Description: "A young Black child passes an ice rink every day walking home with Momma. Last year, the rink was tricky. It looked clear and smooth, but felt rough and rude after a fall. Brrr! Ouch! Even so, the child hasn t been able to stop thinking about that rink. The young skater is determined to do something for the first time: a spin on the ice. Because, as Momma says, nothing is impossible."--
Brief description:
Brittany J. Thurman is the author of the picture books Fly and Forever and Always and the middle grade mystery Opal Watson, Private Eye, and the coauthor of the middle grade novels Fearless: Boulevard of Dreams and Fearless: The Takeover, both written with Mandy Gonzalez. She is a former children's specialist, dedicated to ensuring children's literature truthfully reflects the world in which we live. Brittany holds an MFA in dramatic writing from Carnegie Mellon University and a BA in theater from Kingston University, London, England. She is an avid traveler and has lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but now resides in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
Review Quotes:
"An ode to the learning process, Thurman's text applies an easy coolness to the clumsiness that learning entails--practice made perfect by affirming beat poetry--while Mil's captivating aesthetic renders the skater with a lovable, root-for-able expressiveness. The result is one worth cheering. . . . A tale that more than sticks its landing." - Kirkus Reviews
"Thurman aptly renders self-aware kid talk, capturing the immediacy--and comedy--of the ice-rink experience and the deeper, driving power of dreams. Depicting a kid who is by turns impish and tenacious, digital artwork by Mil renders the smooth, glimmering ice as both adversary and launchpad for triumph." - Publishers Weekly
"A touching story of resilience, courage, and believing in yourself, this wintry tale is sure to warm hearts no matter how cold it gets. Ideal for young readers in need of a little encouragement when facing a challenge." - Booklist