by Bruce Brooks
First published 1998
Shark takes to the ice with growing confidence in his hockey skills. His stick handling improves and his shots find their mark more often. But success changes how he plays the game. He stops passing to open teammates. He keeps the puck when others are better positioned to score. His individual performance climbs while his relationships with fellow players crumble. The other boys on his team grow frustrated with his ball hogging behavior. They start avoiding him during practice and giving him cold shoulders in the locker room. Shark realizes that the nickname he adopted for himself carries no weight with teammates who no longer respect his character. True recognition from others cannot simply be claimed through words. It must be demonstrated through actions that show respect for the team over personal glory.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, sports, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-arc, found-family
Library Binding · Demco Media