Spinning

I don't think kids need to be 14 to read this book like other reviewers have suggested. My 10 year old figure skates so I decided to check it out. We both read the book and talked about some of the issues. The main theme here is the main character has no connection to her mom or dad. She does not feel she has anyone to talk to about any problems she has at school, at the ice rink or with the tutor. It's important for girls as young as 10 to understand that they are not doing anything wrong if they get unwanted attention (negative or positive) from a boy. It's also important to reinforce that your kids can and should talk to you or someone at school if they are having trouble with a bully. I highly recommend this book to tweens.

This is not a kids' book. It's not a happy story. But teens don't want sugarcoating, anyway. This is a true story about figuring out how you fit into the world and what you want to do with your life, and I think a lot of teens will relate to it, whatever their sexuality. If your kid has started thinking about the serious things in life, this book will not disturb them. It will reassure them: these things happen to others, too. And we all deal with them, somehow. The art style is gorgeous and the pacing is brilliant. Tillie Walden has a gift. This book will inspire young artists to express themselves in art. I disagree with the review that said being attracted to another girl is "too much" for children. Some people are gay. This is the truth. Letting children know about this helps them react supportively if a friend comes out to them, making the world a better place. Tillie Walden tells her own story and the reader understands her. We need this understanding.

It was a really inspiring and beautiful story but some things were inaproriate for younger teens or pre-teens. There was a lot of cussing throughout the book and her tutor sexually harrased her at one one of her lessons. It was also heavy when she almost got hit by a car but dodged it. It also was great because it normalized being lesbian or gay and might be inspiring to one who's coming out or even a aspiring ice skater. Also, her and the girl she liked would often have sleepovers and kiss/ cuddle with each other and their parents knowing. Amazing book but maybe hold off on reading till a more mature age or about 13 or 14 years old.