Spinning in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Jan 16, 2018 Renata rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, lgbtq, memoir, graphic-novel, nonfiction

This book is interesting as a very fresh memoir--Tillie was 21 writing about her teen years. I think that'll make this very relatable to young readers--Tillie talks about looking at photos on her "childhood iPhone," a phrase that's not going to pop up in most memoirs for awhile. It's a lot of raw emotion and I see the value in that; the cost is that it didn't quite gel for me.

But I think it's a great book for teens, especially queer teens and/or teens who feel very pressured by extracurricular/a ...more

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Jul 04, 2017 Abby Johnson rated it really liked it

Shelves: graphic_novel, teen, memoir

Author Tillie Walden says in the author's note that she's the kind of author who didn't start out with a certain point of view, but wrote down her story and let the meaning find itself along the way. I think that shows when you read this book - it feels a little scattered and I think it would have been a stronger narrative if she'd figured out what she wanted it to say.

That said, although there's a lot going on in this book - getting bullied, coming out, absent parents, and so forth - MY bigges ...more

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May 23, 2019 Kerry rated it liked it

While this is a graphic novel about a girl who is enduring a demanding ice skating schedule. I actually thought it portrayed a really sort of depressed and lost girl trying to come into her own. She has to face sleep deprivation, bullies and time on the road due to her demanding ice skating schedule. Instead of feeling energized and invigorated by her ice skating talent, she comes across as being apathetic and run down. She is also coming to grips with her sexuality. It was darker and sadder tha ...more

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Jul 06, 2018 Dana Berglund rated it liked it

Shelves: queer, youngadult, memoir-biography, graphic-novels

Spinning is a coming of age graphic memoir about ice skating, loneliness, coming out... but it didn't feel deeply explored enough to be YA, or wide-eyed enough to be middle grade. The subject matter is interesting, but it never felt quite enough for me. This is a first book by a young writer, who I hope will impress us with further projects. ...more

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