Skating on Mars

Huntoon. . . writes beautifully with authority and insight, creating in Mars a fully realized, memorable character; this first novel is an important contribution to the slender body of nonbinary literature, which belongs in every library.

Mars' identity is examined with nuance, given depth and consideration as life on and off the ice grows both more euphoric and increasingly complicated. . .a strong sports story and an earnest coming-of-age tale in one.

In Michigan, 12-year-old Mars Hart loves figure skating, but ever since they realized they're nonbinary, they've felt like "there isn't really space for me" in a sport divided along binary gender lines. On top of that, they're mourning the death of their father, with whom they shared a love of skating, and things have been weird with their best friend Libby's older friends, who look down on Mars for being a year younger. When Libby's cocky pairs partner dares Mars to compete against him, they do, registering in the men's division. The ensuing drama--including misgendering and transphobic bullying--makes Mars question their future in the activity they love best. Debut author Huntoon crafts a memorable first-person voice in driven, vulnerable Mars, tracing their grief and gradual coming-out process, and the affirming support they receive, via musing interiority. Some plot elements, such as Mars's relationship with a crush, feel underdeveloped, but Mars's passion for figure skating is infectious, and their fight to stake out their own place in a system not built for them proves both gently affirming and joyful. The cast reads as largely white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jessica Mileo, InkWell Management. (May)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for Skating On Mars:

A Junior Library Guild Selection 

"Caroline Huntoon's Skating on Mars is a rallying cry that trans and nonbinary kids belong in sports; it is also a moving story about life's transitions, big and small. Mars is a kid you can't help rooting for as they navigate friendships, grief, and their place within the sport of figure skating as a nonbinary athlete. Skating on Mars is an essential addition to the canon of queer sports stories." —A. J. Sass, author of Ana on the Edge and Ellen Outside the Lines

"Mars gives us a beautiful blueprint for what to do when you're neither/nor instead of either/or, a sparkling bolt of bold Bowie lightning in a world of black and white. Their story skated into my heart and left a smile on my face." —Jules Machias, author of Both Can Be True and Fight + Flight

"All the gold medals for this book! Equal parts a fun, joyful story about figure skating and a nuanced, break-your-heart-and-put-it-back-together tale about grief and gender identity, Skating on Mars tackles big questions in an accessible and heartfelt fashion. Caroline's story had me rooting for Mars from the first spin to the last, triumphant triple toe loop."
—E. L. Shen, author of The Comeback

"This timely, triumphant novel about figure skating, identity, loss, and love will move and entertain readers—and it might just inspire them to find their own ways to change the world. " —Laurie Morrison, author of Up for Air and Coming Up Short

"The results are in: Skating on Mars is a must-read, all-around winning debut novel. The fierce, spirited Mars will be skating figure-eights in readers' hearts and minds long after the book comes to an end." —Michael Leali, author of The Civil War of Amos Abernathy

"We urgently need more books like this in the world: ones that remind us that LGBTQ+ kids are regular kids, with regular kid feelings, struggles, and triumphs. Skating On Mars is a sensitively written story that centers an appealing and realistic non-binary protagonist...An excellent and most welcome addition to the growing (but still too small) collection of well-written and compassionate books about young rainbow humans." —Lisa Bunker, author of Zenobia July and Felix Yz