Spinning

This graphic novel is a contemporary, coming-of-age story of a teenaged girl named Tillie, who is realizing that her passion for skating is fading as she navigates issues such as sexuality, gender identity, social media, and the freedom to be herself. A memoir, “Spinning” broaches these themes in a stylistically rich manner, where figure skating maneuvers parallel the highlighted themes in an intriguing manner. In a senior secondary classroom, this book can be used in literature circles, where students can be encouraged to unpack themes, devices, and literary elements as they read. As a novel study, teachers may use this resource classroom-wide to touch on topics related to LGBTQ issues and gender stereotypes.