Unfortunately, Nelson’s first attempt to ask out a girl at school is an epic fail. School is rough already now that his best (and only) friend Pat has moved away and Nelson is the target of pranksters – let alone having to face the girl that rejected him.

His parent’s announcement that they are going to run the kitchens at the local ski lodge is a welcome escape. Every weekend he can spend all day in his favourite place – Mount Doon. It gets even better when school holidays roll around when they live in the staff quarters for two weeks.

Unpopular, shy, awkward film nerd Nelson finds that guests and staff are friendly, and he realises Mt Doon is going to give him a chance to reinvent himself. Nobody sees him as dorky, loner Nelson like at school.

He meets a girl called Juliet who is surprisingly easy to talk to, even banter with. Her parents keep her close, but they spend time together when they can every 2nd weekend when her parents visit the ski lodge.

Things start getting messy for Nelson when he meets Adele who is bright, chatty and also a film nut. She visits the lodge on the alternate weekends than Juliet. Nelson has gone from a girl’s rejection to two more girls interested in him, and sabotaging himself further, has entered the Whitt – an annual ski race – to try to impress.

This winter is not so much a learning curve for Nelson, but a slalom course that starts off nice and easy, then picks up speed towards an inevitable disaster.

He not only learns about himself, but also that people around him might be just as unsure or nervous as him in daily situations. Even after warnings come his way, the worst happens. Now he knows the truth early is much easier than too late apologies.

A light, funny, coming of age story about a 14 yr old boy, loosely based on the author’s own experience.

Author – Gabriel Bergmoser

Age – 13+

(2021, Harper Collins, Skiing, Competition, Race, Coming of Age, Truth, Lies by omission, Training, Ski Lodge, Restaurant, Loser, Picked on, No friends, School, Understanding, Humour, Romance, Sport)