The writing was good, but I just couldn't get into it. Although the story has merit, I think this might skew too mature for my students.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Even though I'm not watching much of the Winter Olympics, I felt inspired to pick this book up in spirit. And I'm glad I did! This heartwarming book takes place in the Adirondacks and centers around Maxine's experience as a middle school student and rising figure skater.

What I loved about this book is that Maxine is really just a normal kid. She has talent as a figure skater but she also isn't necessarily the best of the best, or the underdog. I also thought this book got serious with racism in a way that felt very apt for the age group and also the times we're in. I'd highly recommend this.

This was a great middle grade story that dealt with some big and heavier topics. It focuses a lot on figure skating, which I'm not too familiar with, but it was still quite enjoyable and understandable.

This is a middle grade book. I really enjoyed this book. This book is about two girls becoming friends even if they both ice skate. There is a lot about ice skating. I love the writing in this book. This book really shows how the kid feels ice skating, and it shows that it can be really stressful for them. The characters in this book is very developed. Also in this book there is what Chinese or Asian face in school, and people picking on them. I know kids can be really mean at times, and I think this book shows it really well. I think this book well be good for kids that is having issues with people picking on them. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) or author (E. L. Shen) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Cute but rather uneventful middle grade novel about competitive figure skating. Written more as an ode to the sport this novel would have to find its way into the right hands in my middle school. There is a lot of good information on skating, but the friendship and bullying plot lines are a bit thin.

Racism is difficult to deal with no matter how young or old someone is. Shen provides a thoughtful story about a young Chinese American figure skater's experience with racism at school and how internalizing those racist acts affects her mentally and spills over into her life at home and on the skating rink, including how she deals with a new and more talented competitor. I found the story well-written and appreciated the Asian American representation. Maxine has the potential to serve as a role model for other Asian American girls just as Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan serve as Maxine's role models. (3.5 stars rounded to 4)

This is a wonderful Middle-Grade story about friendship, acceptance of who you are, and going for your dreams. It was well-written and very insightful. I thought the message about bullying and prejudices towards others that are different than you and how that feels was spot on. This is a perfect read for the age group intended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Maxine Chen is a 12-year-old figure skater trying to make nationals and then the Olympics! But her confidence wavers--not just because of the new figure skater/competition, Hollie--when Alex begins to bully her for being Chinese-American and her best friend, Victoria, begins to drift away from her. The one-sided arch-nemesis with Hollie becomes a budding friendship and Maxine begins to realize her inner-strength.
This is a very touching middle-grade novel about ice skating and dealing with the pressures of middle school. There is a lot of technical language around ice skating, but it was not too difficult for non-ice-skating readers to connect. Maxine's parents are loving and supportive, which was a contrast to the pressure Hollie feels. The racism Maxine experiences is very realistic (although not subtle, that's ok, middle-schoolers are pretty blatant in their hurt) and E.L. Shen does a marvelous job of describing Maxine's emotional reaction, desire for a witty comeback, and emotional wearing down. I look forward to more from Shen!

This has such great representation. My 11 year old daughter, while reading this, said to me, "Mom, I love when there are Asian characters in my books" and that meant the world to me. As a competitive dancer, she was really invested in the story of Maxine and the ranking of the skaters. It definitely kept her on the edge of her seat. I loved the friendships that were in this book and how rivals can end up as friends. That's such an important message for young girls who are often pitted against each other in competitive sports. There's a difference between rivals vs supportive competitors and as a mother, I really appreciated that message.

A sweet story about determination, self-love, and discovering the person you want to be. I loved the elements of figure skating. The main characters focus on heroes who represent her, not only in the sport but in life. I like how she solves her own problems but appropriately asks for help when needed.

Perfect for grades 4-6 and this would also make a good book discussion for school.

Maxine is a fighter for sure. There are two levels of fighting going on here, one is to be your personal best and the other is fighting racial injustice. This is a great example for all those feeling like no one else is like them

I loved this middle grade fiction book about a young Asian girl who loves ice skating. It's the perfect blend of middle school challenges (friends, bullies, identity).

Definitely a candidate for our "Summer Reads" list for students at my school.

4.5 stars

This was a great middle school debut novel that addresses racism but is centered around figure skating. I have always loved figure skating and Maxine references several of my favorite skaters, which really drew me into the story. 12-year old Maxine Chen lives in Lake Placid and is in the middle of preparing for a major competition. She loves skating and competing, but sometimes can push herself too much. What I loved about this novel is that while her parents are strict about certain things, including homework and good nutrition, they also often check in with her to make sure that she still wants to do this. Much of the pressure on her comes from Maxine herself, which is refreshing to see in an Asian family. I am a Taiwanese American and I greatly appreciated this #ownvoices novel that doesn't just stereotype Asians. However, she experiences bullying for being Asian in the very white town of Lake Placid, primarily from a boy named Alex, backed up by his friends. Some of the stuff he says seems so stereotypical of a racist, except I myself experienced some of that when I was growing up. I was expecting The Comeback referenced in the title to refer to an ice skating comeback after a fiasco, and while there was some of that in this book, it was also about coming back from being bullied, and learning that adults can be part of your community and you don't have to fight alone. I also loved the friendship that Maxine developed and I loved the reference about friendship that her mom told her about trees growing at different rates and in different directions. Overall, I would recommend this for advanced elementary school kids, as well as middle school, especially if you love ice skating.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book and felt it needed much more publicity then it received! It was such a beautifully written story that balanced the serious with humor perfectly. I finished it in two daysbecausei really enjoyed Maxine'svoice so much! I can't wait to purchase a finalized copy of this book!

As a former figure skater who spent several summers training at Lake Placid’s Olympic Center, I found this book about a 12-year-old doing just that to be an utterly nostalgic delight. Of course that personal connection made the book an extra special read for me, but I do think it’s a truly lovely middle grade story for anyone. I love how the book deals with racism in schools, the experience of gaining and losing friendships, and the difficulties of being a child committed to a competitive sport. I also think that Shen does a great job sidestepping many of the issues you’d expect to be in a book about figure skating so that she can focus on issues that are just as real, but not as front and center. Plus Maxine is just a delightful character who’s both sassy and vulnerable, in a manner that feels very true to life.

I also shared this review in my newsletter (3000 subscribers) and IG stories.

Maxine is dealing with a demanding sport, bullying in school, and losing her best friend. She meets Hollie, her competitor, who seems to have it all, but learns things aren’t always as they seem.

This is Middle Grade fiction based in the world of figure skating. As a fan of figure skating and sports fiction, I loved the figure skating aspect and the references to the greats in the sport. The issue of racial bullying is also addressed. Overall I feel this is well written and The Comeback is referred to in different ways. There are comebacks in competition, comebacks in life, and verbal comebacks to racist comments. I feel that parents should supervise the reading of this book with kids under 12 so they can discuss the racial bullying aspect.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

This was a charming read that shows Maxine navigating the competitive world of figure skating. The author did an amazing job of portraying the strength in Maxine for not only competitive figure skating, but also being strong in the face of microaggressions at school. I enjoyed reading about how Maxine works through her jealousy of the new skater at the rink and how that relates to the way the mean boy at school handles his issues. This book is the perfect addition to any library or classroom.

Sixth grader Maxine Chen is trying to juggle school, homework, friendships, and competitive figure skating. When a new, talented, figure skating rival comes to town, Maxine finds herself struggling with her emotions. When discrimination and race-based harassment plague Maxine at school, help comes from an unexpected source. Figure skating fans will enjoy this glimpse into the life of a competitive skater, making this book about friendship and self-worth a worthy addition to any middle grade fiction collection.

What a charming little book! I don't think I've ever read a novel about figure skating, much less a middle grade one. As an added bonus, E. L. Shen provides a unique, diverse perspective in our main character, Maxine Chen. It's relatable for, I believe, all young girls in that Maxine is not only struggling with her cultural identity and the prejudices of others but is also struggling to find quality friendship and personal value. Throughout the story, Maxine comes to recognize her own potential and strength, as well as the beauty inside of herself. It's a wonderful, lovely story, and I think it would provide a good reading experience to any young girl.