Spinning
Spinning by Tillie Walden is a graphic memoir published by First Second on September 12, 2017. This 400-page book is presented in English and explores the complexities of coming of age, coming out, and the challenges of leaving behind a familiar world. Through her experiences in figure skating, Walden captures the routine of early mornings at the rink and the pressures of competition, all while navigating her identity and personal growth.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into the intersection of sports and self-discovery, as Walden reflects on her decade-long commitment to figure skating. The memoir highlights her journey of questioning the sport’s role in her life amidst the backdrop of school, relationships, and artistic pursuits. Spinning addresses themes relevant to young adult nonfiction, including LGBTQ identity and the realities of competitive sports, providing insight into the author’s evolving sense of self.
Official synopsis Publisher
Tillie Walden’s Eisner Award winning graphic memoir Spinning captures what it’s like to come of age, come out, and come to terms with leaving behind everything you used to know.
It was the same every morning. Wake up, grab the ice skates, and head to the rink while the world was still dark.
Weekends were spent in glitter and tights at competitions. Perform. Smile. And do it again.
She was good. She won. And she hated it.
For ten years, figure skating was Tillie Walden’s life. She woke before dawn for morning lessons, went straight to group practice after school, and spent weekends competing at ice rinks across the state. Skating was a central piece of her identity, her safe haven from the stress of school, bullies, and family. But as she switched schools, got into art, and fell in love with her first girlfriend, she began to question how the close-minded world of figure skating fit in with the rest of her life, and whether all the work was worth it given the reality: that she, and her friends on the team, were nowhere close to Olympic hopefuls. The more Tillie thought about it, the more Tillie realized she’d outgrown her passion—and she finally needed to find her own voice.
This title has Common Core connections.
A New York City Public Library Notable Best Book for Teens
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2017
A 2018 YALSA Great Graphic Novel
A 2017 Booklist Youth Editors’ Choice
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