Home Ice

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

Tori Hayley, 12, loved her home by the lake in Orillia, Ontario, where
she played sports year round. But winter was especially fun playing
hockey on the lake with her friends and older brothers. Because of some
family health problems, Tori is sent to Toronto to live with relatives.
At first she is homesick and lonely, but she soon decides to visit the
local rink and ends up joining a hockey team. Some of the players
don’t want a girl on their team, and Tori is forced to put up with
practical jokes and mean comments. She is used to proving herself,
though.

Before long, Tori finds herself helping her new friend, Mary (an
out-of-shape, hockey-hating girl who plays for the competition), and
Roberto, one of her linemates, to improve. Through Tori’s coaching and
encouragement during extra skating practices, they both make solid
progress. In the end, Tori wins the respect of her teammates, and the
whole team plays better.

While the plot is fairly predictable, the focus is on teamwork and
working hard rather than on individual heroism. Tori is an energetic and
charming character who will inspire her readers to want to lead active
lives. Young female athletes will relate well to her struggles and cheer
her triumphs. Recommended.