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“Conor MacRae may not be a stellar student, but the half-Japanese 11-year-old is a champ on the ice…Revealing the sacrifices young athletes and their families must often make, National Book Award winner Kadohata creates a deeply poignant story about a boy sorting out his priorities… Despite its sad moments, Kadohata’s story is uplifting on balance, sensitively showing how Conor’s hardships have made him wiser and more realistic without diminishing his passions.”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Immediately engaging, this perceptive novel focuses on the intricacies of Conor’s day-to-day life, while exploring his unusually close relationships with Dad and Sinbad, his attempts to cope during a period of ongoing crisis, and the alternate universe that is the ice during lessons, practices, and games…Kadohata offers a vivid, memorable portrayal of a boy within his family, his sport, and his gradually broadening world.”

—Booklist, Starred Review

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Written by Cynthia Kadohata
Illustrated by Maurizio Zorat
Published by Simon & Schuster

Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too—and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

Primary ISBN: 9781481446617
Publication Date: February 2018
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 10 or older

Community Represented: ,

Themes: , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Los Angeles CA)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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