• Age: 10 to 13
• Grade: 3
• Reading age: 8 to 9

With no team in rural Innisfil, Zoey tries out for Bantam girls team the Barrie Sharks. She makes the cut and, knowing that the income from her family's farm won't cover the fees, pushes herself to overcome her shyness and try to raise her own funding. Zoey's talent and eagerness on the ice impress Coach Mikom, team captain Tia, and goalie Anika. But her skills challenge rich Mel for prominence on the team. Teammate Kat makes Zoey embarrassed by her rural background, and Zoey's shame at her father's behaviour at a game gives a player on another team the opportunity to bully Zoey, make her lose her temper and interfere with her game.

ALEX O?BRIEN left a career in human resources to write novels, scripts and songs. He has been a finalist and winner of several writing competitions. He is the author of the Lorimer sports story The Playmaker. Alex lives in Parry Sound, Ontario.

Alex O'Brien's profile page

"Well-written, with an exciting action-driven plot and plenty of hockey lingo, it will be sure to engage not only the expected hockey enthusiasts, but also those looking to branch out to the sports novel genre."

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