Delaying the Game. (Sports Stories, No. 80). Lorna Schultz Nicholson. Toronto, ON: James Lorimer, 2005. 105 pp., pbk. & cl., $8.95 (pbk.), $16.95 (cl.). ISBN 1-55028-894-6 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55028-895-4 (cl.). Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12. Review by Ruth Scales McMahon. **½ /4

excerpt:

Tears welled up in her eyes and she jiggled her leg to try to stop them. She hated this crying stuff. What was wrong with her? Why was acting like such a girl. Last year, nothing had been complicated. Now, playing with girls, everything was complicated, especially her social life. How had this happened?

After practice, Kaleigh and Taylor walked to the lobby together. "That was a horrible practice," said Kaleigh.

"I didn't think so," replied Taylor. "Coach Dave has some fun drills. And I like his offensive attack strategy."

Usually Kaleigh loved hockey talk, but today she wanted to forget about practice. She pulled her bag behind her without commenting, the noise of the wheels echoing in the small hallway.

On the advice of Cassie Campbell and her coach from summer hockey camp, Kaleigh has switched from playing on a boys hockey team to playing on an all girls team in order to realize her dream of playing on the Olympic women's hockey team. This is an emotionally challenging switch for Kaleigh as a hockey player. Although the characters are somewhat conventional, there are nuances to each one that give them life. There is more to the story than Kaleigh's difficulty adjusting to the less physical brand of hockey. She is dealing with coming of age issues: infatuation, make-up, new friendships, team dynamics and a grandmother with Alzheimer's disease.

     The plot is straightforward but compelling, the hockey action is exciting, and the off-ice scenes plausible. This story is aimed solidly at girl hockey players, and, as such, Delaying the Game is a good addition to a library collection. The current Olympic hockey fever, as well as testimonials from Cassie Campbell and Wayne Gretzky on the cover, will help sail the book off the shelves.

Recommended.

Ruth Scales McMahon, of Lethbridge, AB, is a professional children's librarian, the co-chair of the Rocky Mountain Book Award and the mother of two young children.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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