A heartwarming middle grade debut 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 story of self-discovery.
Topics Ice skating. Gender identity. LGBTQ. Death, grief, and bereavement. Sports and recreation. Activism. Friendship. Family life.
Lexile 620L
Trim Size 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2023-05-29
JLG Release Date Sep 2023
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Sports Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
Sports Middle Plus
Sports Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
An action-packed level devoted exclusively to sports. These fiction and nonfiction selections are sure to be a hit with your middle-school sports fans. And the hits arrive each month with this 14 book category.