This new book is patterned after the Choose Your Own Adventure books with a few 
brilliant changes. You play the role of Adam, the best hockey goalie on his team, at least until your twin sister begins to show off her skills. The girls team dissolved after not have enough players so she’s joined the guys.
Your goal is a happy ending with a win in the championship. The decisions you make are awarded with Talent Points for confidence, skill, speed, and teamwork. You keep track of them in a chart at the back of the book. Getting to the big game could be rough depending on the choices you make in your on-ice play and in your relationship with your sister and teammates. You won’t have to read far before you are directed to another part of the story based on your answer to a question or on how many talent points you’ve earned (… go to page 27 or …. go to page 18).
I read the story several times to see how my choices played out. More than once I ended up at the dreaded page informing me my season is over, but I did finally make it to the final page of victory. Reluctant readers and sports lovers will enjoy every moment of this hockey themed book. It’s a fun page turner in more ways than one.
PUBLICATION DATE: 2016 PAGE COUNT: 160
FULL PLOT (From Amazon) You may have read sports books before, but you’ve never read one like this. You’re the main character, and it’s up to you to Save the Season! As the starting goalie for the local boys’ hockey team, you’ve got a good thing going. At least, you did. Now, you’re living a nightmare: The team’s new backup goalie might actually be better than you, and she’s your sister! Can you improve your skills and help the team become champions? Or will you lose the big tournament? Save the Season! isn’t like other hockey books for kids. With an interactive format, your choices affect the story’s outcome. Plus, it’s a game within a game: Collect points for your decisions in order to upgrade your character’s hockey skills. So read the book by Lisa M. Bolt Simons, collect the points, and choose to win!
FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: SAVE THE SEASON by Lisa M. Bolt Simons
- There’s a lot of hockey action along with the events of everyday life when Adam is home with family. A very realistic portrayal.
- Girls will enjoy this one as much as boys, especially with a discrimination theme running throughout as Anna does not get much playing time on this all boys team.
- Keeping track of Talent Points kept you motivated to make the right decision. A great addition.
- Hurray for a book with a two parent family. They do still exist in MG!
- The decision making continues as you decide which book to read next. There are two more titles in the series featuring soccer (GOAL-MINDED) and baseball (OUT AT HOME).
FAVORITE LINES:
For a moment, you think maybe he’ll pass it to Ty. On the other hand, Billy’s favorite shot is the five hole–the open space between your legs–because his shot is so quick. Should you play against the pass, or will you concentrate on protecting the five hole? What will you choose to do?
AUTHOR QUOTE: On December 21, 1972, my dad, the slot pilot with the United States Air Force Thunderbird squadron, slammed into the Nevada earth in his F-4. The crew chief in the back seat, on the final flight of his Thunderbird tour, was killed with him.
My dad was 30 years old; I was 3 1/2.
The only memory I own of my dad are of his hands typing. It wasn’t until I was writing a book about him that a friend pointed out what should’ve been obvious: my only memory is of my dad typing. Writing. What you do, Lisa.
(For more insights about her life and other books visit Lisa’s Web Page )
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If you missed my GOLDEN CUP AWARDS post from last week, CLICK HERE. You will find all of my favorite MG reading moments from 2016 and have a chance to win a $25 Starbucks gift card!
Make a comment below if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them.
Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.
Always in the Middle... 
Sounds like a great way to get kids to read since it’s like a game. Never heard of this type of book before. Thanks for sharing about it.
Lisa’s books sound like a great way to engage kids in reading and sports. I have one of her books to review and haven’t gotten to it because of my TBR pile.
Oooo! My kids are going to love this. Well, they better because I’ve spent enough time brainwashing them into loving Choose Your Own Adventure books. Thanks, Greg.
what fun! I love creative interactive books. And hockey.
I really like hockey, and Choose Your Own Adventures, so I will definitely read this one! Thanks for the review!
That’s an interesting take on a book. Very creative and I’m sure kids will love it.
Interesting! My niece and nephews love hockey, and there aren’t a ton of books about it, so I’ll have to send them over here to read your review!
Oh, that’s so sad about the author’s father. But touching that her one memory is of him typing. Anyway, the book sounds like a wild adventure. I can see kids devouring this.
What a heart wrenching quote about the author’s dad! I never read a choos-you-own-adventure book as a kid, but it seems like it would be really fun.
What a great concept – to create a choose-your-own-adventure style of book about sports!!
This is such a brilliant idea! I’m not usually drawn to the sports books, but I’d pick this one up. How could I resist?
Thanks for the recommend, and happy MMGM!
You had me at hockey, one of my two favorite sports. (Go, Sharks!) This sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for letting me know about it. I enjoyed your review.
Thanks so much for the great review, Greg! I also appreciated the comments from others. I hope you enjoy my books; they were a bit challenging to write, but this former hockey mom also had a lot of fun doing so. 🙂