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2026 Rainbow Book List

“Confident prose renders distinctively drawn characters alongside exhilarating hockey action, shining a light on girls in sports, specifically ice hockey.”

—Publishers Weekly

“The continuing rapid growth of girls’ ice hockey expands the audience for Deibert’s enjoyable first novel.”

—Booklist

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot

Written by Emily Deibert
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

After a lifetime of humiliating sports experiences, Bea Mullins knows the best way to survive middle school is to stick to the sidelines. When PE is suddenly canceled, though, Bea is forced to join an after-school activity…which is how she ends up as a member of the Glenwood Geese, her middle school’s first all-girls hockey team.

Bea would be happy sitting on the bench, but she doesn’t want to let down her best friend, Celia. Plus, the more time Bea spends on the rinks, the more she comes to enjoy her teammates, especially the incredibly talented—and incredibly cool—co-captain Gabi. But when low funding puts the Geese in danger of never playing again, Bea realizes she may lose everything she didn’t know she wanted.

A hilarious and heartfelt middle-grade contemporary about first crushes and fierce friendships from debut author Emily Deibert

Primary ISBN: 9780593808894
Publication Date: September 2025
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older

Community Represented: ,

Themes: , , , ,

Setting: Canada

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant, Unknown Arrival

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