Roughing

Theresa Paltzat is the Smart Search librarian at the Edmonton Public
Library.

Roughing is the second story about young hockey player Josh, who was
introduced in Nicholson’s book Interference (2004).

Josh has been invited to an elite hockey camp in Calgary with other
promising young hockey players. He has recently been diagnosed with Type
1 diabetes and this will be his first time away from home dealing with
his blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections. Unfortunately,
diabetes is not the only worry that Josh has at camp. Kevin, a young
superstar at the camp, often bullies the boys who are impressed with his
skill and want to be his friend. Although Josh is excited about the
camp, he soon has the added complication of having a roommate who is not
popular with Kevin and some of the other players. Josh must deal with
the peer pressure of wanting to be liked by the “in” crowd, but
still wanting to be friendly with his roommate, a Native from the
Northwest Territories.

Lorna Nicholson has a background in athletics and understands the
excitement of a sports camp and the sport of hockey itself. Young boys
should enjoy reading about how a hockey camp is run, particularly at a
Hockey Canada location. Nicholson addresses two serious topics in
diabetes and bullying but she doesn’t focus her book on these things.
Josh’s diabetes and the consequences of a potential hazing are not
treated in a preachy manner that would offend young readers.
Recommended.