• Age: 10 to 13
• Grade: 4 to 8
• Reading age: 7 to 10

Hockey is all Tyler ever wanted to do. But when he finally makes the Select team, things aren't how he imagined it. Tyler divides his time between playing for fun in house league and playing high-stakes hockey in Select. But trying to succeed at both is wearing him down: the house league team accuses him of holding back, and the pressure to win during Select games is immense. And the pressure isn't just coming from the players and the coach, it's coming from somewhere much closer to home -- his hockey-loving mom. Tyler's burnt out and feeling crushed by the stress, but how can he give up the game he loves?

In Making Select, author Steven Barwin tackles a hockey issue that has been much talked in recent years -- youth hockey burnout.

Steven Barwin is a middle school teacher. He is the author of Hurricane Heat in the Orca Sport series and several Lorimer Sports Stories novels, including Fadeaway, Rock Dogs, SK8ER and Icebreaker, which was chosen as a Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens selection.

Steven Barwin's profile page

"The situation in which Tyler finds himself will resonate with many students who have made sacrifices for their dreams. The book can also be used to start a dialogue about the importance of balance in one's life. Making Select will make an excellent addition to a library collection and a possible choice for novel studies. Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"..depicts parents who, at first, seem uncaring but after better communicating together, end up supporting their child's life choices....includes enough sports scenes to propel the action. These satisfying reads are good for reluctant readers, especially those with sports interests..."

VOYA (U.S.)

"Tyler is a strong character...Secondary characters advance the story...the dialogue rings true...Those middle school readers who struggle with finishing a book will be comfortable with this short novel that addresses a real problem for younger elite athletes."
Rated G - Good, even great at times, generally useful

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