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A review by ruthypoo2
Spinning by Tillie Walden
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
A good memoir in the form of a coming-of-age graphic novel about a young woman who feels like she doesn't quite know who she is or wants to be, nor does she feel comfortable being part of the world of figure skating that's been part of her formative years. The author, Tillie Walden, cleverly draws parallels between her experience fitting in to competitive figure skating with her experience coming to terms with her sexuality.
The story illustrates Tillie's relationship with her well-meaning parents and the other girls with whom she skates. The author's youth was complicated and confusing, or rather more so a challenge to try and figure out how to move forward with her blossoming romantic feelings for some of the girls on her skating teams. The story was very honest about how a young person may find it easier to just "go along to get along" rather than try to fully embrace or express that they are different than the mainstream everyone else seems to be.
This is not a short book, and the author includes bright spots that showed up at times during her awkward adolescence, such as a good friend, finding a patient and understanding coach, meeting an older mentor, fitting in with a new group of friends, and ultimately being able to enjoy the company of another young woman to share the beginning journey of a new romance. I thought the parents in this story were described as imperfect, but doing the best they can for a child they love, which is a pretty realistic version of how most parents are, in my opinion.
This memoir is a unique approach to how one young person learned to accept themself and find a way to come out to family with some level of confidence, and I found it interesting to learn about competitive synchronized figure skating.
The story illustrates Tillie's relationship with her well-meaning parents and the other girls with whom she skates. The author's youth was complicated and confusing, or rather more so a challenge to try and figure out how to move forward with her blossoming romantic feelings for some of the girls on her skating teams. The story was very honest about how a young person may find it easier to just "go along to get along" rather than try to fully embrace or express that they are different than the mainstream everyone else seems to be.
This is not a short book, and the author includes bright spots that showed up at times during her awkward adolescence, such as a good friend, finding a patient and understanding coach, meeting an older mentor, fitting in with a new group of friends, and ultimately being able to enjoy the company of another young woman to share the beginning journey of a new romance. I thought the parents in this story were described as imperfect, but doing the best they can for a child they love, which is a pretty realistic version of how most parents are, in my opinion.
This memoir is a unique approach to how one young person learned to accept themself and find a way to come out to family with some level of confidence, and I found it interesting to learn about competitive synchronized figure skating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment