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YA Review: Michigan vs the Boys by Carrie S. Allen

Title: Michigan vs the Boys
AuthorCarrie S. Allen
Year Published: 2019

Genre: YA fiction
Pages: 299
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Location (my 2019 Google Reading map)USA (MI)

FTC Disclosure: I bought this book with my own money

Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Michigan Manning lives for hockey, and this is her year to shine. That is, until she gets some crushing news: budget cuts will keep the girls' hockey team off the ice this year. If she wants colleges to notice her, Michigan has to find a way to play.

Luckily there's still one team left in town...

The boys' team isn't exactly welcoming, but Michigan's prepared to prove herself. She plays some of the best hockey of her life, in fact, all while putting up with changing in the broom closet, constant trash talk and "harmless" pranks that always seem to target her.

But once hazing crosses the line into assault, Michigan must weight the consequences of staying silent--even if it means putting her future on the line.

Review: As soon as I read the summary of this book, I knew I had to read it. It combines sports, girl power, conflict, and, I hoped, resolution and justice.

Well, good choice. This book is really good and tells an important story. Michigan Manning is such a strong sixteen-year-old. She is smart and athletic and devastated when the school cancels her hockey team. The only solution seems to be to try out for the boys' team and she makes it. Not only does she make it, but she does really well. Too well for the liking of the certain boys on the team.

The other side of this story, which we don't hear about first hand, is how the boys feel. All we see is the anger of a few senior members of the team, the hazing, and the escalating abuse. Should Michigan say something or keep it to herself? Who can she tell? Her parents, her boyfriend, her coach? What will happen if she doesn't tell? What will happen if she does. You'll have to read it to find out; it's a book that should be in every high school library.

Challenges for which this counts: none

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