• Age: 10 to 14
• Grade: 5 to 9

Charlie learns that sometimes the most heroic thing you can do is ask for help.

One night, Charlie's mom entrusts him with closing up the café while she runs an errand. Distracted by the rivals who come in to taunt him, Charlie completely forgets to turn off the stove when he leaves.

When Charlie and Pudge come back after their hockey game, they're devastated to find there has been a fire at the café. And the insurance company won't pay for the damage because Charlie is underage and shouldn't have been using the stove.

Charlie is overwhelmed by guilt. His hockey game and friendships suffer. And with bank payments looming, his mom decides she must take a job in another city.

When he finally tells his teammates what happened, they all suggest ways to help.

With support from the community, and relying on green principles, like using building materials that have been thrown out or are no longer needed (freecycling!), they pull together and pull it off at the last second!

DAVID SKUYis a lawyer, a writer and a Leafs fan to the core. He spent most of his childhood playing some sport or another: hockey, soccer, football, tennis and a few others. What he remembers most is the intensity, the competitiveness, and the sheer enjoyment of playing a sport you love when you’re young. He has written five books in the Game Time series, three in the Rocket Blues series, as well as the YA novel Undergrounders, winner of the Silver Birch Award. Visit him at www.davidskuy.com.

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