Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Yearling (1982), Edition: Reprint, 224 pages
Description
Nine-year-old Harriet Johnson goes ice-skating to strengthen her legs after an illness, befriends Lalla, the orphaned daughter of a great figure skating star, and finds encouragement to become a champion.
User reviews
LibraryThing member conuly
I love this book. When I was a kid, I literally read our copy to pieces. It fell apart. I taped it together, but that didn't keep.
So I was thrilled to see it back in print with a spiffy new cover! Look at that!
I'm reading it to my just-turned-seven year old niece right now. I'm surprised at how
Just FYI, Streatfeild's books are a little formulaic - you have the talented child and the untalented (but secretly REALLY gifted child), the star and the shadow, and the family togetherness. It's a formula that works, and it's in full force in this book - the shadow discovers she has a real talent, the talented star discovers that she's not THAT gifted, the stage mother (aunt, really) gets hers, the poor family is helped by a combination of friendship and bootstraps, the various teachers worry about every aspect of the whole child - pretty much what you expect. Good story, satisfying ending, classic literature, you have to love it!
So I was thrilled to see it back in print with a spiffy new cover! Look at that!
I'm reading it to my just-turned-seven year old niece right now. I'm surprised at how
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much she's taken to it, given that it's really a fairly old-fashioned book (and British besides!), with long, complex sentences; time taken to introspect the grownups; and mentions of weird things like pre-1970s English money, rationing, and skating figures. But she loves it! I guess it's not THAT much of a surprise, I loved it too at her age : )Just FYI, Streatfeild's books are a little formulaic - you have the talented child and the untalented (but secretly REALLY gifted child), the star and the shadow, and the family togetherness. It's a formula that works, and it's in full force in this book - the shadow discovers she has a real talent, the talented star discovers that she's not THAT gifted, the stage mother (aunt, really) gets hers, the poor family is helped by a combination of friendship and bootstraps, the various teachers worry about every aspect of the whole child - pretty much what you expect. Good story, satisfying ending, classic literature, you have to love it!
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LibraryThing member moonshine19
One of my favorite books of Streatfeild's, Skating Shoes takes you into a world you won't want to leave. The English skating and testing system is explained very well-- all her books are like this, for example the stage license system in Ballet Shoes. The focus equally rests with Harriet and Lalla,
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two girls from very different backgrounds that are brought together by skating. Harriet, whose doctor suggests skating as a way to build her legs back up after an illness, is enchanted by Lalla, who seems a perfect skater. They become friends, and while Harriet and her brothers envy Lalla's talent and money, Lalla, an orphan who lives with her kind but impersonal aunt, envies Harriet's close-knit family. Harriet and Lalla both struggle with what they want, but the end of the book is satisfactory, though you'll wish it went on. This book is great for all ages, whether as a read-aloud for a six to eight year old or an adult. I loved this book, and I know that you will. Show Less
LibraryThing member nobby1
Harriet, recovering from an illness, is advised by her doctor to learn to skate. At the rink, she meets Lalla, who is determined to become a skating star, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. A really absorbing read.
LibraryThing member ImBookingIt
Skating Shoes isn't Streatfield's strongest book, but I enjoyed the short time I spent reading it, and suspect I would have liked it even more when I was younger.
LibraryThing member phoebesmum
Lovely and cosy and infinitely rereadable.
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
Who doesn't love Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" books? Whether you read the British version (White Boots) or the American (Skating Shoes), either is just as cute. Ten year old Harriet is a frail child, recovering from a long illness that has left her legs "cotton-woolish" and weak. Her doctor
This is a story of opposites attract. Lalla is beautiful and wealthy. Harriet is plain and poor. Lalla's skating prowess prompts her to be shallow and selfish. Harriet's lack of privilege leaves her hungry for friendship. Harriet has a loud, loving, and large family while Lalla only has her nanny, her prim and proper aunt, and a home-schooling governess.
This is also a story of acceptance. Just because you have a world class athlete for a father doesn't mean you have inherited the genes. All Lalla's life she has been pushed into believing she had to be the skater her father was. She had been given every advantage to fulfill that expectation except she lacked one thing. Talent. Along comes a nobody of a girl. No fancy clothes. No world class father. No money to buy premier lessons. But Harriet did have one thing. Ability.
As an aside, times have changed. In today's world it is incredibly rare for a sibling to start a paper route just to support his sister's recovery. What kid does that? Alec is a smart brother. He knows exactly how much he will earn from delivering papers and he also knows how much the skate rental will cost. His business sense drives him to save the two extra shillings to put towards his father's failing business. Again, what kid does that? I enjoyed the side story of the garden very much.
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prescribes exercise to rebuild her muscles. He knows just the sport, ice skating. There at the rink Harriet meets a girl her age, skating sensation Lalla. Lalla's father was a world famous skater as well but died in an accident. His sister is tyranically determined to make her niece the next star on ice. Seeing that Harriet is a good influence on Lalla's training, Harriet soon starts taking ice skating, dance and fencing lessons to keep Lalla engaged. I think you can see where this is going.This is a story of opposites attract. Lalla is beautiful and wealthy. Harriet is plain and poor. Lalla's skating prowess prompts her to be shallow and selfish. Harriet's lack of privilege leaves her hungry for friendship. Harriet has a loud, loving, and large family while Lalla only has her nanny, her prim and proper aunt, and a home-schooling governess.
This is also a story of acceptance. Just because you have a world class athlete for a father doesn't mean you have inherited the genes. All Lalla's life she has been pushed into believing she had to be the skater her father was. She had been given every advantage to fulfill that expectation except she lacked one thing. Talent. Along comes a nobody of a girl. No fancy clothes. No world class father. No money to buy premier lessons. But Harriet did have one thing. Ability.
As an aside, times have changed. In today's world it is incredibly rare for a sibling to start a paper route just to support his sister's recovery. What kid does that? Alec is a smart brother. He knows exactly how much he will earn from delivering papers and he also knows how much the skate rental will cost. His business sense drives him to save the two extra shillings to put towards his father's failing business. Again, what kid does that? I enjoyed the side story of the garden very much.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1951
Physical description
224 p.; 7.56 inches
ISBN
044047731X / 9780440477310