Competitive Figure Skating for Girls by Kathryn M. Moncrief, K. Moncrief

Christine Amyot - Children's Literature

Another book in the "Sports Girl" series, this cross between nonfiction and reference describes how a person can become a competitive figure skater. It begins with the history of figure skating from the 1700s to the present day. Moncrief describes the basics of figure skating, including equipment needed, choosing a time to skate, the difference in blade types, cost, and maintenance. She then goes on to detail the elements of figure skating, such as the different types of jumps, nutrition, and training off-ice. The "Tests and Competition" section explains the skating competitions in the US and Canada as well as how the competitions are scored. Also included within the book are charts and tables of facts about skating and a glossary of skating terms. Overall, the book is well researched and contains valuable information. However, it is not presented in a child-friendly format. Large portions of text are written in long blocks spanning several pages with very little to break them up. Within those sections, several topics are covered; it would have been appropriate to break the text into smaller sections with titles for each part. Also, the narrative describes figure skating and coaching in a manner that makes it sound fairly simple to complete until one reaches the "Average Yearly Expenses for an Intermediate-Level Competitive Figure Skater;" at

VOYA

These books are very informational and give you a good sense of what the sport is really about. They give you lots of facts and tips about all sorts of things from eating right to good sportsmanship to finding the right coach. I think that they would appeal to a teen reader only if she was doing a report on the sport or was really into the game, because they contain so much information. My suggestions for future additions to the series include field hockey, dance, and lacrosse. Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Charts. Further Reading. Appendix. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2001, Rosen, 64p. PLB $19.95. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer: Kristen Moreland, Teen Reviewer SOURCE: VOYA, February 2002 (Vol. 24, No.6)

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