Mark Brazaitis

The Rink Girl Mark Brazaitis

A grandfather reluctantly raising his seven-year-old granddaughter throws her a birthday party to which no one comes-and she's delighted. A former hockey player, about to become a father, suffers flashbacks to times his coach sexually abused him. A one-time Olympic hopeful reveals the heartbreaking reason she failed to land her signature jump-and thereby frees herself to find her next passion. Winner of Prize Americana, The Rink Girl may have a small geographic setting-an ice arena in an unassuming Ohio town-but it's wide in thematic scope: from depression and war to the perils and pleasures of parenting and the thrill (and aching brevity) of first love.