The Comeback

by E.L. Shen

E. L. Shen's The Comeback is a heartfelt middle-grade debut about a young Chinese American girl trying to be a champ—in figure skating and in life. Twelve-year-old Maxine Chen is just trying to nail that perfect on the ice, in middle school, and at home, where her parents worry that competitive skating is too much pressure for a budding tween. Maxine isn’t concerned, however—she’s determined to glide to victory. But then a bully at school starts teasing Maxine for her Chinese heritage, leaving her stunned and speechless. And at the rink, she finds herself up against a stellar new skater named Hollie, whose grace and skill threaten to edge Maxine out of the competition. With everything she knows on uneven ice, will Maxine crash under the pressure? Or can she power her way to a comeback? Set in Lake Placid, New York, this is a spunky yet stirring middle-grade story that examines racism, female rivalry and friendship, and the enduring and universal necessity of love and support.

Genres: Middle Grade, Sports, Contemporary, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Friendship

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2021

About the author

E. L. Shen is a writer and editor. Her debut middle grade novel, The Comeback (Macmillan) is a Junior Library Guild Selection, received two starred reviews, and was praised for its “fast-paced prose, big emotions, and authentic dialogue” in The New York Times. Her young adult debut, The Queens of New York (HarperCollins) is an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, a New York Public Library Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and a Common Sense Media Selection. Her most recent novel, Maybe It’s a Sign (Macmillan), published on January 23, 2024 and is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Her next novel. Foreigners, is set to publish from HarperCollins in Fall 2026.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. Note: Since, The book as be released I have got my daughter a Hard Cover copy of this book.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be great for those that are interested in reading books about figure skating while also reading narratives that discuss marginalized groups and racism. Thank to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All thoughts are my own.

The Comeback: A Figuring Skating Novel follows the skating experience of Maxine Chen as she trains and competes to make it to sectionals, nationals, and then the Olympics. This book has trigger warnings for racism, the use of racial slur on page, bullying. I was ultimately surprised at how heavy this middle grade book got at times. It tackles topics like racism, bullying, and even the ups and downs associated with childhood relationships. Maxine goes through some ups and downs related to her friendships but finds solace in a person that she finds herself not liking at first.

While the novel does focus on the technical aspects of Maxine's skating career, Shen does a great job writing this novel in a way that will appeal to all readers even if they aren't fully immersed into the world of figure skating. One of my favorite parts of this books was seeing the support that Maxine receives from her parents especially in contrast to another character that may not have had the same amount of support. Quite often parents of athletic children get a bad reputation for putting too much pressure on the children to excel in the sport. Maxine's parents are the complete opposite. They are most focused on Maxine taking breaks when necessary and having fun like other children her age. They provide her with the support whether she does well or not during training or competitions. And I also loved that they promoted healthy eating. I know that in certain sports people become obsessed with maintaining smaller bodies to the point that it becomes unhealthy. Maxine's parents promote healthy wholesome eating on page.

This book heavily focuses on bullying in the form of racism. Maxine lives in a town where she is one of the only people of color and while no one in the town seems to directly say anything, it is something that Maxine is constantly reminded of how she is different. It takes a lot of encouragement from a friend and her parents to overcome severe bullying that she faces at the hands on one student at school. And while I thought that this was going to be easily resolved, Shen definitely adds several layers that mold Maxine into a mature young adult capable of being the bigger person. Once again, Maxine's parents are present to assist her with understanding how racism has also impacted their lives. This is particularly important to me because while I may not experience racism in the same way, I know that this is a conversation that I will also have to have with my daughter.

Overall, I thought that this was a great middle grade novel with great conversations. I'm extremely interested in seeing what else this author writes in the future. In fact, I would love to see another that focuses on what happens to Maxine in the future.

[CW ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you can tell when a story is a love letter, written from the author's heart, and I think The Comeback is one of those books. To me, this felt like a love letter to all the Asian kids who feel different; that they are special, worthy, and filled with so much potential.

- Follows Maxine, a Chinese-American girl who ice-skates and dreams of becoming the next Michelle Kwan.
- Perfect if you love stories about ice-skating!
- This book deals with and explores an abundance of things: the pressure of performance, the negative impact of bullying, the pervasiveness of white beauty standards, competitive rivalry, and friendship.
- The story also does explore racism and microaggressions, and how they can hurt. However, I liked that this was balanced with Maxine's wonderful parents, who unequivocally support her and validate her and advocate for her.
- The friendships in this is wonderful. It touches on girl-girl hate and competition, but subverts that by giving us a gorgeous friendship arc that shows how powerful and strong friendships are.

Trigger/content warning: race-motivated bullying (multiple instances); racist microaggressions

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristi Yamaguchi. Michelle Kwan. Nathan Shen. Names like those evoke images of grace, strength, and artistry on the ice. Figure skaters are incredible athletes and I loved the way this book showcased the discipline and dedication young skaters embrace. Maxine truly loves skating and her parents support her while encouraging balance in her life. The competitive side of skating is evident and we watch Maxine mature in her attitudes toward the skaters who are both her teammates and competition. Despite all the positives in her life, the microaggressions she faces from a classmate come quite close to undoing her progress in her training. What a poignant reminder of the power of negative words and actions. When the pattern of discrimination is brought to light the school deals with it firmly and Maxine's parents refrain from playing the victim card. She is strong and has reinforcements all around beginning with her parents and including all the skaters who have gone before her and have Asian roots. This book made me long for the Winter Olympics. Looking forward to 2022!

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asian-Americans have long been a part of figure skating, especially women, but 12-year old Maxine Chen seems to be the only Asian in Lake Placid, NY, where her family has relocated to get her the best possible coaching/training. However, it is not easy for her, with a demanding schedule, strict coaches and high parental expectations, in the face of regional and sectional competitions. Maxine is also being subject to racist bullying by a boy in school, who has hijacked her longtime friend. E.L. Chen has written a thoughtful book about dealing with these pressures, and then along comes Hollie another (better) skater, who turns out to be as lonely as Maxine and they form a bond. Good story, good characters, and kudos to the illustrator for the wonderful skating images at the beginning of every chapter. My only complaint was insufficient explanations about the various figure skating moves, which should have been included in an appendix.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group - Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love a comeback story especially when there is cultural diversity involved. This book reminded me of two stories; The Color of Friendship and Ice Princess, with those in mind, I could not get enough of this book. and the backstory behind it. All through the book, put a smile on my face. A lot of our young reader community will be inspired by this story and maybe even be inspired to find a passion and dream and go for it no matter the circumstances. Especially during these difficult times, this story was so refreshing to read and I can't wait to share it with our young readers.

We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Fanna]

May 28, 2020: An ownvoices debut middle-grade novel with a fierce female Asian protagonist fighting racism while figure skating? And this beautiful cover (which has just been released)? 2021 should be here NOW.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really brought me back to my childhood. I never figure skated, but little me always sat in front of the tv and watched figure skating on tv, dreaming of being a figure skater myself, cause the dresses were all so pretty.

I loved this book.
This comes with trigger warnings, and it really was hard hitting at times.

But overall, this book was just a joy to read.

I TRULY love the Chen family, Maxine and her parents have such a great and supportive relationship. You know getting into a book that is about a kid being a figure skater (or being any kind of athlete), you are just a bit worried about the parents and how much pressure they put on their kids. The Chen family was really all about balance, taking breaks and having fun.

I also really loved the friendship element. This book shows friendships you grow out of, and while it's always a bit painful, it also opens the door for other friendships. I just loved that the book went in the direction it did and showed (especially young) readers that there doesn't have to be female rivalry.

Also, bullies suck!!!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Maxine Chen is a 12-year-old figure skater living in Lake Placid, New York with big dreams of making it to nationals. As an intermediate skater, she's pretty good. She's crushing those triple jumps and feels ready for competition. Middle school is not so easy. There's too much homework (history- BORING) and her best friend Victoria is drifting away towards drama club and boys. One boy in particular. Alex is a gross, stupid, mean boy Maxine can't stand and when Alex starts bullying Maxine with racist insults, Maxine chokes and can't think of what to do or say. She's tired of being Chinese-American, looking different from everyone else around her and Alex's bullying only makes it worse. Victoria doesn't understand, she's too obsessed with Alex and her new friends to care. Maxine can't confide in her parents for fear her mom will head to the school and blast the principal for allowing the racist bullying to happen. Maxine would be labeled a crybaby and tattletale and that would make everything worse. Only on the ice does she feel free to express herself. She has the backing of her idols Kristi Yamagucci, Michelle Kwan, Nathan Chen and Mirai Nagasu (plus Adam Rippon) cheering her on in her head. Then a new girl, Hollie and her Russian coach, Viktor, move to town and Hollie has everything it takes to be a champion putting a damper on Maxine's dreams. The two get off on the wrong foot but the adults think they should be friends. Is it possible to be friends with someone who is prettier, more graceful and more athletic than you? What will Maxine do if she doesn't make it to nationals?

This book was recommended by Kristi Yamaguchi as her book club selection of the month. It's geared towards figure skaters and young diehard skating fans ages 9-12. Parents should note the story contains racist bullying and one racial slur I haven't heard in YEARS.

I thought this would read like an American Girl Girl of the Year story Bravo, Mia! but it actually reads like the story I had HOPED Laurence Yep would pen for Mia. It IS very much a story for children and not adults. The message is heavy handed but necessary to boost the confidence of children who may feel marginalized like Maxine. The plot moves along quickly, I read the whole thing in one night and the drama is eye-opening for someone who has never experienced anything like that. It was interesting to note the smaller microaggressions and other things I hadn't thought of, like how does Maxine know how to do her competition makeup? She follows popular beauty bloggers and uses her mom's makeup but her needs are specific to her facial features and skin tone. One beauty blogger promotes "eye tape" to give your eyelids a crease and make your eyes appear wider. It takes another skater of Asian descent to help Maxine.

Maxine is an appealing character. I'd like her a lot better if she didn't think history was boring although she's right that most of the well known heroes of the Revolutionary War are old white dudes with a few white ladies. None were Chinese. Maxine is not your average plucky heroine. She's just an average girl whose confidence gets a big boost when she lands her jumps on the ice. It's one thing in her life she can control. She's a little egotistical but most kids that age are. They're fearless when it comes to stuff like doing difficult triple jumps. Maxine is not so fearless or plucky at home or in school. She's a normal kid who rolls her eyes at her parents at times, especially their choices in music or when they ask her to do chores she doesn't want to do. Mostly though she's a good kid who internalizes her mom's words of wisdom, even if sometimes those words are in Mandarin, passed down from Maxine's Chinese grandmother. Internally she suffers from a lot of self-doubt stemming from her Chinese heritage. I partly blame her parents. Maxine doesn't speak more than a few words of Mandarin and doesn't seem to know much about her Chinese heritage. If I were her mom, I would pass down stories of strong Chinese women, especially the ancestors, to make Maxine feel more connected to her heritage and proud of being Chinese-American. They're also to blame for settling in an all white town and not somewhere more diverse where she could have friends and role models within the Asian community. There are a number of skaters of Asian descent she looks up to but she doesn't actually know any of them, being only an intermediate skater and stuck in Lake Placid.

Some of her doubts come from being 12, a difficult age for a girl. It's a time of transition when you're not a child and not an adult. She's growing apart from her best friend and doesn't have anyone to confide in. Of course she grows a lot throughout the novel and becomes self-actualized, unrealistically, but necessary.

Maxine's parents are loving and caring. Her skating dream is hers alone and not her parents'. They just want whatever makes her happy and constantly urge her to cut back or take a break if the pressure is too much. I appreciated that Maxine's parents were not the usual pushy types found in skating/dance/drama novels for this age group. No skating mom for Maxine. I love her dad who is goofy and funny. He likes to make his daughter laugh and relax even at his own expense. Mrs. Chen can be a Mama Bear when she has to be and I agree with Maxine that telling makes it worse but in this case, she really did need to tell someone.

Victoria is an awful friend. She's obsessed with Alex and her obsession is unhealthy. She's only 12! Boys that age are AWFUL! Victoria is selfish and self-absorbed but thinks Maxine is as well because all Maxine does is practice. She doesn't understand her best friend's dream but if she dreams of Hollywood or Broadway, then she too will have to practice all the time. She isn't there yet and she isn't very nice to Maxine. She never once asks why Maxine hates Alex so much. Hollie seems like she should be a mean girl because she's perfect but she has problems of her own. Her coach is from Russia and worked with a coach who is clearly based on Eteri Tutberidze. Viktor is scary-always yelling and never happy. Hollie's mom doesn't help. She's a skating mom- living out HER dream through her child. It's amazing Hollie is NOT a mean girl. She could be, should be but she's very sweet. Her only sibling is still a baby and she recently moved, is homeschooled and doesn't have any friends. I would imagine the other girls at the rink and in ballet class are jealous. The mean girl moment comes from Maxine, actually. The two girls come to bond over common interests and insecurities. I like their friendship very much and love Hollie. She's a sweetie.

Alex is the most horrible, racist bully ever. At first it was just little mean comments but it escalated and he even used a horrible word for Chinese person. I have no doubt this boy learned it from his family. I would have liked more fleshing out of his character instead of the two-dimensional racist bully stereotype. I finally almost yelled out loud "OH NO HE DIDN'T!" I didn't appreciate Maxine coming up with snappy comebacks because her words were rude and insulting. That won't go over well if a teacher overhears HER but not HIM! I don't think Alex's punishment went far enough. #StopAsianHate

This is a good book for tween figure skating fans and diehard skating fans those who like tween novels.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intermediate skating phenom Maxine Chen worries about her upcoming competition, racist bullying from a classmate and Hollie, new skater who’s even better than she is. Worst yet, her former best friend is crushing on her bully and hanging out with kids who take drama.

THE COMEBACK is a delightful debut novel from E L Shen. The book is aesthetically gorgeous, with drawings of figure skaters in various poses at the start of each chapter. THE COMEBACK is as well written as it is beautiful.

Maxine’s vulnerable voice made me feel the pain of her bullying, the exact same bullying I witnessed an Asian girl receive 45 years ago when I was her age. I wish we had moved beyond that. Maxine worries telling her mom will make the bullying worse, but the abuse from her classmate grows harsher anyway.

I also love how Maxine learns to channel her competitiveness with Hollie toward a friendship where they champion each other.

I hope THE COMEBACK has a sequel. With Maxine in sixth grade, there’s room to take her to the next year and stay in the MG age group.

[Nev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this! The Comeback is about twelve-year-old Maxine Chen and her journey trying to succeed at figure skating while dealing with some racist bullying at school. The book also touches on growing apart from someone who used to be your best friend. I appreciated that these topics weren’t watered down for a middle grade audience. Also, while there is a positive ending everything isn’t wrapped up so neatly in a way that might be a little too unrealistic.

This book shows the importance of representation. Figures like Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, Mirai Nagasu, Nathan Chen, and an older Asian girl at Maxine’s skating rink give her people to look up to and aspire to be like when she starts to get down on herself because of the racist things her bully at school says to her.

Overall I just think this book was really lovely.

[RachelReadsandSings · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But there is one thing I know,” she says, “that Alex certainly doesn’t. That maybe you don’t even know.” “What?” I whisper. Mom smiles. “That no matter what, my daughter is a fighter. On and off the ice.”

Okay, this was FANTASTIC!!! I immediately loved Maxine and seeing her navigate skating, friendships, bullies, school and more was so beautiful to read about. I definitely teared up when her (amazing) parents talked with her about her Chinese heritage and how to deal with racism as well. UGH SO GOOD.

CW: bullying, racism

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sweet and fun! Really recommend for MG lovers and readers. Touched on a lot of subjects at an age appropriate level (bullying, racism, rocky friendships).

[Phoebe (readandwright) Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve been following along for awhile, you’ll already know that one of my favorite places in the world is Lake Placid, NY. One weekend I was scrolling through Instagram (as one does) and my favorite independent bookstore, The Bookstore Plus, shared a story from author E.L. Shen with her new novel, The Comeback. She was sharing photos of it in the place it’s set: Lake Placid! I immediately knew I had to have it and after reading it, I can’t recommend it enough for readers of all ages.

Synopsis: “Twelve-year-old Maxine Chen is just trying to nail that perfect landing: on the ice, in middle school, and at home, where her parents worry that competitive skating is too much pressure for a budding tween. Maxine isn’t concerned, however―she’s determined to glide to victory. But then a bully at school starts teasing Maxine for her Chinese heritage, leaving her stunned and speechless. And at the rink, she finds herself up against a stellar new skater named Hollie, whose grace and skill threaten to edge Maxine out of the competition. With everything she knows on uneven ice, will Maxine crash under the pressure? Or can she power her way to a comeback? Set in Lake Placid, New York, this is a spunky yet stirring middle-grade story that examines racism, female rivalry and friendship, and the enduring and universal necessity of love and support.”

What I Liked:

The Setting—Like I already said, I love Lake Placid! I haven’t been able to find a lot of book set there so when I find one, I hold on tight! I think this did a great job of bringing us into the history and pressure of the town while still bringing us a little of that Olympic magic.

The Commentary on Female Competition—I loved the main character, Maxine’s, growth as a competitor and as a young woman in this book. We explore the natural feelings of jealousy with fellow skaters but we also get to see her find her footing in friendships with these skaters as well. There is a very special moment with an older skater that I think really showcases women supporting women that really stuck out to me. Not only does Maxine idolize this older skater because she shows her it’s possible to lift up fellow athletes, she also shows Maxine that she is perfect just the way she is.

The Own Voices Narrative—E.L. Shen writes unapologetically about the targeted racism Maxine receives from a boy in her 6th grade class at an overwhelmingly white school. While I loved seeing Maxine’s confidence grow and her ability to “handle it” herself, I was very happy to read that the boy was held responsible for his actions.

What Didn’t Work:

Nothing! I would have loved this book just as much at 12 as I did at 28!

TW/CW: Racism, bullying, derogatory language

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: N/A Overall Rating: 5/5

[Kerry (lines i underline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0⭐️ Shen’s debut is a winning Middle Grade title in all kinds of ways. I can imagine pressing it into the hands of many young readers.

First off, the writing style is clear, direct, and has a down-to-earth tone that I think many kids will find real and accessible. This is not a poetic kind of Middle Grade reading experience, which I think makes this book better placed to have a broader audience than some books for this age group. Maxine sounds like a real kid. Her range of emotions and her way of dealing with the challenges she faces feel true to life.

It’s also nice to see a book about a hardworking kid pursuing her passion and not have the storyline be that she is some kind of dazzling super talent, or that she needs to achieve her Olympic dreams for all of the sacrifice to be worthwhile. I think kids will relate to Maxine’s dreams and also hopefully internalize a message that is important and worthy.

Speaking of important messages, the aspect of the novel where Maxine is faced with racism and racist microaggressions is really well done. Shen brings this topic centre stage and explores it thoughtfully. The way that Maxine holds onto the inspiration provided by her Asian figure skating idols shines in strong contrast to the painful experiences she has at school. Her parents’ support through these hardships is also conveyed sensitively.

This title is a fine example of realistic fiction, for kids who love sports, and stories about friendship and finding your inner strength.

CW: racism, racial slurs, bullying

[Rachel E. Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute novel about overcoming trials and appreciating who you are. I love figure skating, so that's why I picked up this book. It was an easy read and I got through it in a day.

Maxine is in middle school and starting her path toward the Olympics. I think the author nicely balanced the story between her figure skating and her bullying at school. I also liked that the racism didn't overwhelm the story. Maxine was a good character and you really felt for her throughout the story.

So if you like figure skating and overcoming bullies, this is a nice, short read.

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great realistic middle grade story about the hard work that goes into being a young competitive figure skater as well as the hard work that goes into being strong in the face of microagressions at school. I really loved Maxine's arc and especially the way she deals with her own jealousy of a new skater compared to the way the racist mean boy at school deals with his issues, and I appreciated that it's a story about bullying where the moral isn't "but also the bully was sad and what about his feelings"?

[Mieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wholesome story about a girl figure skating while also dealing with racism. I loved how the author took the themes to heart and discussed them in an easy but serious way.

[librarybythebeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and quick middle grade read that focuses on ice skating, navigating friendships, and racism. Highly recommend to young readers!

[Jana Henderson (Reviews from the Stacks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You shouldn't be mean to get back at a bully, but other than that, there are so many things to love about The Comeback! There are a lot of Easter egg moments about figure skating, too; my favorite is the fact that at the beginning of each chapter is a picture of a girl skating, and throughout the book Maxine mentions the elements of her programs - and they are the poses and actions! It's a nice touch.

[Carin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxine's family moved to way upstate New York, to Lake Placid, where she's the only Chinese-American kid at her school, and where there are multiple world-class level skating facilities and instructors, thanks to Lake Placid having hosted the Winter Olympics way before Maxine was born. Maxine practices hard every day and she's determined to master the next trick in her skating repertoire.

She and her best friend have grown apart, but that's not presented as a tragedy which is nice. A new girl at the rink, Hollie, at first seems like fierce competition for Maxine, but eventually they become friends. The titular comeback in question is what Maxine should say to this horrid boy at school next time he makes a racist remark to her. The book's description describes the events as "micro-aggressions" but there's nothing micro about these--they're pretty obvious. So Maxine and Hollie come up with some harsh but true comebacks, and next time she's bullied, she's prepared and attacks right back. The bully, naturally, is shocked by this turn of events and Maxine standing up for herself.

You don't have to know anything about skating to enjoy this book. I really liked the friendship between Maxine and Hollie, who is relatively shy and homeschooled, so not a traditional school-based friendship like you normally see at this age. And it's a great message about clapping back and not just accepting being bullied. I wish at her age someone had helped me come up with a comeback or two instead of just spouting off the useless advice to "ignore them and they'll stop" (NO THEY WON'T.) It also just would have been nice to have an approach that was proactive instead of just defensive. I hope Maxine grows up to be a strong young woman mentally as well as physically.

[Amber Grell]

The Comeback by E. L. Shen
4.5/5

Maxine Chen is a 12-year-old Chinese American competitive figure skater with dreams of the Olympics. Navigating middle school is already tough, but when racism at school intensifies, it deepens Maxine’s insecurities both at school and on the ice. When Hollie, a more talented figure skater, moves to town, Maxine feels threatened and sees Hollie as only a rival. However, once Maxine begins to realize that friendship is a powerful tool on and off the ice, her confidence begins to soar.

This book was heavy on figure skating references, both in technical terms and figure skating legends—from Michelle Kwan to Nathan Chen. As a figure skating fan, I was delighted! I think if you weren’t familiar with figure skating, it would feel overwhelming at times; however, for those young readers who are in skating, want to be in skating, or like watching skating, this book is enchanting.

This novel dealt with bullying, racism, body image, insecurities, loneliness, and school-life balance. Maxine faces horrific macro aggressions and racism that are heartbreakingly common and need to be shown, but it never felt too mature for a middle grade audience. Also, I appreciated that we explored why Maxine was hesitant to reach out for help from adults, but in the end, she understands that these are people who love and support her and will always protect her.

My absolute favorite thing, though, is how the story emphasized the importance of friendship and showcased how befriending and rooting for your competition is a healthier alternative to creating rivals and hatefulness. Cheering for Maxine and Hollie was the easiest choice a reader could make. I highly recommend this read to middle grade readers (typically ages 8-12) and cannot wait to see what E. L. Shen does next.

[Sirah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maxine is training with the hopes of one day becoming an Olympic figure skater, which doesn't leave much time for school or a social life. This becomes a problem when one boy decides to bully her for being Chinese American, which totally throws Max off her rhythm. She's tired of freezing up at the wrong moment, so when a new friend suggests she think of some good comebacks, Maxine is ready to stop the bullying for good, even if she has to hurt a few feelings to get there.

I really liked the figure skating moments in this book, and it was sweet watching Max and Holly come to understand one another. I think I've mentioned before that I'm not really in the mood for middle school drama, and while the bullying and social problems were dealt with well in this book, I hated having to cringe alongside Max when her tormentor said really inappropriate things. Maybe I'm just not meant for contemporary fiction?

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Comeback may harken some darker themes, but it remains a light-hearted, feel-good story for any child who loves ice skating. Maxine is a funny and relatable main character. She's not perfect, for she can be mean, but she has the ability to understand her actions were wrong and correct them. The story discusses racist bullying and the importance of voicing your concerns. Shen manages to teach character lessons - not only moral, but others as well - without being preachy or annoying. It is woven gracefully into the story, and one would never even realize it is there.

Content Warnings: Racism/bullying

[Kary H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. The Comeback is an OwnVoices middle grade novel that tells the story of Maxine Chen, a competitive figure skater. Maxine is on the verge of making it to the national scene when Hollie, a more talented figure skater, moves to Maxine’s Lake Placid hometown. The rivalry-turned-friendship aspect of the plot is so well-handled, as is the racism and bullying Maxine endures from a classmate. I loved the way E.L. Shen uses real-life Asian and Asian-American figure skaters as inspiration to and support for Maxine: Nathan Chen, Yuna Kim, Kristi Yamaguchi, to name a few. What I loved even more, though, was this sports-themed book featuring a strong female protagonist facing more than just her on-ice battles and achieving much more than any medal.

[ECH · Rating 4 out of 5]

So there's this obvious sort of disney channel ice girls feel
That a lot of this stuff has
And it definitely scratches that itch.
The racism content was more intense than I expected for this grade level
And it got me thinking about being a teacher
And what goes on behind my back
And what students might hide because involving me would make it worse
And how does that get fixed

Other things I've read/watched about this
Snack Time with MacKids: The Comeback with E. L. Shen (this is a reading)
The Kircus Review

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Comeback follows sixth grader Maxine Chen as she deals with training for her sport (figure skating), schoolwork, changes in friend groups, bullying, and how/what/if she should tell her parents. She deals with self criticism after the school bully ridicules her face and her ethnicity asking her to prove her worth by cheating on a math quiz! She refuses, but his words shake her to her core.

Then, a new girls moves into town and she crushes skating—the one place where Maxine didn’t feel quite so inadequate. How will she deal now?

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxine doesn’t feel like an average Mirror Lake Middle School student. Not only is she training on the early mornings before school and afternoons afterward, but she’s also the only Chinese American face in a mostly White student body. With regionals just a few weeks away, things seems to be heating up everywhere she turns.

[Ris Sasaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

Even though this was pretty young for me, I still truly enjoyed all the topics that were discussed and handled in this book such as racism, friendship and the problems that people face in competitive sports.
Overall, a really important read for young audiences, especially southeast asian ones.