WINNER, Red Cedar Nonfiction Award

Based on extensive interviews, My Left Skate: The Extraordinary Story of Eliezer Sherbatov is a first-person biography of a Jewish teenager who had it all on the hockey rink: guts, drive, and exceptional talent. When a freak accident leaves him with a permanent disability and no feeling below his left knee, everyone believes Eliezer's career is over - everyone except his mother, a professional power skating coach. She teaches Eliezer to skate using the muscles in his upper leg, and after two and a half years of operations and rehabilitation, he returns to the rink to become one of Quebec's elite junior players.

Still undrafted at age nineteen, Eliezer embarks on a professional career in Europe in the hopes of one day returning to the NHL. His travels lead him to France, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and to Poland, where he lives and plays hockey just a few kilometres from the Auschwitz death camp, haunted by memories of the past.

In its stunning conclusion, My Left Skate describes Eliezer's life in Ukraine and his struggle to escape from war after Russia invades the very region in which he plays.

"Eliezer Sherbatov scores a hat trick with My Left Skate. This story is wonderfully told: gritty, inspiring, joyful at times and sad at other moments. He deserves to be a hockey hero for all that he has survived." - Marty Klinkenberg, The Globe and Mail

ANNA ROSNER is a teacher and writer. She is the author of two highly praised hockey biographies for young readers — Journeyman: The Story of NHL Right Winger Jamie Leach (finalist for the High Plains Book Award) and My Left Skate: The Extraordinary Story of Eliezer Sherbatov (finalist for the Red Cedar Book Award). 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.

Anna Rosner's profile page

WINNER, Red Cedar Award
SHORTLISTED, Snow Willow Award

"Sherba­tov's story will be of interest to readers who love sports and has the potential to inspire many others. It shows how challenges that may seem insurmountable can be met with courage, persistence, and a strong will to succeed." - Michal Hoschan­der Malen, Jewish Book Council

"'Tis the Season for a heartwarming hockey tale" - The National Post

"Eliezer's story is one of incredible courage, dedication and endurance." - Winnipeg Free Press

"My Left Skate is a phenomenally inspiring story! I couldn’t put it down. Anna Rosner delivers again with her great story telling." - NHL Stanley Cup Champion and Indigenous alumni, Jamie Leach

"I have been fortunate to interview a number of Hockey Hall of Famers through the years, and have read many sports-related books, and none of the stories have been more surprising, interesting and just plain enjoyable to read than My Left Skate by Anna Rosner. His story is a TV miniseries needing to be made. The heart and determination of Sherbatov to play the game he loves should be inspiring to readers of all ages." - Calvin Daniels, author and sports journalist

"This powerfully written story of Eliezer Sherbatov has multiple layers of determination, perseverance, and courage. It is so much more than a sport story and captures immigration, war, and Jewish pride during trying times. Anna Rosner packed a lot into MY LEFT SKATE, a book for all ages, adults included. It should be in every school library!" - Lorna Schultz Nicholson, award-winning author of over 45 books for children and young adults