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Sugar and Ice
For Claire Boucher, life is all about skating on the frozen cow pond and in the annual Maple Show right before the big pancake breakfast on her family's farm. But all that changes when Russian skating coach Andrei Grosheva offers Claire a scholarship to train with the elite in Lake Placid. Tossed into a world of mean girls on ice, where competition is everything, Claire realizes that her sweet dream come true has sharper edges than she could have imagined. Can she find the strength to stand up to the people who want to see her fail and the courage to decide which dream she wants to follow?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 7, 2010
19 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Kate Messner
110 books1,670 followersKate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
November 4, 2010
They say to write what you know. We’ve all heard that line. It’s bounced about countless writing groups. But there’s an unspoken rule amongst children that’s as pervasive as it is harmful: Read what you know. If you’re a soccer fan, only read soccer books. If you like ballet, get a whole bunch of ballet books. Librarians, teachers, and parents can spend countless hours fighting against the sometimes innate understanding some children have acquired that dictates that they can’t read about anything outside of the realm of their own (limited) experience. This might be understandable if you were dealing with a writer that played by his or her own rules and failed to let child readers in on the fun, but it’s absolutely ridiculous when you’re dealing with a book like Kate Messner’s Sugar and Ice. Authors that commit to creating worlds that are outside the experience of your average everyday kid and yet are accessible enough for ALL children to enjoy are rare, but they’re out there. Sugar and Ice is out there. And you don’t have to be a fan of ice skating, Fibonacci, beekeeping, or sugar tapping to enjoy it (though it probably wouldn’t hurt if you were).
For Claire Boucher life is pretty simple. Practice skating on the local cow pond. Help out at the small ice skating rink when possible. And for fun, do a segment during the local competition’s Maple Festival. All that changes when Claire’s routine for fun catches the eye of big-time muckety muck trainer Andrei Groshev. Groshev has a deal for Claire. He’s offering her a scholarship to train with other students like herself for huge ice skating competitions. In return, Claire will have to sacrifice the life she’s always known. Not a natural competitor, Claire accepts then almost immediately wonders what she’s gotten herself into. Most of the kids are nice, but some are jealous of her talent. She hardly has time to do schoolwork as well as training, and worst of all someone is sabotaging her equipment and confidence. In the end, Claire needs to determine if she’s got what it takes to be a serious contender, or if she’s just gonna go back to her cow pond and forget any of this ever happened.
Let’s go back to what I was saying earlier about authors who commit to distinct, one-of-a-kind worlds. In the case of this particular book, Ms. Messner has brought the world of competitive ice skating to real and vibrant life. I think a lot of kids have shared in the experience of watching ice skaters during the Olympics leap, and often fall, in their attempts to nab the gold. There's a very real drama there. But even if you’re dealing with a child who has only the haziest understand of ice skating, Claire’s life is going to ring true for them. That’s because Ms. Messner commits to the bit. She’s going to use emotional situations that everyone can relate to and then work in real facts about skating in the gaps. The result is that even though I don’t know a triple lutz from a double axel, I can follow this story. The result is that the reader gets the same experience they would have if they read something like Jane Smiley’s The Georges and the Jewels about horse training. You don’t have to know, or even be interested in, the material when things start. What’s important is that the author takes a hold of your heart from the beginning and doesn't let go. Messner does this beautifully.
Such writing usually begins with a main character you can believe in. Claire Boucher’s voice is written in the first person throughout this story. Claire is the kind of girl who doesn’t like professional competition, so right there Messner had the goal of keeping Claire from sounding whiny. This is a difficult thing to do. If your protagonist has to overcome an obstacle and they keep talking about it, the danger is that your readership is going to get fed up with her and throw the book against a wall. Fortunately for everyone, Ms. Messner makes you really like Claire long before her insecurities take hold. She even works in little details about Claire that affect your view of her, like the fact that what really gets our heroine’s blood running hot is skating to the Indiana Jones theme song. I appreciate the non-girlyness of that choice. It’s a kickin’ sequence and you feel a little jolt of hope after it’s done.
As I read the story, I was fascinated to find that I expected everything to have been wrapped up on page 186. This is partly because I didn’t really realize that the book is part journey, part mystery. Booktalkers of this title might want to play up the mystery aspect when selling it to kids. I mean somebody is messing up Claire’s outfits and doing everything possible to keep her from competing. The fact that Claire points the finger at the wrong person for much of this book is just a red herring. The real culprit is far sneakier. I’d love to interview some kid after they read this book to see if any of them guessed the identity of the real bad guy.
Librarians reading the book will appreciate the references to everything from School House Rock to Hattie Big Sky. Kids reading the book will appreciate that the author knows how to speak to more than just ice skating fans. Don’t get me wrong... for fans of ice skating this book is nothing short of a dream come true. If I don’t see a copy of this book in every single ice skater’s gym bag by the end of December I will eat my proverbial hat. But there’s a lot of rich writing at work here, above and beyond the obvious plot elements. It’s got a relatable heroine, three-dimensional villains, a rags to riches element, some convincingly exhausting sequences, and an ending that will probably catch a couple folks by surprise, both in terms of the villain’s reveal and the heroine’s final decision. Publishers like to bandy about the term “strong middle grade” to describe books, but it’s not always accurate. Consider this book, then, a definite contender in the “strong middle grade” ring. A title that remains in your mind long after you’ve put it down.
For ages 9-12.
For Claire Boucher life is pretty simple. Practice skating on the local cow pond. Help out at the small ice skating rink when possible. And for fun, do a segment during the local competition’s Maple Festival. All that changes when Claire’s routine for fun catches the eye of big-time muckety muck trainer Andrei Groshev. Groshev has a deal for Claire. He’s offering her a scholarship to train with other students like herself for huge ice skating competitions. In return, Claire will have to sacrifice the life she’s always known. Not a natural competitor, Claire accepts then almost immediately wonders what she’s gotten herself into. Most of the kids are nice, but some are jealous of her talent. She hardly has time to do schoolwork as well as training, and worst of all someone is sabotaging her equipment and confidence. In the end, Claire needs to determine if she’s got what it takes to be a serious contender, or if she’s just gonna go back to her cow pond and forget any of this ever happened.
Let’s go back to what I was saying earlier about authors who commit to distinct, one-of-a-kind worlds. In the case of this particular book, Ms. Messner has brought the world of competitive ice skating to real and vibrant life. I think a lot of kids have shared in the experience of watching ice skaters during the Olympics leap, and often fall, in their attempts to nab the gold. There's a very real drama there. But even if you’re dealing with a child who has only the haziest understand of ice skating, Claire’s life is going to ring true for them. That’s because Ms. Messner commits to the bit. She’s going to use emotional situations that everyone can relate to and then work in real facts about skating in the gaps. The result is that even though I don’t know a triple lutz from a double axel, I can follow this story. The result is that the reader gets the same experience they would have if they read something like Jane Smiley’s The Georges and the Jewels about horse training. You don’t have to know, or even be interested in, the material when things start. What’s important is that the author takes a hold of your heart from the beginning and doesn't let go. Messner does this beautifully.
Such writing usually begins with a main character you can believe in. Claire Boucher’s voice is written in the first person throughout this story. Claire is the kind of girl who doesn’t like professional competition, so right there Messner had the goal of keeping Claire from sounding whiny. This is a difficult thing to do. If your protagonist has to overcome an obstacle and they keep talking about it, the danger is that your readership is going to get fed up with her and throw the book against a wall. Fortunately for everyone, Ms. Messner makes you really like Claire long before her insecurities take hold. She even works in little details about Claire that affect your view of her, like the fact that what really gets our heroine’s blood running hot is skating to the Indiana Jones theme song. I appreciate the non-girlyness of that choice. It’s a kickin’ sequence and you feel a little jolt of hope after it’s done.
As I read the story, I was fascinated to find that I expected everything to have been wrapped up on page 186. This is partly because I didn’t really realize that the book is part journey, part mystery. Booktalkers of this title might want to play up the mystery aspect when selling it to kids. I mean somebody is messing up Claire’s outfits and doing everything possible to keep her from competing. The fact that Claire points the finger at the wrong person for much of this book is just a red herring. The real culprit is far sneakier. I’d love to interview some kid after they read this book to see if any of them guessed the identity of the real bad guy.
Librarians reading the book will appreciate the references to everything from School House Rock to Hattie Big Sky. Kids reading the book will appreciate that the author knows how to speak to more than just ice skating fans. Don’t get me wrong... for fans of ice skating this book is nothing short of a dream come true. If I don’t see a copy of this book in every single ice skater’s gym bag by the end of December I will eat my proverbial hat. But there’s a lot of rich writing at work here, above and beyond the obvious plot elements. It’s got a relatable heroine, three-dimensional villains, a rags to riches element, some convincingly exhausting sequences, and an ending that will probably catch a couple folks by surprise, both in terms of the villain’s reveal and the heroine’s final decision. Publishers like to bandy about the term “strong middle grade” to describe books, but it’s not always accurate. Consider this book, then, a definite contender in the “strong middle grade” ring. A title that remains in your mind long after you’ve put it down.
For ages 9-12.
March 17, 2019
On the whole, I really enjoyed Claire's story It's not my usual fare but I thought it was engaging and interesting. I loved learning more about the skating world and the side elements were fun, too, like Claire's family's maple syrup farm and her friend Natalie's beekeeping or Claire's interest in mathematics and her project of Fibonacci.
Even though I never skated much myself, I felt that I could relate to a lot of what Claire was going through because of my background in ballet. I know what it's like to have a tough instructor/coach, how it feels to love what you're doing but not want to miss out on what a typical adolescence has to offer, the pressure of comparing yourself to others, and how the "fun" can be sucked out of it when things get too competitive or you're being judged. I still remember the amazing, enlightening experience of going to the Cecchetti International Summer School when I was sixteen and working with other dancers and instructors from around the world. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was not gifted with Claire's natural talent and, while I was a good dancer, my body simply would never allow me to be a great dancer no matter how hard I tried. So, I knew the professional dancer's life was not for me. And, even if I had been able to do it, I don't think I would have. I never had that complete, burning passion to dance and only dance--too many other aspects of life intrigued me. So, I could relate to Claire's struggle over what she wanted to do with her talent and her scholarship.
That said, at times she did annoy me and I felt like she was not taking her scholarship seriously enough or really appreciating the opportunity that she was given (and that, by it being given to her, another aspiring skater who really, really would have poured her whole heart into it was denied). I get that, in some ways, the book was about Claire finding her strength, overcoming her nerves, speaking up for herself. I appreciate that. I know she's just thirteen. I just kind of felt that she knew enough about the skating world ahead of time that she should have known what she was getting into and not make rookie mistakes like only bringing one pair of tights (always bring two, one is bound to snag!) or forgetting her gloves or her music. In some ways, I think the story would have been stronger if she was just some raw talent spotted skating on the frozen cow pond and not someone who had already done some competitions and was teaching little skaters and things like that.
I don't really love "mean girls" stories and this had a bit of that, though fortunately it was not the main focus. Again, I'm not sure I was 100% loving the resolution there but I do appreciate that the author showed a variety of young skaters and that not all of them were mean and spiteful and jealous and that some were really nice and encouraging of their fellow skaters. I also liked that, while the rigors of skating at that level were hard on Claire, we saw other skaters who thrived in that environment and really loved it. I loved the parts on sports psychology and the tips provided are great for anyone, not just athletes. I think the ultimate message of being comfortable with who you are and with finding your own dream, owning it, and pursuing that are very good. I was kept guessing to the end on whether Claire would continue to pursue skating or go back to a more normal life with MATHCOUNTS and slumber parties and lazy summers with her friends. On one hand, the suspense was fun. On the other, I felt we ought to know Claire better and have a clearer idea of what she would do.
Even though I never skated much myself, I felt that I could relate to a lot of what Claire was going through because of my background in ballet. I know what it's like to have a tough instructor/coach, how it feels to love what you're doing but not want to miss out on what a typical adolescence has to offer, the pressure of comparing yourself to others, and how the "fun" can be sucked out of it when things get too competitive or you're being judged. I still remember the amazing, enlightening experience of going to the Cecchetti International Summer School when I was sixteen and working with other dancers and instructors from around the world. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was not gifted with Claire's natural talent and, while I was a good dancer, my body simply would never allow me to be a great dancer no matter how hard I tried. So, I knew the professional dancer's life was not for me. And, even if I had been able to do it, I don't think I would have. I never had that complete, burning passion to dance and only dance--too many other aspects of life intrigued me. So, I could relate to Claire's struggle over what she wanted to do with her talent and her scholarship.
That said, at times she did annoy me and I felt like she was not taking her scholarship seriously enough or really appreciating the opportunity that she was given (and that, by it being given to her, another aspiring skater who really, really would have poured her whole heart into it was denied). I get that, in some ways, the book was about Claire finding her strength, overcoming her nerves, speaking up for herself. I appreciate that. I know she's just thirteen. I just kind of felt that she knew enough about the skating world ahead of time that she should have known what she was getting into and not make rookie mistakes like only bringing one pair of tights (always bring two, one is bound to snag!) or forgetting her gloves or her music. In some ways, I think the story would have been stronger if she was just some raw talent spotted skating on the frozen cow pond and not someone who had already done some competitions and was teaching little skaters and things like that.
I don't really love "mean girls" stories and this had a bit of that, though fortunately it was not the main focus. Again, I'm not sure I was 100% loving the resolution there but I do appreciate that the author showed a variety of young skaters and that not all of them were mean and spiteful and jealous and that some were really nice and encouraging of their fellow skaters. I also liked that, while the rigors of skating at that level were hard on Claire, we saw other skaters who thrived in that environment and really loved it. I loved the parts on sports psychology and the tips provided are great for anyone, not just athletes. I think the ultimate message of being comfortable with who you are and with finding your own dream, owning it, and pursuing that are very good. I was kept guessing to the end on whether Claire would continue to pursue skating or go back to a more normal life with MATHCOUNTS and slumber parties and lazy summers with her friends. On one hand, the suspense was fun. On the other, I felt we ought to know Claire better and have a clearer idea of what she would do.
September 11, 2022
Overall, I enjoyed this book! Especially with the maple sugar aspect to it, since that's something my family does. :D But the writing style was quite childish, despite it being meant for upper-MG, and the characters. . .were less than developed. But despite those things, it was a great book!
May 1, 2010
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Kate Messner's new novel, Sugar and Ice, while at the IRA conference in Chicago. I got it on Monday and began reading it immediately. I was so taken by the main character, Claire that I ended up staying up until the early hours of the morning to finish.
Claire is the kind of student I love having in class. A good friend, interested in school (especially math), and kind to her family. She is lucky enough to receive a scholarship to train at Lake Placid for ice skating. This will create a bit of a hardship on her family to get her to practices but she takes it on.
I loved the concentration on what Claire would have to give up for this life, the contrast of life before joining the elite skaters and after. I have a student studying gymnastics at this level and she's doing a beautiful job balancing her life, but this will still be a terrific book for her to connect to.
I could also tell that Kate is a teacher from the way she writes the dialog for the kids in the novel. They relate to each other just as I hear my students interact at recess or whenever they believe I am not listening. In Claire and her friends they will see themselves, which will make them want to read the book. I know this will be a favorite in my class for years to come.
Claire is the kind of student I love having in class. A good friend, interested in school (especially math), and kind to her family. She is lucky enough to receive a scholarship to train at Lake Placid for ice skating. This will create a bit of a hardship on her family to get her to practices but she takes it on.
I loved the concentration on what Claire would have to give up for this life, the contrast of life before joining the elite skaters and after. I have a student studying gymnastics at this level and she's doing a beautiful job balancing her life, but this will still be a terrific book for her to connect to.
I could also tell that Kate is a teacher from the way she writes the dialog for the kids in the novel. They relate to each other just as I hear my students interact at recess or whenever they believe I am not listening. In Claire and her friends they will see themselves, which will make them want to read the book. I know this will be a favorite in my class for years to come.
January 16, 2011
A convincingly told story about a 7th grader who unexpectedly earns a scholarship for intensive figure skating training at Lake Placid. In addition to the physical and mental challenges that accompany such athletic dedication, the author does not ignore the challenges this training has on Claire's schoolwork, friendships, health and on her and other competitors' families. Fans of figure skating will certainly enjoy it. I especially liked how the author portrayed mean girls but also portrayed outgoing friendly skaters who did befriend Claire. I plan to pass this along to my nieces later today.
April 24, 2011
I'm not gonna do a "A thrilling story of..." like I did for Skate School, because this one was actually pretty good.
It was about Claire Boucher's troubles as she is selected to train at a rink with a really good coach. There are girls who are mean to her, her coach expects her to be better than she is, and she barely ever sees her best friend.
You identify with the characters more than Skate School, and it's far more realistic. There is a "How many revolutions?" scenario about half way through, but it's between a single and a double, which is more likely than a triple.
Also, the mean girls here are REALLY mean. Not just teasing her every now and again, but pouring nail polish over her stuff, ripping up (and ruining) her cousin's skating dress and teasing one girl to a point where she changes rinks. And there is a double agent. No there's not, but there is a girl who pretends to be Claire's friend, she's always there whenever the other girls are cruel, but then turns out to be the one doing everything.
Both the coaches at Skate School and in Sugar and Ice are tough and strict, but Madame Von Berne (Skate School coach) is weird in a way that Andrei Groshev (Sugar and Ice coach) isn't. She goes into weird dazes where she isn't strict anymore, and of course the reason she didn't win the Olympics was because there was a boy on her mind. Grosev is always strict, and he has strange techniques. When Frankie is doing badly, she is let off and told to relax or to do better. Claire is told not to jump for two weeks when her jumps are wrong. Claire also goes to see Kalina, who helps her figure out what is going on in her brain that makes it hard for her to skate.
Skate School starts off by saying that Frankie has a best friend in the UK, Rosie, but besides one or two emails, Rosie is completely forgotten by the third book. Claire's best friend Natalie, however, is not forgotten. They still go to the same school, but after school Claire is rushed to the rink every day, and doesn't ever spend time with Natalie. She, naturally, gets angry and they end up falling out.
At the end, Claire decides she is not cut out for skating. She understands that she has great figure skating talent, but she would prefer run the toddlers skating lessons at the weekend, and have milkshake nights with Natalie. She still skates for fun and in shows at her local rink (not the big, fancy rink Groshev was at) and enjoys watching skating.
It was about Claire Boucher's troubles as she is selected to train at a rink with a really good coach. There are girls who are mean to her, her coach expects her to be better than she is, and she barely ever sees her best friend.
You identify with the characters more than Skate School, and it's far more realistic. There is a "How many revolutions?" scenario about half way through, but it's between a single and a double, which is more likely than a triple.
Also, the mean girls here are REALLY mean. Not just teasing her every now and again, but pouring nail polish over her stuff, ripping up (and ruining) her cousin's skating dress and teasing one girl to a point where she changes rinks. And there is a double agent. No there's not, but there is a girl who pretends to be Claire's friend, she's always there whenever the other girls are cruel, but then turns out to be the one doing everything.
Both the coaches at Skate School and in Sugar and Ice are tough and strict, but Madame Von Berne (Skate School coach) is weird in a way that Andrei Groshev (Sugar and Ice coach) isn't. She goes into weird dazes where she isn't strict anymore, and of course the reason she didn't win the Olympics was because there was a boy on her mind. Grosev is always strict, and he has strange techniques. When Frankie is doing badly, she is let off and told to relax or to do better. Claire is told not to jump for two weeks when her jumps are wrong. Claire also goes to see Kalina, who helps her figure out what is going on in her brain that makes it hard for her to skate.
Skate School starts off by saying that Frankie has a best friend in the UK, Rosie, but besides one or two emails, Rosie is completely forgotten by the third book. Claire's best friend Natalie, however, is not forgotten. They still go to the same school, but after school Claire is rushed to the rink every day, and doesn't ever spend time with Natalie. She, naturally, gets angry and they end up falling out.
At the end, Claire decides she is not cut out for skating. She understands that she has great figure skating talent, but she would prefer run the toddlers skating lessons at the weekend, and have milkshake nights with Natalie. She still skates for fun and in shows at her local rink (not the big, fancy rink Groshev was at) and enjoys watching skating.
December 19, 2010
If all middle grade were written as well as this, I think I just might read middle grade forever. Kate Messner’s second novel is just as fun, heartfelt, and engrossing as her first. It sent me in ecstacies of delight over how much I loved it!
I don’t know much about either collecting sap or ice-skating, but SUGAR AND ICE made me wish I were Claire. She is a delightful protagonist, full of love for her friends, family, and passion, but also young enough to experience the vulnerabilities of dealing with new situations. Her love for ice-skating is so inspiring—Kate Messner describes the skating scenes beautifully—that when she is knocked down by the cutthroat attitude of the ice-skating world, it breaks your heart. I constantly wanted to reach into the book and help Claire out a little: no, don’t listen to that girl, she’s just jealous of you! Skate for yourself and forget about how others might be judging you!
Supporting characters are colorful and varied. In particular, Tasanee, Claire’s good training friend, is Asian, and likes to read popular paranormal YA. I dare you to go into this book and try to figure out which books she reads. So the friends are well-developed, but the mean girls, to my delight, are, too. There’s a reason why people turn out mean, and in SUGAR AND ICE we see the different ways that meanness can exert itself, and what drives the girls to desperate measures.
Overall, SUGAR AND ICE is just so wonderfully heartwarming and real. It will remind you of the best and worst of middle-grade girls without the pettiness that sometimes crops up in this age group. Readers of all ages will fall in love with Claire and Kate Messner’s writing!
I don’t know much about either collecting sap or ice-skating, but SUGAR AND ICE made me wish I were Claire. She is a delightful protagonist, full of love for her friends, family, and passion, but also young enough to experience the vulnerabilities of dealing with new situations. Her love for ice-skating is so inspiring—Kate Messner describes the skating scenes beautifully—that when she is knocked down by the cutthroat attitude of the ice-skating world, it breaks your heart. I constantly wanted to reach into the book and help Claire out a little: no, don’t listen to that girl, she’s just jealous of you! Skate for yourself and forget about how others might be judging you!
Supporting characters are colorful and varied. In particular, Tasanee, Claire’s good training friend, is Asian, and likes to read popular paranormal YA. I dare you to go into this book and try to figure out which books she reads. So the friends are well-developed, but the mean girls, to my delight, are, too. There’s a reason why people turn out mean, and in SUGAR AND ICE we see the different ways that meanness can exert itself, and what drives the girls to desperate measures.
Overall, SUGAR AND ICE is just so wonderfully heartwarming and real. It will remind you of the best and worst of middle-grade girls without the pettiness that sometimes crops up in this age group. Readers of all ages will fall in love with Claire and Kate Messner’s writing!
December 25, 2021
This is light reading. The conflict presented is also interesting and revolves around the world of ice skating. There are some scenes that piss you off because they remind you of your teenage years (if you read them like I was growing up. Haha) and about friendship.
I like Claire's character who was previously like a naive girl and couldn't voice what she wanted, her character has grown to be more courageous and can determine what her dreams are. She finally learned something from the competitions. Claire found what she wanted after going through a process that made her anxious and frustrated. It was precisely because of that process that she found the answer she had been looking for all along.
This book is interesting to read in winter with a glass of milk tea that accompanies you.
I like Claire's character who was previously like a naive girl and couldn't voice what she wanted, her character has grown to be more courageous and can determine what her dreams are. She finally learned something from the competitions. Claire found what she wanted after going through a process that made her anxious and frustrated. It was precisely because of that process that she found the answer she had been looking for all along.
This book is interesting to read in winter with a glass of milk tea that accompanies you.
August 3, 2020
This takes place in Lake Placid, NY. It's about ice skating and competition and change. There is also maple tapping and beekeeping and math. I was surprised by the ending of the mystery, but I wasn't surprised by the main character's decision. I had hoped things would have gone a bit differently, though. It was still a cute story.
February 16, 2020
SUGAR AND ICE is much too heavy handed for me to recommend to any middle grade readers, even younger ones.
February 5, 2011
This book was described to me as mean girls on ice. And it is, but it is also so much more.
The main character Claire is from a small town in New York and loves to skate for fun when, at a show, a Russian coach from Lake Placid offers her a scholarship to train at the Olympic Center. This could change Claire's life, which is why she accepts. This acceptance leads to great sacrifice though- friendships, family time, school, etc. Is it worth it? And on top of that, some of the girls at the center are ultracompetitive and have not welcomed Claire. Will the pressure get to her?
This book has such a great middle school girl protagonist. She is smart, athletic, friendly, and family oriented. Anyone would love for their daughter/student to look up to Claire.
Also, Kate has such a way with words! Many times I worry about books that have snow, skating, etc. as part of the story, because here in Florida most of my students haven't even seen snow. Kate makes it so it doesn't matter- her words are so vivid and descriptive that anyone will be able to see what she is talking about. Beautifully done!
The main character Claire is from a small town in New York and loves to skate for fun when, at a show, a Russian coach from Lake Placid offers her a scholarship to train at the Olympic Center. This could change Claire's life, which is why she accepts. This acceptance leads to great sacrifice though- friendships, family time, school, etc. Is it worth it? And on top of that, some of the girls at the center are ultracompetitive and have not welcomed Claire. Will the pressure get to her?
This book has such a great middle school girl protagonist. She is smart, athletic, friendly, and family oriented. Anyone would love for their daughter/student to look up to Claire.
Also, Kate has such a way with words! Many times I worry about books that have snow, skating, etc. as part of the story, because here in Florida most of my students haven't even seen snow. Kate makes it so it doesn't matter- her words are so vivid and descriptive that anyone will be able to see what she is talking about. Beautifully done!
December 22, 2010
When Claire receives a scholarship to train as a competitive ice skater, she sacrifices time, friendships, and connections to her life at home. Are these sacrifices worth it? Messner, author of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, creates another marvelous story about an ordinary girl who faces interesting challenges.
February 11, 2015
Kate Messner definitely did her homework with this novel. As a long-time fan of figure skating, there's nothing I hate more than reading or watching figure skating portrayed in a novel, movie, or TV show where the writers know nothing about the sport and didn't bother to learn the terminology and vernacular. Bravo Kate Messner. Oh, and she managed to write a compelling story to boot! :)
August 21, 2011
Engaging story about a middle schooler who gets "an opportunity" to pursue figure skating on a competitive level. Once she enters training, though, she discovers how cut-throat competitive skating can be. Interesting section on sports psychology.
January 1, 2014
I loved this book so much! Even with Christmas and other exciting things going on, I couldn't get my eyes off of the pages! Not only does it relate to me in certain ways, but it encourages people to be smart, strong, and laugh. 5 stars!
January 20, 2015
I thought it was a fabulous and entertaining book. It really opened you up into the world of ice skating. It showed you all the drama and the competitiveness. I recommend this book to anyone if you love ice skating or haven't tried it.
March 24, 2019
I enjoyed this book, and was glad to find that it wasn't completely focused on mean girls and bullying. It was an interesting glimpse into ice skating and competitions, and I liked all the everyday details. I also liked the writing style and overall I enjoyed it a lot
July 1, 2012
This is one of the greatest books EVER written. This author is amazing. I love how she always describes everything so perfectly
March 21, 2017
Cute, and also a little sad sometimes in ways that I'm not sure are entirely intentional. Claire's twelve, and she skates: it's not what she lives for, but lacing up her hand-me-down skates and stepping onto the ice is one of the things that brings joy into her life. Then she's offered a scholarship to do high-level training, and things change in ways she might not have expected. More ice time than she expected, or necessarily wanted. Less time for school and family and friends. Pressure.
There's a moment midway through when Claire's father tells her that their family would make this skating opportunity work even if one of her parents had to quit their job. It's supportive, but it's also (in ways that aren't really addressed in the book) so potentially pressure-making. Generally speaking, it's not Claire's parents putting pressure on her; it's her coach and sometimes her teammates and sometimes her best friend. And her parents definitely fall on the side of 'will do the right thing for their kid'...but I can imagine Claire hearing that and thinking, well, now I have to succeed or I'll let them down.
Ending spoilers:
What a pressure cooker, though. I know some people, some kids, thrive with that sort of expectation and pressure, but...yeah. Sounds difficult.
There's a moment midway through when Claire's father tells her that their family would make this skating opportunity work even if one of her parents had to quit their job. It's supportive, but it's also (in ways that aren't really addressed in the book) so potentially pressure-making. Generally speaking, it's not Claire's parents putting pressure on her; it's her coach and sometimes her teammates and sometimes her best friend. And her parents definitely fall on the side of 'will do the right thing for their kid'...but I can imagine Claire hearing that and thinking, well, now I have to succeed or I'll let them down.
Ending spoilers:
What a pressure cooker, though. I know some people, some kids, thrive with that sort of expectation and pressure, but...yeah. Sounds difficult.
November 25, 2019
A little on the long side taking it out of the running for average readers, but will definitely appeal to girls who love to watch figure skating at the Winter Olympics.
Claire lives a simple life on her family's maple syrup farm, but all that's about to change after she lands a double toe loop at a skating show. The next thing she knows she's being offered a scholarship to train with a Russian coach in Lake Placid. She accepts and that's when her life gets crazy. She barely has time to fit homework into her schedule, let alone time for her friends. On top of that, figure skating competitions can be cutthroat, bringing out the worst in people. While Claire deals with the sabotage directed at her, she tries to keep up, but all the turmoil is affecting her skating. She's no longer landing her jumps. She must learn how to handle the pressure and decide whether the life of a competitive skater is what she really wants.
Lags at times. Editing out 50 pages would have done wonders. There's a twist at the end dealing with the sabotage. You never know who you can trust. It's interesting to see how much top athletes have to give up to be the best. A similar book, which I enjoyed a little bit more, is Breaking the Ice by Gail Nall.
Claire lives a simple life on her family's maple syrup farm, but all that's about to change after she lands a double toe loop at a skating show. The next thing she knows she's being offered a scholarship to train with a Russian coach in Lake Placid. She accepts and that's when her life gets crazy. She barely has time to fit homework into her schedule, let alone time for her friends. On top of that, figure skating competitions can be cutthroat, bringing out the worst in people. While Claire deals with the sabotage directed at her, she tries to keep up, but all the turmoil is affecting her skating. She's no longer landing her jumps. She must learn how to handle the pressure and decide whether the life of a competitive skater is what she really wants.
Lags at times. Editing out 50 pages would have done wonders. There's a twist at the end dealing with the sabotage. You never know who you can trust. It's interesting to see how much top athletes have to give up to be the best. A similar book, which I enjoyed a little bit more, is Breaking the Ice by Gail Nall.
February 27, 2017
Melanie and Angie run a cupcake bakery. Mel's mother askes her to provide cupcakes for a beauty pageant. Mel doesn't want to but it will be good publicity. Mel has a young friend she wants to win the beauty pageant and when the judge that doesn't want her to win is found dead, Mel has to protect her young friend. The off and on of Mel and her boyfriend got old fast and they need to decide, from the ending of the book it won't be soon.
January 30, 2022
Claire is learning at the delicate age of 12-13, that she can trust herself with her decisions; especially those 'decisions-that-set-you-on-a-trajectory'.
Priorities. Boundaries. Proper coaching on and off the ice. Your choice: what is it you REALLY want? Go do that. BE that. And have plenty of family and friends in your daily life to keep you focused, grounded, and, well, to keep you happy.
Priorities. Boundaries. Proper coaching on and off the ice. Your choice: what is it you REALLY want? Go do that. BE that. And have plenty of family and friends in your daily life to keep you focused, grounded, and, well, to keep you happy.
March 24, 2020
Brilliant! This is my third Kate Messner book. Backed by complete research towards every facet of a student athlete (a figure skater here), Messner knows her choice of words. She is my most glorious author that writes about non-fictional lives of coming of age children through fictional platform.
March 20, 2023
In addition to being a story that we felt like we were a part of and did not want to stop reading, I appreciate that it was an insightful read that might help my young daughters (and me!) deal with some important issues in athletics and life. We will be looking for more books by this author!
October 11, 2017
it got really boring after a while
March 23, 2018
Read it to the kids.
January 4, 2019
Great book!
January 28, 2019
Just couldn't get into it and not sure why. Other mother-daughters at book club seemed to enjoy it...I couldn't get myself to finish it.
November 25, 2022
Perfect tale. Fresh look at competitive skating. Claire is a brilliant character.
April 15, 2024
simply nice and inspiring...
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