My figure skates take only a minute or so to lace up, and, taking a deep breath, I glide out onto the ice. With each stroke I take, my anxiety lessens its grip around my heart.
Ellie Hollander wears many hats: foster kid, figure skater, nervous wreck. Plagued by OCD, panic attacks, and flashbacks, Ellie wishes she could just be Ellie, the girl who skates. But after seeing how her anxiety affects her performance, her hotshot Russian figure skating coach Sergei isn't sure she can take the heat of competition and fires her, leaving Ellie to doubt her abilities.
Before she can give up on competing, a talented new coach named Max shows up seemingly out of nowhere. Who is he, and why is he so determined to help Ellie land her triple-loop? More importantly, will Ellie be able to nail it on time for her big test? MaryBeth Edmundson's A Girl Named Ellie is the story of a sixteen-year-old girl attempting to find her balance on and off the ice.
"The most wholesome story about balancing anxiety with one's identity and family! The main character leaps (or should I say skates?) off the page with her unique voice and perspective, and she will surely remain in your memory for quite some time." - Elizabeth, @lizzynotbennet