Hockey Girl

Gr 6–9—Female hockey fans will enjoy this book, but its appeal to anyone else is questionable. After winning a semifinal softball game, Tara and her best friend, Rachel, are drawn to join girls' ice hockey by a challenge from the boys' team: whichever team finishes lower in the standings has to be cheerleaders for the other the next season. The girls face an uphill battle in their hockey-crazy town, where girls' sports are given little respect. The sometimes humorous writing is a plus: "The puck dropped. Ten players fought over that little rubber disk like it was the last brownie in the pan." However, the funny parts don't negate the many sexist and embarrassing comments, and some of the chauvinistic dialogue seems dated and unenlightened. There are quite a few unexplained hockey terms that may confuse readers with no knowledge of the sport. And while the story, like a puck, moves quickly, it does not satisfy in the end.—Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI