The Bottom Line:
In the fourth children's ice skating book by Olga Jaffae, Cammie and Alex learn that coming back to skating after an injury and/or other obstacles is not easy. They also learn that those who want to try to overcome challenges are true winners.Like Olga Jaffae's other ice skating fantasy books, the plot is very original and will be a welcome addition to any figure skating library.
Pros:
- The book is a fairytale type story. Readers of all ages will find Skateland to be a fascinating place.
Cons:
- The story might scare very young readers.
Description:
- 420 pages
- Paperback
- Published by Tate Publishing - October 11, 2011
- Cover Design By Brandon Wood
- Interior Design By Nathan Harmony
- Geared for readers between 9 and 12 years of age, but older readers will also enjoy the story.
Guide Review - Cammie and Alex's Adventures in the Icy Park - A Book By Olga Jaffae
Cammie and Alex's Adventures in the Icy Park mixes reality and fantasy. It is a fairytale type story. The book is the fourth children's ice skating book by Olga Jaffae.Cammie is a talented figure skater training at Skateland, a figure skating training center.
One day she receives flowers from a "skating judge." She doesn't know it, but the flowers were given to her by a witch who causes her to becomes proud and arrogant.
Cammie's coach does not put a double Axel in Cammie's competition program, but Cammie doesn't listen to her coach, and includes the double Axel anyway at the Skateland Annual Competition. She wins the intermediate ladies event at the competition and qualifies for "Nationals."
After the competition, Cammie becomes a celebrity and also wins the "Most Charming Skater Award." In addition to being recognized all over Skateland for her excellent skating, Cammie is awarded a magical skating bag called a Kanga Bag when she wins the "Most Charming Skater Award."
After receiving so much recognition and attention, Cammie becomes conceited. She begins to think she knows more than her coaches and insists on doing triple jumps. When her coach won't let her practice the triple jumps, Cammie decides to sneak off to the Icy Park, a place in Skateland where skaters are not permitted to go so that she can practice her triple Salchow. At the Icy Park, Cammie is attacked by Winja, the Witch of Injuries, and breaks her ankle.
Cammie spends time in Skateland's hospital, and is told that she is so seriously injured that there is a chance that she won't skate again. She is also told she will have to learn how to walk again.
At first, Cammie doesn't believe her injury is so severe, but as time passes she accepts that she is injured. Her opportunity to compete at nationals is over. The witches in Skateland are after her, so the doctors release her from the hospital and send her home. She returns home and her parents take care of her for a few months.
As time passes, she begins physical therapy at home, but Skateland's director, Wilhelmina Van Uffeln, invites her to return to Skateland for some special therapy with Melvin Reed, a figure skating inventor who lives at Skateland.
Cammie is happy to return. She meets with Mr. Reed and her friend Alex when she returns to her dorm. She is told she will undertake something called "Full Circle Therapy" with Alex's help. "Full Circle Therapy" will help her learn to skate again, but also help he regain a love and joy of skating. She and Alex are also told about a magical device, called the ROFA, that will restore Cammie fully. They are told that the witches have stolen the device and are sent on a quest to find it.
Cammie has to visit all of Skateland's rinks as part of her therapy. All goes fairly well until Cammie and Alex skate at the Black Rink. There, they are captured by the witches. As time goes on, they fall deeper and deeper under the witches' spells. They both gain a lot of weight and lose interest in skating. The Witch of Fear even casts a spell where they become afraid of skating.
All seems lost, but with his magical ROFA device (which is now found), Mr. Reed somehow frees Cammie and Alex from the witches and their spells. He is able to help them not be afraid of skating and the ice. The book ends when both Cammie and Alex realize that all will be okay. In order to skate again, they will have to get back in shape physically and mentally, but the two young skaters are just very happy to be back on the ice. Their joy and appreciation of skating has returned.
