New York Times bestselling author Michael Northrop captures the middle-school experience -- from the hurt to the hope -- in this powerful story of creativity in the face of cruelty.Life for 12-year-old Ked Eakins isn't easy. The school bully is after him, a lump on his back makes him a social outcast, and his dad has gambled away their rent money.Though it seems like he should just give up, Ked determines it's time to take his life back. He hatches a scheme to make enough money to save their home: He's going to rebuild an old motor bike and sell it at a profit. But the plan is a gamble of his own, and what seemed like a good idea quickly lands him in deeper trouble.Ked has his determination and creativity, however, and the school's Maker Space provides him with a place to build. Can Ked and the other Makers save his family from going under?This underdog tale about a unique middle schooler is Michael Northrop at his gritty, gripping, unflinching best. It is a powerful portrait of a failing factory town and the families who are being dragged down with it. Ultimately, On Thin Ice is about daring to create when your whole world is crumbling.