Description
Fresh off the plane from Vancouver, sixteen-year-old hockey player Aaron Wong is excited to be starting his first year at Podium, the Calgary school for top teen athletes. Aaron has to make friends and fit in at a new high school, while also adjusting to a new home and a family with a different culture than his own. Luckily, he finds a tight-knit group of friends who are elite athletes in their own sports to help show him the ropes.
Things seem to be going well for the rookie -- but the hockey team captain has it in for him. Aaron's world is turned upside down when the captain makes him the target of a brutal hazing at the team's first party. To turn his year around, Aaron has to overcome his embarrassment about the incident and confide in friends and coaching staff.
[Fry reading level - 3.0
Contributor Notes
LORNA SCHULTZ NICHOLSON has written picture books, middle grade and YA fiction, and non-fiction. She has also written, produced, and hosted programs for television and radio, and is well known in Western Canada for her print journalism, including sports writing. Lorna regularly visits schools to share her passion for literacy with students. She lives in Edmonton with her husband and their two dogs.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 13 to 18
- Grade:
- 8 to 12
- Reading age:
- 13 to 18
Awards
- Commended, Best Books for Kids & Teens -- Canadian Children's Book Centre
Editorial Reviews
"The series promises to be a hit with both boys and girls, sports-minded or not, and will fill a need for sports fiction at the middle and senior years" Highly Recommended.
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"this short novel has plenty to say and says it in an involving way. The writing is accessible to high-school students reading below grade level."
— Booklist
"Carrie and Aaron are believable, sympathetic characters dealing with realistic situations that many teens can relate to. Their interactions with friends and family ring true, and the balance between school and sports is well done. Nicholson writes with a deft touch that will appeal to many readers"
— Sister's Library
"hi/lo books [that tackle difficult teen problems in an easy-to-read style"
— School Library Journal
"a perfect choice for the young reader in your life, especially if he or she is a reluctant reader"
— HockeyBookReviews.com
"Rookie is an excellent book that I think all young adults should read when it comes to the topic of hazing...because she handles this topic so well, Lorna Schultz Nicholson deserves major accolades for this book."
— Hockey Blog in Canada
