Loop
Tara Lynn Osburn
Independently Published (2024)
ISBN: 979-8878916790
Reviewed by Karen Gellender for Reader Views (07/2024)
Upstate New York middle-schooler Laney Parker loves nothing more than gliding, jumping, and spinning on the ice with the Crystal Valley Skating Club. Now with the annual show coming up, she’s determined to perfect her hardest jump. Since she lives on a maple sugaring farm, she has plenty of boiling and bottling with the family to keep her busy too, but she’s determined to make it work. However, once a new girl who skates like the wind moves into town, will Laney still get to skate a solo routine at the show now that there’s more competition? With her best friend suddenly acting distant and problems on the horizon for her beloved little brother, Laney may have bigger concerns than how good a figure she can cut on the ice.
“Loop” by Tara Lynn Osburn is a masterfully written middle-grade coming-of-age story that will appeal to any girl who ever saw a skater in a gorgeous leotard on TV and dreamed of figure skating. While there is plenty of fun and sweetness (in the form of maple syrup) packed into these 181 pages, it’s not as lighthearted as you might think; in addition to tween growing pains, the story deals with serious subjects like disability, the effects of military service, and even the death of a parent. The book never becomes too dark, but this is clearly a story for more mature children; it’s probably a bit too much reality for those who are still blasting through The Magic Treehouse books.
Laney is a relatable protagonist who is very flawed but in a completely age-appropriate way. When newcomer Malia seemingly threatens both Laney’s position on the skating team and her relationship with her best friend Abby, Laney reacts badly, first by refusing to acknowledge the problem and then lashing out with jealousy. Adult readers will nod along, thinking “Yup, I remember those days,” but for this book’s target audience, seeing Laney’s struggles might really teach them that there are better ways to deal with insecurity than letting your emotions run the show.
The book is carefully edited, with no odd phrases that can take you out of the narrative. It’s also well-paced, with Laney’s adventures on the ice spaced out between interludes at school and work on the maple sugaring farm. If you love maple syrup (and really, who doesn’t love pancakes with maple syrup?) this book also provides a great opportunity to find out more about how that divine elixir is processed.
One thing that might give some young readers pause is the treatment of the bully, Tessa. Ultimately Laney learns to have empathy for Tessa’s situation, but some young readers may be surprised to see that the bully is never really punished for her mischief. Forgiving Tessa is consistent with the book’s larger theme of looking beyond yourself to find emotional maturity, but not every kid who reads it is likely to be as forgiving as Laney is. However, empathy is one of the major things the book attempts to teach, so that’s as it should be.
All in all, “Loop” is a book about learning to set priorities, and how what’s shiny and exciting—even the silver gleam of the ice after a fresh run of the Zamboni machine, or the glittering sparkles and sequins on a leotard—is less important than the relationships we make with other people. It’s a lesson that kids need to learn, and adults need to be reminded of, and in this slender volume, Tara Lynn Osburn articulates this message with all the style and grace of an Olympic Champion figure skater.