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“Kon’s manga-style art is captivating in its black-and-white depictions of the athleticism and the emotionality of figure skating . . . An essential purchase, particularly for teens who gravitate toward budding LGBTQIA+ romance books and where stories of underrepresented sports like figure skating are in demand.”

—School Library Journal, Starred Review

“The skating sequences are full of reverence for both the beauty and athleticism of the sport. Each black-and-white panel bursts with movement, expression, and atmosphere as the story tenderly explores themes of queerness, ambition, and mutual pining. An emotional graphic novel about two girls reaching for gold—and each other.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Just Between Us

Written by Adeline Kon
Illustrated by Adeline Kon
Published by Dial Books

Lydia Chen knows how good she is on the ice. Technically perfect, she’s been the one to beat since her debut years ago.

Except now, something is missing in her performances—a spark that’s been gone for a while. Between the constant training, appealing to sponsors to fund her, and the pressure to perform, Lydia’s passion for skating has disappeared.

When her rival Elaine Yee starts training at the same rink, Lydia’s struck by the emotion in Elaine’s routines and unwillingly finds herself getting closer to her as they compete for a spot in the Olympics.

As the tension between them comes to a head, Lydia’s about to find out how a competitor can become an ally and figure out how to feel alive on the ice again.

Primary ISBN: 9780593696958
Publication Date: February 2026
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Age 12 or older

Community Represented: ,

Themes: , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Boston MA)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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