Author: Shari Green
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Pages: 376
Release Date: 5/Sep/23
Reviewer: Kathie
Happy book birthday to GAME FACE by Shari Green!
This excellent upper middle-grade novel in verse by one of my favourite Canadian authors looks at how a 13-year-old hockey player experiences anxiety both on and off the ice. Jonah and his best friend have big dreams of playing professional hockey, but Jonah already gets sick to his stomach from the pressure. When Ty has a life-threatening medical emergency during a game, Jonah’s “what ifs” and fears escalate. Unable to talk to his dad, who struggles with his own anxiety following Jonah’s mom’s death, Jonah befriends the girl next door and eventually realizes that some problems are too big to handle alone.
I love that this story talks about the anxiety many kids experience playing amateur sports and the stigma that can accompany it, but this is so much more than just a “sports book.” There’s the relationship between Jonah and his father (which, as a parent with anxiety issues, really hit home for me) and his Oma, changing and new friendships, and how school and family life impact, and are impacted by, mental health issues. I think this story is an important addition to the books aimed at older middle-grade readers, and its format and length would make it an excellent class read-aloud to discuss with students.
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