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thems0kitty's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
4.0
hollandvk's review against another edition
5.0
I was delighted to receive an advanced copy through Goodreads giveaways. This book would have been fantastic to read at twelve, but I am so happy to read it as an adult. I can't help imagining a Disney Channel style movie, like the sports movies that Ana loves.
eva_hamilton's review against another edition
5.0
Sass is the best middle grade author of all time and I will fight anyone who says otherwise
queeerlybeloved's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? N/A
5.0
“uncertainty feels like less of a burden and more of an opportunity. i am ana and ana is i. i’m done being anyone but me.”
i just want to give this book a big warm fucking hug 🥰
i absolutely loved it. it’s so heartfelt and emotional and so full of discovery and self-assuredness.
Ana is such a bright, wonderful young person and her ups and downs were heartbreaking yet so uplifting and joyful. i smiled through the entire thing.
so fun to see figure skating in action. and so weird how salchow is spelled when it’s pronounced Sow Cow!! 😂
and so much healthy communication!!!
it was just perfect! such a treasure, so important for young people who feel like there are only two options. ❤️
i just want to give this book a big warm fucking hug 🥰
i absolutely loved it. it’s so heartfelt and emotional and so full of discovery and self-assuredness.
Ana is such a bright, wonderful young person and her ups and downs were heartbreaking yet so uplifting and joyful. i smiled through the entire thing.
so fun to see figure skating in action. and so weird how salchow is spelled when it’s pronounced Sow Cow!! 😂
and so much healthy communication!!!
it was just perfect! such a treasure, so important for young people who feel like there are only two options. ❤️
autisticremembrall's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
raix's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
I liked how this book was very detailed about skating, without being boring or alienating to someone who doesn't know about the sport. I feel like I learned a lot about the work that goes into it! Ana was very easy to connect with as a narrator, and I liked watching her process of figuring out who she is, even if it was painful at times. The added pressure she faces about her mother's finances when it comes to wanting to change her program due to the dysphoria was a good detail, and I like the way this book highlights the difference between Ana and the more affluent skaters without making her seem like a target for pity. I was happy that ultimately she gets support at the end, and I like the analogy of taking a transition like learning a new choreography - working it out one step at a time. I like that Ana's story wasn't a cookie-cutter trans narrative in that, by the end, she hasn't decided entirely what she wants in terms of pronouns or coming out to others, or what skate division she'll skate in. The most important step was figuring herself out and telling those she loves. I also like how Ana faces regular tween problems, like navigating friendships, in addition to her gender struggles. I thought the supporting characters were great as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book explores gender in a way that I've never seen in a middle grade book, and I loved every minute of this important story. Ana is a highly competitive figure skater, a sport that (like most of society) is strictly split into genders. She's always felt uncomfortable with the elements of figure skating that make people see her as a girl, but she doesn't quite understand why or what it means. Then one day she meets a transgender boy who, through a case of mistaken identity, thinks she's a boy too, and she realizes it doesn't feel wrong exactly. But it also doesn't feel exactly right? And because of this experience, Ana goes on the sometimes confusing journey of figuring out that she may not be either boy or girl at all. Ana's emotional journey is grounded in her figure skating training. The details of Ana's training are a big part of the book, and kids who are interested in figure skating will be fascinated by all that goes into learning a new skill and a new routine. It's quite obvious that the author is an accomplished figure skater himself and he understands the rigors (and financial burdens) of training at elite levels. Ana is torn: she loves skating and wants to do anything she can to succeed, but can she do that while still being true to herself and her new understanding of her identity? I love that the book shows Ana's struggles---Ana doesn't immediately understand who she is and what it all means, which is often (though not always) typical of kids who are non-binary or transgender. And, best of all, the ending gives her room to continue to figure herself out---there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to gender (or "two sizes"?). Ana doesn't have all the answers by the end of the book, and that's okay.
This book explores gender in a way that I've never seen in a middle grade book, and I loved every minute of this important story. Ana is a highly competitive figure skater, a sport that (like most of society) is strictly split into genders. She's always felt uncomfortable with the elements of figure skating that make people see her as a girl, but she doesn't quite understand why or what it means. Then one day she meets a transgender boy who, through a case of mistaken identity, thinks she's a boy too, and she realizes it doesn't feel wrong exactly. But it also doesn't feel exactly right? And because of this experience, Ana goes on the sometimes confusing journey of figuring out that she may not be either boy or girl at all. Ana's emotional journey is grounded in her figure skating training. The details of Ana's training are a big part of the book, and kids who are interested in figure skating will be fascinated by all that goes into learning a new skill and a new routine. It's quite obvious that the author is an accomplished figure skater himself and he understands the rigors (and financial burdens) of training at elite levels. Ana is torn: she loves skating and wants to do anything she can to succeed, but can she do that while still being true to herself and her new understanding of her identity? I love that the book shows Ana's struggles---Ana doesn't immediately understand who she is and what it all means, which is often (though not always) typical of kids who are non-binary or transgender. And, best of all, the ending gives her room to continue to figure herself out---there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to gender (or "two sizes"?). Ana doesn't have all the answers by the end of the book, and that's okay.
kismetanne's review
3.0
Good read but started to drag for me as gotvfrustrated with indecision of protagonist... probably unfairly
miloblue's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.5
This charming middle grade book is about Ana figuring out that they’re nonbinary and having to come out amidst their intense figure skating training and community. Without spoilers, i can say it’s pretty free of homophobia, transphobia and anti-queer bias and bigotry, which made it pretty damn enjoyable. Middle school angst notwithstanding. Will recommend to my b’nai mitzvot aged nibbling for sure!