I read this in 1976 and still remember how much I enjoyed the story of quiet, serious, careful Harriet turning out to have a future as a competitive skater, while her more glamorous, envious friend realizes she’s better suited as a performer and both can be happy.

Of course it was re-watching You've Got Mail that made me think of reading a "Shoes" book for the first time--I'd read all the other books recommended, so why not these? And Skating Shoes was very enjoyable. Streatfeild reminds me of Eva Ibbotson, with her humor (brother Edward was delightful) and interesting small story.

Harriet takes up skating to recover her strength after an illness and meets Lalla, the original over-scheduled child. Harriet is poor in money but rich in family, Lalla the opposite.

There are some things you wouldn't find in a contemporary children's book: lone girls getting a ride home from the family doctor, the skate-fitter feeling up Harriet's calves to determine muscle tone, and skaters doing required figures! I remember when they eliminated those from competitive skating, after I'd already taken a couple figures classes and proved pretty lousy at them.

Anyhow, a worthwhile read, and I'll certainly read Ballet Shoes when it comes in at the library.

I stole this off my mum's shelf when I was about 12 and for some reason kept the book all these years. It's moved from shelf to shelf throughout various house moves but I've never re-read it, until back in December it suddenly popped into my head again. I think my brain somehow remembered its soothing, reassuring nature, and knew it was the right book for this time in my life.

Four years ago my son, now nearly 8, fell ill with JDM. The symptoms are very much the same as how Harriet's illness is depicted (no spoilers - this is page 1 stuff!), it's a muscle weakening condition that appears in childhood. Our path through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery has been extremely long and, frankly, harrowing at times. But in the past year we have finally allowed hope to settle, and been a bit more comfortable with the idea of a full recovery in our future.

I couldn't have read this book a year or two ago while we were in the middle of it, but now he is on his way to a full recovery it resurfaced in my mind. I still had tears in my eyes in certain passages, but not in a painful way.

You know, not a lot really happens but it is endearingly written and the story bobs along pleasantly enough. Obviously it has a lot of personal meaning being both a childhood book of mine and taking on a new aspect recently, so any attempt to review this as a book in its own right is going to be hard. It's a nice story, with keenly observed childhood characters and relationships. It forms a charming window into a certain type of 1950s world, though aside from the house-staff it has a timeless quality to it and could just as well be set today. The ending's wrapped up nicely enough, but I'd have liked to see Harriet pass her tests, to be privy to a real sense of her embarking into her future.

Objectively, whisper it, it's probably a 3 star book, but it'll always have a special place in my heart.

I have always loved Noel Streatfeild's books and as a child I got my library to ILL them for me or hunted through second hand book stores to find all of them. She tells the perfect "girls stories". I was always able to find one character in each book that was my favorite. They definitely stand up to re-reads.

I did enjoy some of this book, but I felt there were some lengthy passages and some things that felt banged in there, just for culture's sake, but out of place (Shakespeare etc..)...
Some good themes though, about pushing children to achieve...

I somehow missed this one during childhood. Not as precious as Ballet Shoes, but still an enjoyable read with all the Streatfeild hallmarks.

Why did Meg Ryan’s character in You’ve Got Mail cry about how much she loved this book? I kept hoping to find out, but my feeling by the end was relief that the story was over. Passages like this one did me in: “Because of this talk with Mr. Pulton, Alec told Harriet to ask Lalla if he and Toby could come over and look at her piece of garden before Aunt Claudia came back.” And this: “Mr. Matthews telephoned Aunt Claudia and asked if she would see Max Lindblom, explaining what it was about. That same evening Uncle David telephoned George and asked if Olivia would come to tea the next day to discuss the whole thing. Finally Aunt Claudia told Lalla and Nana, and Olivia told Harriet.” Each time I came across a passage like these, I had to stop and think about each character, for the author forgot to hand out distinguishing characteristics. Sorry, Meg.

I loved this book as a girl and was delighted to share with my daughters. Whilst the language is slightly dated the story was enjoyable and a great discussion starter around topics such as should children do chores, concept of entitlement and how expectations of what children are given has changed over the years

Love 'Ballet Shoes' but this didn't do much for me.

Skating Shoes was a wonderful addition in the Shoes Series. Young Harriet Johnson is to take up ice skating to make her legs and body stronger after being very sick. She meets Lalla Moore on her first day, who’s been groomed to be a champion skater like her deceased father since birth. The book is more or less about watching their friendship blossom.

All the the Johnson family are admirable and make a whimsical cast of characters. Though Lalla herself comes off as spoiled, she remains inherently a sweet girl and her tantrums and “moments” are justifiable by Streatfield. In comparison to Ballet Shoes, I definitely enjoyed this book much more as I was able to enjoy the girls and everyone around them much more. Writing wise, it’s written similarly to Streatfield’s other books in an episode like format that I absolutely love.

My one complaint about the book is there was no real closure in the end. We don’t really get to see what becomes of Lalla or Harriet the way we did in Ballet Shoes with Pauline, Petrova, and Posy and it’s unknown whether either girl gets to ascended to champion skater status

Ahhh, I found this book so relaxing. Nothing seemed rushed or anything, it just gave me a really relaxing experience, which I guess is why I like this so much. The first few chapters, I was unsure, but it slowly got better and better and I found it just wanting me to go ice skating!!! I found some words in this book funny - cotton-woolish and mad-dogish - I just found it unique and I would love to borrow some of those words for my own books I'm writing!
Lalla and Harriet had such an interesting friendship that kept me hooked! 4 stars :D ;)