Ana on the Edge

This was the first published book I read with a nonbinary main character. That alone makes it one of the most personally important books I have ever read. The fact that I encountered it just after writing my own novel about a nonbinary figure skater made this beautiful book hit even harder.

It showed me that even though two books may have the same hook and some of the same basic ingredients, the execution can be diverse and take those ingredients in directions you never expected. It sparkles, both in its descriptions of figure skating and in its nuanced and… show more.

Ana on the Edge is a powerful novel about figure skating and gender identity that’s equally perfect for figure skating enthusiasts and kids looking for LGBTQIA+ stories. It’s obvious from the first page that the author is a figure skater who knows the sport intimately, but the sparkling skating scenes are just as fun and accessible for readers who watch the occasional Olympic figure skating competition as they would be for insiders. And the most special part of this book is the poignant way it depicts a kid who is figuring out the gender identity that feels right while competing… show more.

When it comes to misunderstood identities, it becomes crucial that there be stories by authors who have lived that story. There is no faking that authenticity. This is certainly the case with this engrossing and moving story of a young skater’s growing awareness of and interest in non-binary identity, written by a non-binary author with experience of the skating world. I particularly like that the story takes place in a setting in which the gender binary is so strongly enforced. I also appreciate the intersectionality – the main character is Chinese-American and Jewish.