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A review by spaceonthebookcase
Double Axel or Nothing by Anita Saxena, Anita Saxena
5.0
The author, Anita Saxena, reached out to see if I’d like to read her book, Double Axel or Nothing, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The main character, Ruby Rani, is a typical budding 13 year old. She lacks confidence in herself, believes her family doesn’t value her and struggles with the demands of a competitive sport while maintaining a difficult school schedule. I instantly thought she was relatable and I could draw comparisons to my own daughters, and my own experiences growing up, as I read about Ruby Rani’s story.
The relationship between Ruby Rani and her mother teaches the value of patience, understanding and communication. Ruby Rani assumes a lot and her mother, overburdened by other responsibilities, lets too much go unsaid. The relationship Ruby Rani has with her brother is sweet and adds light bits of humor throughout the story. The character, Coach Karen, was written extremely well and shows what positive coaching should look like to younger readers.
What I appreciated the most out of this book:
Sports psychology was used in a positive way.
It did not venture into female athletes starving themselves to stay thin. This is a theme in this genre and it’s just not healthy.
Ruby Rani’s story encompassed more than just the sport itself. It was well rounded and engaging.
Also, if you’re like me and don’t watch much figure skating outside of the Olympics, the author included a glossary at the end of the book to describe all of the different jumps, turns and tricks mentioned throughout the story.
The main character, Ruby Rani, is a typical budding 13 year old. She lacks confidence in herself, believes her family doesn’t value her and struggles with the demands of a competitive sport while maintaining a difficult school schedule. I instantly thought she was relatable and I could draw comparisons to my own daughters, and my own experiences growing up, as I read about Ruby Rani’s story.
The relationship between Ruby Rani and her mother teaches the value of patience, understanding and communication. Ruby Rani assumes a lot and her mother, overburdened by other responsibilities, lets too much go unsaid. The relationship Ruby Rani has with her brother is sweet and adds light bits of humor throughout the story. The character, Coach Karen, was written extremely well and shows what positive coaching should look like to younger readers.
What I appreciated the most out of this book:
Sports psychology was used in a positive way.
It did not venture into female athletes starving themselves to stay thin. This is a theme in this genre and it’s just not healthy.
Ruby Rani’s story encompassed more than just the sport itself. It was well rounded and engaging.
Also, if you’re like me and don’t watch much figure skating outside of the Olympics, the author included a glossary at the end of the book to describe all of the different jumps, turns and tricks mentioned throughout the story.