Review Detail

“Breaking the Ice” by Natalie Blitt, previously published as “Cocoa Crush,” is a sweet middle grade story about main character Harper and her fear of getting back to playing hockey after an accident that hurt her best friend and affected her life immensely. She hasn’t veered far from the rink, though, as she works at a snack shack in the Skatium, serving up new flavors of hot chocolate that she regularly tries out.

Before long, Jason, a well-known figure skating champion, comes to town and he and Harper become friendly. They are both chosen to be mentors for a program for kids who love hockey, figure skating, and the like. Harper’s fears threaten to overtake her ability to be a mentor, but she pulls through in the end, finding the ability to press on despite the difficult circumstances that took her off of the ice in the first place. Little by little, she begins hanging out with old friends, and coupled with her family, she considers how getting back to hockey might not be the worst thing in the world—she only has to figure out if it’s worth it to her.

Natalie Blitt has written a warm, engaging, fast-paced read that captures themes of forgiveness, growth, and new experiences.