Title: Thin Ice
Author: Marc Talbert
Genre: YA Fiction / Contemporary Realism / Family & Coming-of-Age
Edition: True First Edition, First Printing (Author Signed/Inscribed)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
The story centers on ten-year-old Martin, whose world is upended following his father's sudden departure from home and his parents' subsequent divorce. Martin finds himself feeling isolated and struggling to find his footing amidst the shifting family dynamics.
Martin tries to balance an overwhelming matrix of adult responsibilities and personal feuds. He breaks ties with his former best friend and clashes constantly with his diabetic sister, who depends entirely on Martin to administer her vital medical shots while their mother splits time between an exhausting job and night school. The emotional pressure cooker reaches its limit when Martin's fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Raven, begins dating his mother. Yet, through patient boundaries and genuine compassion, Mr. Raven slowly proves himself to be a trustworthy ally, helping Martin unpack his anger and reconcile his fractured relationships.
Author Marc Talbert (1953–present): An American author and child psychologist whose professional insights into youth development inform his realistic fiction for children and young adults. Born into a family that valued creative expression, Talbert pursued his passion for understanding the emotional landscapes of young people, blending his clinical knowledge with a poignant, uncondescending literary style. He won significant critical praise for Thin Ice, his second novel, which solidified his reputation for tackling complex domestic challenges with grace. Talbert has written numerous highly regarded books exploring themes of grief, duty, and cultural identity, including Dead Bird Singing, The Purple Heart, Star of Luis, and Paper Knife.
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Condition*: Near Fine/Very Good. Dust jacket: Minor shelf wear with mild ruffling along the top and bottom edges; two small closed tears on the front, top edge; small closed tear on the back corner, top; a few small chips on the bottom edge due to shelf wear. Book is inscribed and signed by author.
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