Eyes on Ice by Anna Rosner is a gripping historical fiction novel for young readers, set in 1963 Czechoslovakia under a harsh Communist regime. With its historical accuracy and compelling story, Eyes on Ice also offers young readers a window into the impact of politics on everyday life, showing how the boys navigate their love for hockey while confronting deeper issues of justice and loyalty. The book is great at pacing and at teaching important values like standing up for family and personal beliefs​(

This book really surprised me - it was a little slow in the beginning, but that may be due to the fact that the book needed to establish what Communist Czechoslovakia was like during that time for a larger audience. The storyline is riveting, a great read for older Middle Grade patrons who like historical fiction, like sports stories, and like suspense.

Eyes on the Ice was a fun and quick middle grade read. I think that it serves as a great tool not only get students excited to read because of the hockey aspect, but it also serves as a great launching point for how the Cold War impacted people behind the Iron Curtain. I loved reading about the family dynamic in the story but also family dynamics between the friends. There were some issues with pacing where I felt like the story moved forward or around with little direction but I also think that may have been how the book was formatted while I read. Overall this was a quick and easy read that would definitely excite and engage young readers to learn more about an era of history not often focused on.