Scan barcode
thenextgenlibrarian's review
3.0
A coming-of-age MG book about a nonbinary kid navigating a binary world.
⛸️
Anna-Marie Jin is the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion. This comes with expectations and rules so when Ana gets a new choreographer that wants her to wear a frilly dress and skate to princess-themed music, Ana doesn’t know why she’s hesitating. Then she meets Hayden, a trans boy who assumes Ana is a boy too and she lets him to try it out. Ana doesn’t feel comfortable in “boy” skin either. It’s then she realizes she’s nonbinary. Having the words finally makes her feel free. The rest she’s going to figure out.
⛸️
This was a good perspective for those who might have a child or student who is struggling with their identity and needs the right words to express who they are. The author’s note at the end really shed light on how (in our past as a society) we didn’t really talk about gender as freely as we do now. Important topic; just okay story IMO.
CW: transphobia, misgendering, coming out themes, bullying
⛸️
Anna-Marie Jin is the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion. This comes with expectations and rules so when Ana gets a new choreographer that wants her to wear a frilly dress and skate to princess-themed music, Ana doesn’t know why she’s hesitating. Then she meets Hayden, a trans boy who assumes Ana is a boy too and she lets him to try it out. Ana doesn’t feel comfortable in “boy” skin either. It’s then she realizes she’s nonbinary. Having the words finally makes her feel free. The rest she’s going to figure out.
⛸️
This was a good perspective for those who might have a child or student who is struggling with their identity and needs the right words to express who they are. The author’s note at the end really shed light on how (in our past as a society) we didn’t really talk about gender as freely as we do now. Important topic; just okay story IMO.
CW: transphobia, misgendering, coming out themes, bullying
annagoldberg's review
5.0
Every so often you read a book that makes you go, “That’s me.” Ana’s story is amazing in its own right, but the resonance it held for my own experiences, both as an adult who came into knowing my non-cis gender as an adult and a kid who knew something was different but wasn’t quite sure what. I have rarely felt so touched by a story as this one, and I am so grateful that I got to read it and that kids like me will have this book to read too.
margaret's review
4.0
Ana is the latest US Juvenile figure skating champion, but she's having trouble with her new princess-themed program. When she is mistaken for a boy by someone at her rink, she doesn't correct it, and from there she begins to question how she sees her own gender identity.
Basically, this is the story of a nonbinary figure skater finding her place in a gendered world. It falls into my absolute favorite category of middle grade book: character focused, heartwarming, all about self-discovery and coming-of-age. While it handles some difficult topics, it always feels safe and compassionate toward its characters. I loved the discussions of gender, performance, and identity—the readers are right there alongside Ana as she figures herself out and rethinks everything she thought she knew. I'm so glad that this book exists because I know it's going to mean a lot for so many young readers.
Originally posted on blog
Basically, this is the story of a nonbinary figure skater finding her place in a gendered world. It falls into my absolute favorite category of middle grade book: character focused, heartwarming, all about self-discovery and coming-of-age. While it handles some difficult topics, it always feels safe and compassionate toward its characters. I loved the discussions of gender, performance, and identity—the readers are right there alongside Ana as she figures herself out and rethinks everything she thought she knew. I'm so glad that this book exists because I know it's going to mean a lot for so many young readers.
Originally posted on blog
thenextgenlib's review
3.0
A coming-of-age MG book about a nonbinary kid navigating a binary world.
⛸️
Anna-Marie Jin is the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion. This comes with expectations and rules so when Ana gets a new choreographer that wants her to wear a frilly dress and skate to princess-themed music, Ana doesn’t know why she’s hesitating. Then she meets Hayden, a trans boy who assumes Ana is a boy too and she lets him to try it out. Ana doesn’t feel comfortable in “boy” skin either. It’s then she realizes she’s nonbinary. Having the words finally makes her feel free. The rest she’s going to figure out.
⛸️
This was a good perspective for those who might have a child or student who is struggling with their identity and needs the right words to express who they are. The author’s note at the end really shed light on how (in our past as a society) we didn’t really talk about gender as freely as we do now. Important topic; just okay story IMO.
CW: transphobia, misgendering, coming out themes, bullying
⛸️
Anna-Marie Jin is the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion. This comes with expectations and rules so when Ana gets a new choreographer that wants her to wear a frilly dress and skate to princess-themed music, Ana doesn’t know why she’s hesitating. Then she meets Hayden, a trans boy who assumes Ana is a boy too and she lets him to try it out. Ana doesn’t feel comfortable in “boy” skin either. It’s then she realizes she’s nonbinary. Having the words finally makes her feel free. The rest she’s going to figure out.
⛸️
This was a good perspective for those who might have a child or student who is struggling with their identity and needs the right words to express who they are. The author’s note at the end really shed light on how (in our past as a society) we didn’t really talk about gender as freely as we do now. Important topic; just okay story IMO.
CW: transphobia, misgendering, coming out themes, bullying
kappareads's review
4.0
What a great book to end the year with!
Honestly my rating might go up but right now I’ll stick with four stars!
I really wasn’t expecting this book to hit so close to home, but I really should’ve expected it, as this is the first MG book I’ve read with an enby protagonist
I love so much about this book. From the core message that there’s no one way to be non-binary (something a lot of people need to be told >.>) to the friendship arcs to the family, it was all crafted so well!! Seeing Ana pull away from one friend while getting close to another was aggravating to read but it made sense why she was doing it! It also made the third act that much better to read because you wanted to see these relationships be fixed! Ana learning about her dysphoria and how to combat it made my heart soar!
Plus, no violent transphobia! Just cisnormative statements that make Ana uncomfortable as she’s trying to figure out who she is, which is really relatable!!!
What I’m saying is read this book! Put this book in middle grade classrooms!! Just read it!
Honestly my rating might go up but right now I’ll stick with four stars!
I really wasn’t expecting this book to hit so close to home, but I really should’ve expected it, as this is the first MG book I’ve read with an enby protagonist
I love so much about this book. From the core message that there’s no one way to be non-binary (something a lot of people need to be told >.>) to the friendship arcs to the family, it was all crafted so well!! Seeing Ana pull away from one friend while getting close to another was aggravating to read but it made sense why she was doing it! It also made the third act that much better to read because you wanted to see these relationships be fixed! Ana learning about her dysphoria and how to combat it made my heart soar!
Plus, no violent transphobia! Just cisnormative statements that make Ana uncomfortable as she’s trying to figure out who she is, which is really relatable!!!
What I’m saying is read this book! Put this book in middle grade classrooms!! Just read it!
cdace8's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.0
radmusikitty's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0