Power Play
Power Play
“My point,” Bosko said, in that deep voice, “is that when Coach says run – “
“We run?” Chris asked.
“Bingo,” Bosko said.
Since everybody respected Bosko (a lot more than they respected me!) that ended the conversation and I didn’t even hear any grumbling when they left in groups of two and three to meet Dad by the rink
When it was down to just me and Bosko in the locker room, I felt like I had to say something. “Thanks for standing up for my dad. I mean, his practice ideas and all that.”
Bosko shrugged. “I trust him. The guy almost went pro, so obviously he knows what he’s doing.”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“You should be backing him up, Nugget.”
What?
“I have been,” I told him. Wasn’t he listening the whole time I tried to convince the guys?
“Not just in your head,” he said, giving me that look. “Why should any of them trust what he says if his own kid doesn’t?”
“Didn’t you hear me? I was trying to tell them- “
“Not trying very hard,” he said.
I sighed.
He was probably right.
Why did he always have to right?
Power Play includes two previously published novels, Hat Trick, which was reviewed in CM, and Line Change, which was not and is, therefore, the focus of this review. Line Change picks up a little after Hat Trick ends and again follows J.T. “Nugget” McDonald and his hockey team, the Cougars. Now that Nugget has his math grades up to standard with the help of his new teammate, tutor, and friend Eddie Bosko, the focus of this second book in Mack’s hockey-focused series spends almost all its time at the rink (or near the rink, or talking about the rink).
When Coach O’Neal slips and falls on the ice at the end of a game, Gord McDonald, Nugget’s dad, steps up to volunteer as coach while O’Neal recovers. As a former player (scouted by the Flames) and a referee, Gord knows a thing or two about hockey and is looking forward to bringing new and exciting ideas to the Cougars’ practice.
These changes, however, are drastic on a short timeline and rub both some players and their parents the wrong way. Gord is clearly knowledgeable and a skilled coach, but he comes into his temporary position with guns blazing, changing everything from practice drills to the positions of many players. Nugget is torn between standing up for his father, which he wants to do, and siding with his teammates with whom he shares many of the same reservations. Beyond “just” hockey, Line Change deals with sports politics, internal conflict, and the importance of both sticking together as a team and standing up against bullies. Readers get to see Nugget grow through this experience, reflecting on his behaviour (both things he is proud of and not so proud of), as he learns from both his own mistakes and the actions of others.
As with the first installment, the language level and plot should engage with its target age range, though its size could be intimidating (especially in the two books’ combined format). There are a few gender-essentialist plotlines that aren’t necessary to advance the plot – Nugget’s mall- and phone-obsessed older sister gets into a texting-related car accident, some unnecessary incompetence from Gord on what was apparently his first morning ever getting Nugget ready for hockey practice, and the extra outrage at trading ice time for dry land training when the players realize that there was a girls team using the Cougars’ ice time – and take away from the strengths of the book while also alienating non-male readers and reinforcing this type of run-of-the mill sexism. This author has written a hockey novel for boys, and that focus should be taken into consideration when adding it to a collection.
Overall, Line Change is a well-written, engaging story about a hockey team and its players going through some growing pains.
Susie Wilson is the Data Services Librarian at the University of Northern British Columbia. When she isn’t at work, you’ll find her curled up with a cup of coffee and a good book.