Born to Skate: The Michelle Kwan Story [Mass Market Paperback]

Edward Z. Epstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 1997

From the moment her mom laced up her first pair of skates at age five, Michelle Kwan has been a natural on the ice. Graceful and determined, she sailed through her first competition when seven years old and has been winning ever since. Now, at seventeen, Michelle Kwan is poised for triumph at the 1998 Winter Olympics, training for gold and a glittering place in skating history.

This inspiring biography of the young skating superstar reveals the support and sacrifice that have propelled Michelle to the top: her close-knit family, the pressure to get a proper education while competing all over the world, the perseverance after she fell during competition and lost her number one status, and--of course-- the constant demand to create unforgettable skating performances.

A fascinating behind-the-scenes story of challenge and conquest, BORN TO SKATE recreates the magic and beauty of a life on the ice.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Michelle Kwan is a simply beautiful skater. I watch figure skating, and I'm impressed by Michelle's beauty, grace, and maturity on the ice. Plus she really seems to be close to her family, and I think that she's a wonderful role model for girls today. I was delighted that Edward Epstein wanted to write the book, because he's been active in figure skating himself, from an early age. He really loves (and does!) the sport--something you don't always find in the writer behind a book. He also understands and appreciates the complexities in figure skating, and what makes a certain jump outstanding. That's why he saw, and continues to see, Michelle's incredible potential. --E. Zack, Sr. Editor

From the Inside Flap

From the moment her mom laced up her first pair of skates at age five, Michelle Kwan has been a natural on the ice. Graceful and determined, she sailed through her first competition when seven years old and has been winning ever since. Now, at seventeen, Michelle Kwan is poised for triumph at the 1998 Winter Olympics, training for gold and a glittering place in skating history.

This inspiring biography of the young skating superstar reveals the support and sacrifice that have propelled Michelle to the top: her close-knit family, the pressure to get a proper education while competing all over the world, the perseverance after she fell during competition and lost her number one status, and--of course-- the constant demand to create unforgettable skating performances.

A fascinating behind-the-scenes story of challenge and conquest, BORN TO SKATE recreates the magic and beauty of a life on the ice.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (September 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345421361
• ISBN-13: 978-0345421364
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,762,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but get's off the subject a lot, May 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Born to Skate: The Michelle Kwan Story (Mass Market Paperback)

If you've already read Michelle's autobiography this book is just a repeat. There was some info I didn't know about Michelle but very little. In my opinion, the book talked too much about other skaters. Some info in there was not necessary. Michelle Kwan fans out there, this book is better for people who want a mix of other famous athletes. I'm an MK fan and I was a little disappointed. If any of you haven't read Michelle's autobiography yet, you are better off getting it instead.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and inaccurate, February 16, 2002

By 

Amy Cortright (Massachusetts, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Born to Skate: The Michelle Kwan Story (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a huge fan of figure skating in general and Michelle Kwan in particular, but this book sounded like it was written by an over-enthusiastic child. A lot of the quotes were taken directly from interviews that the skaters had done on TV, the writing and grammar were sloppy, and there were a lot of details that were just plain wrong. Tonya Harding did NOT come in third at the 93 nationals; that was Tonia Kwiatkowski (whose parents, by the way, are named Phil and Corinne, not Shirley and Leonard). Epstein waxes poetic about Michelle's brilliant artistry in 93 and 94, when she really didn't begin to shine until the 95-96 season. And any time Michelle didn't win first place, Epstein acts like she was robbed. These may seem like petty gripes, but with all the well-written literature available about Michelle, this book's numerous errors cause it to fall far short of what we've come to expect in skating coverage. Do yourself a favor and read Michelle's own autobiography or either of the two better-researched books by Christine Brennan.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Written like a bad soap opera, November 10, 2005

By 

Kat (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Born to Skate: The Michelle Kwan Story (Mass Market Paperback)

This was written like a bad soap opera. Details are over the top and too dramatic and the writing style goes over the top. The message becomes too obvious and just too much! There's a reason people are willing to sell this book for a penny. Not worth reading.