Module 10 – The Greatest Skating Race by Louise Borden

Module 10 – The Greatest Skating Race by Louise Borden 

 

 

Book Summary

The year is 1941 and Holland has been occupied by the Germans. Ten-year-old Piet dreams of skating in the Elfstedentocht, a famous race that passes through eleven cities that sit along frozen canals. But one day his neighbor is arrested by the Nazis and Pete must help his friends Joop and Joanne escape across the border to their aunt's house in Brugge, Belgium. They must skate ten miles on the frozen canals, past German soldiers. They must be careful, for if the Germans discover their plan, the children will be in grave danger. 

APA Reference of Book

Borden, L. & Daly, N. (2004). The greatest skating race. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books. (Simon & Schuster).

My Impressions

Obviously the lovely illustrations and the suspenseful story are two things this book has going for it. It is an exciting story that realistically captures some of the fear and tension people experienced living under Nazi occupation. There are not many books accessible to today's young readers that can help them learn about World War II.  This book shows the bravery and sacrifice of young children caught up in the war and their exposure to the dangers.

I lived in Belgium for a year and so the setting of the story was very familiar to me. I still find it fascinating that the Elfstedenstocht is a real race! Translated literally into “eleven cities tour”, the race can only happen when officials declare the ice thick enough - 15 centimeters (6 inches) through the whole course! After that, skaters have 48 hours to get ready. The race starts at 5:30 AM and ends at midnight. This has only happened fifteen times since the official first race in 1909.

Pim Mulier, Piet's skating hero, helped create the race and did indeed complete the Elfstedentocht just as it is described in The Greatest Skating Race. So even though Piet and his trek are fictional, there are many historical facts included in the book.

What the Professionals Say

From School Library Journal ~

Starred Review. Grade 2-5–This slice of historical fiction celebrates the bravery and resourcefulness of children. In the winter of 1941, 10-year-old Piet, a strong skater, is enlisted to lead his two young neighbors from Holland to safety over the ice to relatives in Belgium after their father is arrested for sending messages to the allied forces. The three children leave their home in Sluis and bravely skate 16 kilometers on the canals to Brugge. They outwit and hide from German soldiers and make it to their destination in one long, difficult day. Told with immediacy and suspense from Piet's point of view, the engaging narrative is arranged in columns, which is an ideal structure to relate the action in short sentences. Readers learn about the Elfstedentocht, a 200-kilometer skating race, and the boy's hero, skater Pim Mulier. The gorgeously detailed watercolor illustrations capture a sense of the time. The subdued, winter hues of brown and smoky gray are those often found in the oil paintings of Dutch and Flemish masters and match the quiet tone of the text. The book's format maximizes the drama and expanse of the landscape. Use this picture book to introduce curricular units and to give youngsters a vivid child's-eye view of the past.

Brommer, S., & Grabarek, D. (2004). [Review of the book The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands by L. Borden]. School Library Journal, 50(12), 98. 

A Suggestion for Use in a Library Setting

The theme for our 2016 Summer Reading Club is On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! It will explore different areas of fitness and sports. I would add the book The Greatest Skating Race by Louise Borden to our recommended reading list for 4th graders.  During the summer, we would have a program about different kinds of sports and one of them would be skating.  We would compare the differences between ice skates and roller skates.   After reading the book, The Greatest Skating Race, we would also discuss how strange it would be (especially here in Texas) if our rivers froze hard enough for us to use them as a mode of transportation instead of roads. And discuss how ten-year-old Piet’s skating practice and research helped him have the endurance to make the ten mile journey that delivered his friends to safety.