Power Play in Washington

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

The Screech Owls latest adventure finds them right in the middle of what
seems like a war zone. It turns out that the team is in the
high-security neighborhood of the president of the United States and the
Secret Service has just blown up Nish’s hockey equipment. It is
exciting to be in Washington, D.C., and to be playing against the
president’s son in the tournament, but the extra security surrounding
the event is not just annoying, it’s downright dangerous. Nish manages
to inadvertently uncover a plot to assassinate the president, but not
before he uncovers himself—to the eye-rolling exasperation of his
teammates.

With his usual panache, Roy MacGregor balances suspense with humor,
sports action with personality, and travel and history with imagination
in a story that is bound to entertain with its punchy style and lively
characters as much as it educates with its informative travel
experiences and true-life hockey experiences. The tone changes
effortlessly from high action to thoughtful contemplation, as the
story’s many disparate elements are skilfully brought together. Of
particular note is the very touching description of the team’s visit
to the Vietnam War Memorial. The Screech Owls series deserves a place in
every child’s collection. Highly recommended.