, but I think it shows the ignorance of how individuals can think they are doing something positive when it can actually be pretty harmful.
I am definitely looking forward to recommending this book to middle-grade readers in the future, and I am very excited to see the final edition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I have always believed figure skaters should be superheroes. How they can glide on top of ice, have the bravery to launch themselves into the air. The Comeback was an incredibly emotional story for me as a Chinese-American. Both Maxine and I grew up in mostly white neighborhoods and while the racism she encountered is worse than I did, my heart went out to her. The ways we are supposed to shrug off the jokes. That silent moment after the joke where amidst the laughter, we pause.
So many experiences within the book (like double eyelid tape) could have been taken straight out of my childhood. The ways that people assume you're good at math? All of it. The Comeback was a charming story about skating and friendship. While also being a story about a person's comeback. About finding the right retort. It is tempting to want to lash out, to make them feel the sting of our words. But what we each have to learn is that feeling is temporary. That to concentrate on ourselves, our success and dreams, is the ultimate comeback.
So many experiences within the book (like double eyelid tape) could have been taken straight out of my childhood. The ways that people assume you're good at math? All of it. The Comeback was a charming story about skating and friendship. While also being a story about a person's comeback. About finding the right retort. It is tempting to want to lash out, to make them feel the sting of our words. But what we each have to learn is that feeling is temporary. That to concentrate on ourselves, our success and dreams, is the ultimate comeback.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism