Babymouse: Skater Girl

(Babymouse 7)

by
Jennifer L. Holm

&

Matthew Holm

Random House, September 2007, 95 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-375-83989-4

Genre: Early Chapter
Subgenres: Graphic Novel / Humor
Reviewed: 11/14/2009

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Graphic Novel Page

Synopsis

Babymouse has never won anything . . . ever. She gets a lot of honorable mentions in class, but she would really like to win a trophy just to prove to herself that she is worthy. One day, while Babymouse is ice skating on a frozen pond, figure skating coach Bearnakova approaches Babymouse and asks her is she would like to be coached. Coach Bearnakova tells Babymouse that she has talent and Babymouse sees this as an opportunity to be really good at something.

Babymouyse's mom has doubts about this training because Babymouse always quits something when it gets too hard.

With practice at 5 AM and after school, Babymouse soon becomes exhausted. She isn't really having fun, but she is becoming a better skater. She soon realizes that she has to give everything she enjoys: eating cupcakes, playing with her friends after school, and reading books. Everything Babymouse now does is about her becoming a champion skater.

Will Babymouse be able to continue at this breakneck speed and give up everything that really matters to her just so she can win something?

Babymouse: Skater Girl is the seventh book in the Babymouse series and is written and drawn by sister and brother team Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. This humorous book is a graphic novel about a young mouse and her and her ability to cope with everyday situations. This book is intended for girls ages 6 to 10.

Review

Poor Babymouse. She has never won anything. It must be tough to always be beaten by everybody else. But that is the reality of life. You have to work hard at something to become the best, and Babymouse just doesn't have that philosophy . . . until now.

Babymouse wants to be a champion figure skater. She wants to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But the work Babymouse has to put in to make this happen starts to take a toll on her. Children are not designed to work this hard and should be out enjoying life while they can. I found this book interesting because it was Babymouse's choice to work this hard, not her mom's choice. I often feel sorry for these kids that are pushed by their parents to be champions in a sport. But I guess we wouldn't have the sports heroes we have today without the effort these kids and their parents put into whatever sport they choose.

I liked that Babymouse had to make the choice of becoming a champion or remaining a kid who enjoys her life. Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm always have a life lesson to be learned in Babymouse books. What is cool about these books is that kids won't even know that they are learning something while they enjoy reading the Babymouse books.

Overall, Babymouse: Skater Girl is another excellent book and should not be missed by any young reader.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.