Book Bag
Skating on Mars
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Description
A heartwarming debut from author Caroline Huntoon about a young figure skater discovering who they are on and off the ice.
Life isn't easy on twelve-year-old Mars. As if seventh grade isn't hard enough, Mars is also grappling with the recent death of their father and a realization they never got to share with him: they're nonbinary. But with their skates laced up and the ice under their feet, all of those struggles melt away. When Mars' triple toe loop draws the attention of a high school hot shot, he dares them to skate as a boy so the two can compete head-to-head. Unable to back down from a challenge, Mars accepts. But as competition draws near, the struggles of life off the rink start to complicate their performance in the rink, and Mars begins to second guess if there's a place for them on the ice at all.
Skating on Mars is a tender examination of grief and a hopeful middle grade tale of self-discovery.
"This timely, triumphant novel about figure skating, identity, loss, and love will move and entertain readers--and it might just inspire them to find their own ways to change the world. " --Laurie Morrison, author of Up for Air and Coming Up Short
Publication date
May 30, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Page Count
-
ISBN-13
9781250851871
Lexile Measure
620
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Feiwel & Friends
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039030 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Death & Dying
JUV060000 - Juvenile Fiction | LGBT
JUV032120 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Ice Skating
JUV060000 - Juvenile Fiction | LGBT
JUV032120 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Ice Skating
Library of Congress categories
Grief
Gender identity
Ice skating
Novels
Gender identity
Ice skating
Novels
ALA/Booklist
Starred Review
Huntoon. . . writes beautifully with authority and insight, creating in Mars a fully realized, memorable character; this first novel is an important contribution to the slender body of nonbinary literature, which belongs in every library.
Kirkus
Mars' identity is examined with nuance, given depth and consideration as life on and off the ice grows both more euphoric and increasingly complicated. . .a strong sports story and an earnest coming-of-age tale in one.
Publishers Weekly
In Michigan, 12-year-old Mars Hart loves figure skating, but ever since they realized they're nonbinary, they've felt like "there isn't really space for me" in a sport divided along binary gender lines. On top of that, they're mourning the death of their father, with whom they shared a love of skating, and things have been weird with their best friend Libby's older friends, who look down on Mars for being a year younger. When Libby's cocky pairs partner dares Mars to compete against him, they do, registering in the men's division. The ensuing drama--including misgendering and transphobic bullying--makes Mars question their future in the activity they love best. Debut author Huntoon crafts a memorable first-person voice in driven, vulnerable Mars, tracing their grief and gradual coming-out process, and the affirming support they receive, via musing interiority. Some plot elements, such as Mars's relationship with a crush, feel underdeveloped, but Mars's passion for figure skating is infectious, and their fight to stake out their own place in a system not built for them proves both gently affirming and joyful. The cast reads as largely white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jessica Mileo, InkWell Management. (May)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission. Caroline Huntoon
Caroline Huntoon (they/them) is a nonbinary storyteller and educator and the author of Skating on Mars and Linus and Etta Could Use a Win from Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. They grew up in Michigan but spent time in New York City to earn their B.A. at Barnard College and see as much musical theater as possible, Walt Disney World to fulfill a lifelong dream of working on The Great Movie Ride, and Vermont to earn their M.A. from The Bread Loaf School of English. Now back in Michigan, Caroline lives with their headstrong and hilarious child, Winnie, and their adorable and needy dog, Oscar David. By day they work as an English teacher and theater director, and by night they write stories for young people about loss, identity, and friendship that validate their messy and wonderful lives. Find out more about Caroline and their work at carolinehuntoon.com.
Junior Library Guild
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