Ice Breaker: How Mabel Fairbanks Changed Figure Skating (She Made History)

by Rose Vina (Author) Claire Almon (Illustrator)

Ice Breaker: How Mabel Fairbanks Changed Figure Skating (She Made History)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
In the 1930s, only white figure skaters were allowed in public ice rinks and to compete for gold medals, but Mabel Fairbanks wouldn't let that stop her. With skates two sizes too big and a heart full of dreams, Mabel beat the odds and broke down color barriers through sheer determination and athletic skill. Mabel became the first African-American woman to be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
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ALA/Booklist

Sports fans will love this inclusive and inspiring look at how one girl's determination enabled her to live out her dreams in a challenging period of American history. 

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--As a young black girl skating in the 1930s, Mabel Fairbanks was denied entry to skating clubs and competitions. After years of touring in the ice-skating entertainment industry, Fairbanks became a coach to skaters of diverse racial and financial backgrounds. She fought for her students of color to be allowed entry into the clubs and competitions that previously denied her inclusion. Fairbanks finally gained recognition and became the first African American inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. While Fairbanks's tale deserves telling, this title falls flat. The organization is at times choppy, particularly at the beginning, where the narrative shows Fairbanks transitioning from a homeless child to working as a live-in babysitter in just two page spreads. Considering the intended young audience, some passages include too much detail and too few clear transitions. The muted cartoonish style of the digital illustrations is designed to appeal to young readers, but the lack of clean lines and dynamic elements results in an unfinished look. VERDICT Although this biography is a lackluster account, Mabel Fairbanks is an inspiring subject whose story is likely to appeal to many young people. Her story of perseverance and activism is little known, so many libraries will want this picture book biography on their shelves simply to acknowledge the overlooked contributions of an inspiring black woman and athlete.-Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield Public Library, IL

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Rose Vina
Rose Viña is a Cuban-American writer originally from California. Rose was a competitive figure skater for more than 20 years and now serves as the head figure skating coach in Sweden. Claire Almon is an illustrator who also works in character design in animation.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780807534960
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Albert Whitman & Company
Publication date
October 01, 2019
Series
She Made History
BISAC categories
JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JNF053140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Prejudice & Racism
JNF025210 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/20th Century
JNF007100 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Sports & Recreation
JNF054190 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Sports & Recreation | Ice Skating
Library of Congress categories
-

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