I found that I had several more easy reads listed on my TBR about skating, and decided to pick them up from the library. This one was rather- dull at first, and was going to just set it aside, but it was so short I went ahead and finished. Gabby, a young figure skater (I guessed high school age, though the book didn’t specify) is facing some changes. Her beloved coach of many years is retiring, so she has a new coach. This coach is far more businesslike and pushes Gabby to challenge herself. Gabby had recovered from an injury the year before, sustained when she fell doing a double axel jump. Understandably, she’s afraid to try difficult jumps again. The new coach tries to push her past the hesitation, pointing out her recent lack of progress, but Gabby feels that she just isn’t ready yet. Can she stand up to the coach’s pressure and refuse the risk of doing harder jumps? Or should she just be following what the coach says, regardless of her gut feeling.
I actually liked the way this one ended. SPOILER: Gabby insisted on repeating the easy jumps and competing at a lower level. She did her routine to perfection, earning a higher score than ever before- and this boosted her confidence, not to mention making her feel more secure in her skills. I really appreciated that message: you don’t have to move ahead before you’re ready. You can stay where you’re at and continue to polish the skills you have for a while. That’s okay.
Borrowed from the public library.
