On Thin Ice

November 18, 2024
After their father’s death from cancer, 12-year-old Korean American twins Phoebe and Dex Bae notice their “twintuition” has begun to deteriorate. Their alternating first-person narration reveals how, following the tragedy, their individual methods of handling grief results in distance and friction, not only between the siblings but between them and their mother as well: Mom focuses on her acupuncture business, ice skater Phoebe throws her all into training with her partner Pete—who is Black—for an upcoming competition, and ice hockey goalie Dex finds solace in defending his post (and pulling pranks). When Pete sustains a season-ending injury and Dex is cut from his team, the twins’ mother contrives for them to stay on the ice by figure skating together. As Phoebe navigates friendship breakups and a first crush and Dex mentors budding young ice skaters, the twins learn how to move on after loss and find their way back to each other. Varying depictions of coping with grief add tender nuance to this absorbing sports-lite tale by Kim (Make a Move, Sunny Park), who complements the novel’s uplifting tone with a tidy resolution. Ages 9–12. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Agency.

January 1, 2025

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. VERDICT A resonant novel about sports and sibling relationships in the face of grief; recommended for realistic fiction collections.-Pamela Thompson McLeod

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2024
Twelve-year-old Korean American twins Phoebe and Dex Bae reluctantly team up on the ice. When Phoebe's figure skating partner, Pete, has to sit out a major competition due to an injury, she's crushed. It's only two months until the pairs invitational that would have allowed Phoebe to move from the recreational league to the competitive division. The twins' mom steps in, making a deal with Dex: If he partners with Phoebe, she'll buy him the expensive skates he believes will get him back on the ice hockey team he was cut from. The struggles the siblings face are ultimately worth it: Dex finds a healthy outlet to support his emotional well-being and comes to appreciate the effort it takes to master figure skating, while Phoebe learns that competition isn't everything and rediscovers her reasons for being on the ice. Skating together also brings the twins closer and renews their relationship with their mom; they've all been out of sync ever since Dad's death two years ago. In the twins' alternating first-person perspectives, Kim movingly depicts the family members' paths to being present for each other and sharing their burdens and feelings. Side plots featuring friendship conflict, a crush, and relationships with coaches keep the story moving and advance character development, but the quick resolutions undercut the tension. Fans of Kim's 2020 debut, Stand Up, Yumi Chung!, will enjoy a cameo by Mrs. Chung. An entertaining and reassuring story of discovery, healing, and reconnection.(Fiction. 9-12)

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January 1, 2025
Grades 4-7 Phoebe and Dex, 12-year-old fraternal twins growing up in a Korean American household, have grown apart since their father's death two years ago. Neither of them wants to talk about missing Dad, but each seems somewhat unstable and unsure of moving forward without him. Dex focuses on playing the prankster among his buddies and making the All-Star ice-hockey team, while Phoebe's goal is to win an upcoming pairs figure-skating competition. When Phoebe's skating partner is injured and unable to carry on, Mom decrees that Dex must take his place. Neither twin is happy about the arrangement, but they agree. When their figure-skating coach encourages them to express their emotions through their movements, they respond in ways that help them mature as individuals and family members. A poet, a former fourth- and fifth-grade teacher, and the author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! (2020) and Make a Move, Sunny Park! (2023), Kim narrates as Phoebe or Dex in alternating chapters. Written with clarity and finesse, this middle-grade novel features well-developed characters, realistic dilemmas, and a satisfying conclusion.

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