Sugar and Ice

( 22 )

Overview

For Claire Boucher, life is all about skating on the frozen cow pond and working at her family's maple farm. But when a professional skating coach offers Claire a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with the elite skaters in Lake Placid, she's tossed into a competitive world of mean girls on ice. Can Claire find the strength to stand up to those who want her to fail?

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Sugar and Ice

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More About This Book

Overview

For Claire Boucher, life is all about skating on the frozen cow pond and working at her family's maple farm. But when a professional skating coach offers Claire a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with the elite skaters in Lake Placid, she's tossed into a competitive world of mean girls on ice. Can Claire find the strength to stand up to those who want her to fail?

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Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature - Nancy Baumann
From skating on a cow pond in Mojimuk Falls to the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, Claire Boucher finds herself thrust into an elite skating world that is her dream. However dreams never reveal how difficult competition will be or how training, travel and schoolwork leave no time for a life or her best friend. By winning the prestigious Silver Blades Scholarship, Claire learns many valuable life and skating lessons. Skating's version of a "Mean Girls" clique torments Claire and several other skaters through intimidation, dirty tricks, and hurtful gossip. One talented skater quits and another learns to stay under the clique's radar but Claire is determined to do her best. Her family is making large sacrifices for her to skate so she must do her part. Claire slowly moves up in the skating rankings with the help of a sports psychologist, her coach, her favorite music, and her own inner strength. She learns how to compete. But Claire is also considering what skating has not allowed her to do—maintain her close friendship with Natalie, participate in Math Counts at school, and spend time with her family. When her Silver Blades Scholarship is extended for another year, Claire must make a difficult decision. Tweens will scoop this one up and be back for more novels like this. Messner has created a sensitive and strong character in Claire that readers will admire. Reviewer: Nancy Baumann
School Library Journal
Gr 5–7—Claire Boucher is a busy seventh grader. She not only balances school with the responsibilities of work on her family farm, especially now that the maple sap is running, but also coaches young skaters at the nearby skating school. On the day that this delightful novel opens, she is rushing to get ready for the annual Maple Show. While she's aware that a famous Russian skating coach will be scouting, she is not hopeful that he's there for her. Competition terrifies her. But she lands her double toe loop and is offered a scholarship to the summer program at Lake Placid. But how can Claire ask her already busy parents to make the hour and a half drive three days a week? Does she really want to compete? Is she squandering her incredible talent if she chooses not to accept the offer? Messner has a flair for depicting engaging characters who are imperfect without being quirky. The dialogue between classmates and siblings is realistic, and the intergenerational or extended family relationships are interesting. The author shows the intensity of the world of competitive skating without dwelling on its rough edges, making it accessible not only to tween readers, but also to those who might have Olympic aspirations. There's a neat little twist in the plot and an ending that is sure to both surprise and resonate.—Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ
Kirkus Reviews
Claire Boucher's life revolves around ice skating, whether she's on the cow pond or the local rink in her hometown of Mojimuk Falls, N.Y. Although she isa gifted skater, 12-year-old Claire does not like competing. When her talent landsher a prestigious Silver Blades Scholarship, a highly selective and gruelingprogram that prepares skaters for elite competition, she has to ask herself, is this what she truly wants? Messner's real-life experience as the mother of a competitive skater is evident in her skillful portrayal of the sport's demands. The story follows Claire through eight months of intensive training that leaves her little time for family, friends and relaxation. Claire's self-doubt and inner turmoil over whether to continue with the Silver Blades after her scholarship ends is both realistic and sensitively depicted. The solidarity among some of the skaters is nicely contrasted with the mind games and meanness of others. The addition of a light romance and the satisfying conclusion will appeal to those who have skating fantasies of their own, despite the childish cover art. (Fiction. 8-12)
Mary Quattlebaum
Messner creates believable tensions among characters and especially within the main character…Contemporary kids, a-whirl in extracurriculars, will be able to relate to likable Claire. They will cheer her through double axels, difficult decisions and a number of surprising turns in the final chapters.
—The Washington Post
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780802720818
  • Publisher: Walker & Company
  • Publication date: 12/7/2010
  • Pages: 288
  • Sales rank: 815,206
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: 710L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.60 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Kate Messner

Kate Messner is the author of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. She teaches junior high in New York, where she lives with her husband and two children.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 22 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(19)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

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1 Star

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 22 Customer Reviews

  • Posted June 13, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo

    Claire has so much going on with her skating, coaching young skaters, school work, working on her family's farm, and hanging out with her friends. One day, all that changes when a famous Russian coach sees her skate at the annual Maple Show. She lands a double toe loop, impressing him greatly. He offers her a scholarship to skate at the school in Lake Placid for the summer. Claire can't believe it. She almost doesn't take the scholarship. The drive is long, and the maple sap is just starting to run, making it the busiest time of year on the farm. She's afraid she'll miss out on all of the summer fun. Plus, she's terrified of competing. But Claire can't let fear dominate her life. The camp isn't what she expected. Claire loves skating. She loves the feel of the ice, and she loves the way the music makes her move. But she's not expecting the crazy intense schedule. She's not expecting sabotage from her teammates. And she's not expecting all the pressure from her coach. Can she overcome all the odds and prove herself to everyone? An entertaining, in-depth look at the skating world - where mean girls, intense schedules, and self-doubt fill the locker room. I enjoyed watching Claire's transformation, her fight for her own place, and her struggle to find herself. The skating scenes transported me to the ice, right next to Claire.

    6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2011

    One of my favorite books!

    I'm nine years old and I will recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure & fun. A girl named Claire loves to skate, so just by doing a show she gets picked by a man to train with him & go to the finals. Clare has many fun adventures on her journey and she gets an enemy quick.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 31, 2011

    Great book :-)

    This is a great book. It has a lot of detail and some very emotional parts. I reccomend this book to anyone who loves to skate!!! This book is awesome!!!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 5, 2011

    magnifecnt book by anonymous

    as sweet as sugar cute story full of adventure and heartwarming chapters.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 26, 2011

    Very peaceful.

    Very detailed and peaceful.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 18, 2012

    Sugar and ice by news reporter angel bixler

    Word around the nook is sugar and ice is THE BEST BOOK EVER OMG LOVING IT

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted November 29, 2010

    the best book ever!

    I cant wait to get this book!! I'm looking forward to the book signing! Just the description held my attention!

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 3, 2013

    Huegjcebkce

    I am a free style 1 in figure skating.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 21, 2013

    D

    Okay.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 17, 2013

    Best book ever

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 8, 2012

    The Best

    Best book i have ever read!!!!!
    GET IT NOW

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 23, 2012

    To figure skating

    I also figure skate. What level are you are you a free styler?

    0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 11, 2012

    Grest book

    This book is really great personally for me its great causebof the setting and me myself love iceskating. So i think it will also be a good book for winter.

    Your friend rq

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 17, 2012

    Read it

    I read this book like 7 times. It is great. I don't figure skate but I speed skate. In fact, I just went to the Pettit yesterday. I really like ice skatig. I so recommend this book. This review was written by the mouse! Bye (you have to read this)

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 2, 2012

    Figure skating

    I am a competitive figure skater so i absolutley love this book i can totally relate to claire and her life even if you dont figure skate this is still a great read

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 29, 2012

    Luv it 2 much

    A fave

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 19, 2012

    Sugar and ice

    Sugar n ice is a good book about skating of course and i read this book at my school

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 3, 2011

    The previe is AWSOm THE PREVIEW IS AWSOME

    Best book so far it is so entresting

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 29, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 22 Customer Reviews
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