On the ice, Mars is at home. Everywhere else, they have to deal with the realities of seventh grade, the recent death of their father, and the knowledge that they’ll never be able to tell him that they’re nonbinary. But when they’re skating, all of that disappears. Here, they’re free to be themself.
Of course, ice skating also requires competing in the girl’s division, something Mars barely considers until they’re challenged by another skater—the new skating partner of their best friend—to see if they can beat him in a real competition. That means Mars competing in the boy’s division, something that would be far less problematic if it didn’t mean keeping so many secrets.
As Mars’s plans to beat the other skater develop, they must reckon not just with their grief and strained friendships but also what it means to be nonbinary in a relentlessly binary world.
In the constant debate about trans kids in sports, particularly youth sports, nonbinary kids are too often forgotten entirely—so when I came across Skating on Mars, I immediately knew I had to check it out. It didn’t disappoint! Thoughtful, authentic, and fast-paced, this book delves into the complicated realities of being a nonbinary kid in sports today. I really liked Mars—their conflict and struggles felt utterly relatable, and I particularly liked the realism with which they interacted with the supporting cast. If you loved Ana on the Edge, or want a realistic fiction novel with the same defiant fire of Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, definitely check this one out! I highly recommend Skating on Mars to readers ages ten and up.