BREAKING THE ICE

In this work originally published in 2019 as Cocoa Crush, 12-year-old Harper Evans once dominated the hockey rink, but an accident has left her scared to set foot on the ice.

Now working at a hot cocoa stand at her local skating rink in New Hampshire, Harper focuses on perfecting her hot chocolate recipes and hiding from her former teammates. But a meet-cute with well-known young figure skater Jason D’Andre (who’s also 12) and the opportunity to mentor aspiring hockey player Bronte might just be what Harper needs to get back in the rink. With the support of former best friend and team captain Bea, as well as Jason and Bronte, Harper begins to overcome her fears and to discover her inner strength. Blitt explores powerful themes of resilience and self-forgiveness while touching on the struggles of being a girl in sports, and the well-developed side characters have their own challenges and motivations. Many young athletes will relate to the setbacks Jason and Harper face in their respective sports and will be inspired by their determination. The blossoming romance between the two adds to their compelling dynamic and is sure to delight young romance fans. Harper, Bea, and Bronte read white, and Jason has light brown skin.

A sports story with a sweet romance and a positive message about grit.