Blue Ice by Estelle Salata

Design: Darrell McCalla
Published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside in U.S. and Canada 2001
Paperback 123 pages - $12.95 Canada/$7.95 U.S.

Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited 195 Allstate Parkway Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 4T8

To order:
Telephone: 905-477-9700 or toll free 800-387-9776
Fax: 905-477-9179 or toll free 800-260-9777
 

Nick Stirling figures his life is over. His dad's been laid off and doesn't seem to care, his family moves to a down-at-the-heels house on the wrong side of town, and Nick is transferred to another school. He can't play inline hockey anymore for the team sponsored by his dad's old company. And his new neighborhood has a team-the Phantoms-made up of a bunch of losers in old rollerblades who can't skate backward.
When Nick is asked to join the "losers" in a minor three-on-three tournament, he discovers that what they lack in skill they make up for in guts. After the Phantoms get a sponsor and a coach, Nick has a chance to make a difference with his new team. And for the first time, he begins to make real friends.
There's no way he'd ever go back to his old team, even if they begged. Or would he?

If  you would like to read a sample chapter click here

Book Review - The Hamilton Spectator
Blue Ice (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $12.95)

In the tennis courts at the end of our street, across the Linc from Lime Ridge Mall's new Bay store, there's always a crowd of kids whacking and hacking at each other in marathon roller-hockey matches. On the periphery, other kids do tricks on their stunt bikes and hoopsters try to hit nothing but net, but it's the hockey players who draw the admiring crowds. Such a scene is painted in Hamilton author Estelle Salata's Blue Ice (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $12.95).

Nick's dad lost his computer company job, and mom has to leave her art career to broker mortgages. They move downmarket from a ritzy neighbourhood and Nick has to suit up for the Northwood Phantoms, a team from the proverbial wrong side of the tracks, instead of the snooty Village Green Cyclones, the team from his old neighbourhood. The Cyclones are sponsored by the company that downsized Nick's dad, and the firm's owner has an interesting proposition for Nick, one that involves his dad getting his job back but only if Nick ditches the Phantoms and pulls on a Cyclone jersey.

Trouble is, Nick's dad has gone into deep funk, a downward spiral due to his inability to get another job, while Nick has made new friendships on his new team. He doesn't want to rejoin the Cyclones, but if he doesn't, his dad may never get a grip on his life again.

Complicating matters is Nick's school work-which has tumbled along with his father's moods-and Melissa, a beautiful mentor assigned to Nick by a guidance counsellor, who happens to be the girlfriend of the insanely jealous Bronco, the Cyclones star centre. What's a roller-rink hotshot to do?

Salata keeps things moving nicely, mixing breathtaking game action with the tough reality of Nick's home life. Nick has a tough decision-or two-to make. But as the Phantoms' head coach, pithy Rocky Restivo, says: "In the midst of every difficulty, lies opportunity." Rocky doesn't say much, but what he says is profound. And let's not skate around the issue: this book rolls right along and is a fine tale for middle-school readers.
-The Hamilton Spectator

Book Review - Resource Links
 

BLUE ICE (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $12.95)

Nick Stirling lives for inline hockey. His dad is laid off, his family has to move to a crummy house, he transfers schools, and now plays hockey for a crummy team with, gasp, a girl for a goalie. Life can't seem to get any worse especially since he is failing at school which means his parents won't let him play hockey. Nick discovers who the real losers and winners are in this gripping, action-packed story.

The play by play hockey action is so full of life that it promises to have even non-players on the edge of their seats. The tension at the arena is reflected in the difficult choices that Nick has to make with no adult help or advice. Nick has a chance to make a difference with his new team and a chance to make real friendships but the odds are touch, very tough.

An extremely well written book on all levels - style appeal, characterization, reality, moral choices and consequences. The main thrust of inline hockey may initially appeal to male audiences but the well crafted storyline will draw in female readers."
-Resource Links