Saturday, July 31, 2021

ANA ON THE EDGE by A. J. Sass

 

Figure skating is Ana's world. She spends almost every waking moment either practicing or thinking about skating. Although, lately, she has been thinking about something else. Ana isn't sure who she is.

After winning in the juvenile nationals and moving up to the intermediate level, Ana must adjust to a new choreographer hired to create a long program and a new costume for Ana. Ana hasn't thought too much about the moves in her programs because Alex, her coach, knows her likes and dislikes and her skill level. This new choreographer has Ana skating to music that is soft and quiet, and the moves she plans are not what Ana is used to. The real upsetting thing is her new costume. It is a princess dress in sparkly blue and definitely not in Ana comfort zone.

As Ana begins working on her new program she realizes what bothers her is that people will immediately see her as a girl when she steps on the ice. She doesn't feel like a girl. She isn't sure she feels like a boy either.

When Ana meets a new skater named Hayden who is transgender, she is introduced to the idea of non-binary. This new way of thinking of herself feels comfortable. Now, what does this mean for her skating and for her mother and her coach? Ana may feel comfortable, but what will others think?

Author A. J. Sass takes on a complicated subject in ANA ON THE EDGE. He/they has experience in the figure skating world that will make Ana's world come alive for readers. Sass's personal sexuality questions also make Ana's experience real and informative for questioning readers.

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