Spinning

Spinning is Tillie Walden's graphic memoir about her years as a competitive figure skater in Texas. The narrative follows her experiences from age 11 to 17, depicting early morning practices, competitions, and the discipline required in the sport. The black, white, and purple illustrations chronicle both Walden's skating life and her parallel journey through adolescence. As she navigates middle school and high school, she grapples with her sexuality, family dynamics, and questions of identity while maintaining the demands of her skating career. Beyond the ice rink, the memoir explores the intersection of art, athletics, and self-discovery during formative teenage years. The work illuminates themes of belonging, dedication, and the challenge of aligning one's true interests with expectations from family and society.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of coming out as a young teen and the complex emotions around competitive figure skating. Many note the effective use of purple monochromatic art to convey mood and memory. Readers appreciate: - Raw honesty about sexuality, family dynamics, and self-discovery - Detailed skating sequences that capture movement - Clean, minimalist art style - Exploration of letting go of childhood pursuits Common criticisms: - Pacing feels uneven, especially in middle sections - Some characters remain underdeveloped - Skating terminology can be confusing for non-skaters - Story threads occasionally feel unresolved Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (17,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (270+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (30+ ratings) One reader noted: "The quiet moments hit hardest - like practicing alone at 4am or sitting in silence with her coach." Another mentioned: "Wished for more depth in the relationship storylines, which moved too quickly."

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🌟 Author Tillie Walden created this memoir when she was just 21 years old, making her one of the youngest graphic novelists to publish with First Second Books. ❄️ The book chronicles 12 years of competitive figure skating, during which Walden would wake up at 4 AM to practice before school - a schedule she maintained from age 5 to 17. 🎨 Though skating is central to the narrative, Walden had never drawn ice skating before creating this graphic novel and had to teach herself how to illustrate the complex movements and poses. 🌈 The memoir doubles as a coming-out story, with Walden weaving her journey of accepting her sexuality alongside her complicated relationship with skating. 📚 The soft purple color palette used throughout the 400-page book was chosen specifically to evoke the early morning hours when most of her skating practice took place.