Overview
In 1963, under the brutal Communist regime, two hockey-loving brothers must throw a game in a Soviet-Czech tournament to help their imprisoned father. Ten-year-old Lukas and his brother Denys want nothing more than to play hockey, but it's 1963, and they live in Czechoslovakia, where the secret police (the ""Eye"") are constantly on the lookout for anyone committing crimes against the state -- whether that be reading a magazine about the NHL or saying anything negative about the Communist regime. Lukas's father works for a newspaper, and printing the truth is a dangerous activity. The family is poor, but hockey is the one bright light for the boys. They learn to skate on a bumpy outdoor rink in a city park. And when their talent is noticed, they are encouraged to try out for a local youth league, where they are thrilled to play in a real arena for the first time. Then the boys' father is arrested. No one knows where he has been taken or when he might be coming home. Lukas and Denys soon realize they are being watched, too, and when the secret police promise them information about their father if they help throw a game against a visiting Soviet team, Lukas must make some difficult decisions that may endanger his family and his friends, as he faces some tough questions about what loyalty really means. Key Text Features author's note biographical information chapters dialogue glossary historical note Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.7 Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they ""see"" and ""hear"" when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
Full Product Details
Author: Anna Rosner
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Imprint: Groundwood Books
ISBN: 9781773067377
ISBN 10: 1773067370
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 17 October 2024
Recommended Age: From 9 to 12 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Unknown
Availability: Available To Order
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.
Reviews
"Readers will cheer for Lukas and Denys, fear for their safety, and rejoice when the siblings get to play hockey. A book sure to delight sports and historical fiction fans. -- ""School Library Journal"" Rosner strikes just the right balance ... She maintains suspense through strategic pacing as Lukas encounters peril. An absorbing window into recent history. -- ""Kirkus Reviews"""
"Rosner strikes just the right balance ... She maintains suspense through strategic pacing as Lukas encounters peril. An absorbing window into recent history. -- ""Kirkus Reviews"""
Author Information
ANNA ROSNER is a teacher and writer who holds a PhD in French literature. She is the award-winning author of two hockey biographies for young readers -- Journeyman: The Story of NHL Right Winger Jamie Leach and My Left Skate: The Extraordinary Story of Eliezer Sherbatov. Anna is the director of Books with Wings, which provides new, quality picture books for Indigenous children living in isolated communities. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
