On Thin Ice

Gr 3-7–Told in alternating voices, Kim’s tender novel captures life through the eyes of 12-year-old fraternal twins Phoebe and Dex, who are reeling from their father’s devastating death from cancer. Now the twins and their mother hide their grief from one another and themselves. Perfectionist Phoebe uses figure skating and competition as an escape; but when her pairs partner is injured, her chances of advancing in the standings are gone. Her brother Dex escapes by playing video games and ice hockey. He’s a standout player on his team, but the coach cuts him due to his attitude. Dex is livid and hurt and feels like a failure; he can’t be “the man of the family” if he continues like this. With competitive skating out of the picture, the twins are at loose ends until their mother suggests the twins compete as pairs partners. Dex already knows how to skate. It should be easy, but hockey is very different from figure skating, and the twins’ opposing personalities clash. Readers will be rooting for these siblings to repair their strained relationship on and off the ice. The tween banter is spot-on and believable, and readers are sure to empathize with the twins. This novel will be a hit for fans of of E.L. Shen’s The Comeback and Gail Nall’s Breaking the Ice.