Deflection!

Liz Dennett is a public service librarian in the Science and Technology
Library at the University of Alberta.

During the hockey season, the Bear Claws are continually matched up
against the Cougars, one of the toughest teams in town. With each
hard-fought game, the Bear Claws slowly improve their play, becoming
more competitive, but they cannot seem to win. Jake Henry is the
team’s goalie. Team morale is not helped by Jake’s rivalry with its
other goalie, Victoria. They used to be good friends, but now Victoria
wants to be the full-time goalie, an idea that her parents strongly
support. Jake’s life is further complicated by his family, which
Victoria describes as “weird, but nice.”

Jake’s three grandfathers are the team’s biggest fans, and his dad
and stepdad are also usually in attendance. Everyone gets along well in
Jake’s family, but they can be embarrassing. One grandpa plays
old-time fiddle music and rings cowbells during the game—occasionally
for the wrong team. The other two interfere in practices and repeatedly
offer unsolicited words of advice, such as “keep your stick on the
ice” and “wrist it, wrist it.” In the end, the Bear Claws win one
when it counts, thanks in part to some unlikely coaching on deflections
from Jake’s fiddle-playing grandpa.

Bill Swan sends some subtle messages about adults who interfere with
children’s hockey, but most of the reader’s time and attention is
focused on the fast-paced hockey battles on the ice. Young readers will
enjoy the action and the Bear Claws’ struggles against their tough
opponents. Recommended.