TBC: Power Plays

One of the things I enjoy doing when I travel is reading. It's a good way to pass the time while sitting in a car, on a plane, on a train, or whatever mode of transportation one chooses, but I find it's also a good way to pass some time while winding down the day. In saying that, I grabbed four books in Saskatoon this past weekend as there was a chance to meet the author at the Saskatchewan Huskies' games this weekend! Teebz's Book Club is proud to review Power Plays, written by Maureen Ulrich and published by Wood Dragon Books, as the first book in Maureen's series about Jessie McIntyre, the protagonist of her stories! Jessie is 14 years-old and new to Estevan, Saskatchewan after her family moved there from Saskatoon, so you know there will be some drama as she navigates her way through junior high school and life!

From her bio on the Wood Dragon Books website, "Maureen was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan but grew up in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. In 1976, she returned to Saskatoon to attend university and graduated in 1980 with an education degree. Her first teaching assignment was in Lampman, Saskatchewan, and she has pretty much lived there ever since. Maureen has been writing plays for young people since 1997. In her free time – of which there is not a great deal – Maureen loves to read and write, travel, knit, hang out at rinks and ball diamonds, golf, ski, and ride her motorcycle." It should be noted that Maureen's Jessie Mac series is made up for four books: Power Plays, Face Off, Breakaway, and Shootout!

One doesn't have to wait long to get into Jessie McIntyre's story or problems of being the new girl at school after her family's move to Estevan as the opening scene in Power Plays sees Jessie daydreaming in class only to be caught by the teacher who wants to speak to her after class!

Needless to say, the focus on Jessie's day-to-day life in Estevan is a large part of Power Plays as we meet the young protagonist who initially wants nothing to do with hockey thanks to a few bullies who make her life difficult. What Jessie finds out, however, is that there are girls who are more welcoming than the ones giving her problems. She'll find friendships, she'll find smiles and laughs, and she may just find out she likes hockey. If only it weren't for Kim who seems to be her mortal enemy.

Kim plays hockey as well, but Kim has done everything to ruin Jessie's life since arriving at Estevan Junior High. Following a rather scary incident involving some older kids, Jessie finds herself in some hot water thanks to Kim' scheming, and this is where she meets Tara, Shauna, Kathy, Teneil, and Miranda who make up part of the Xtreme hockey team after being enrolled in hockey. Through her interactions with the girls on the Xtreme, Jessie begins to rediscover what fun is and what friendship is after feeling alone since the move.

It's also where she first discovers Mark, a young man whose eyes melt Jessie each and every time she sees them. Jessie struggles with the fact that Mark and Tara seem close as she wrestles with her own feelings towards Mark until she and Mark have a discussion where she makes it clear that Mark is a bit of a jerk for getting close to Jessie when he has a girlfriend in Tara. Jessie feels guilty about what was said, but she's also afraid to say anything to Mark after her outburst. Can she make find a way to close that gap?

Power Plays is, ultimately, a hockey story with the ups and downs of everyday life for a teenager laid over top of it. The girls play hockey, they experience wins and losses, and they face challenges at tournaments and at Provincials, but they work through both the hockey and life situations with teamwork, understanding, discussion, and some determination. The question is whether or not they find success in these actions in learning, growing, and excelling together.

I will say that Power Plays was very realistic in terms of how Maureen Ulrich depicted things like bullying, underage drinking, peer pressure, and dating at a young age. Her knowledge of hockey, after years spent at the rink with her own daughter, is clearly evident, and her experience with teens as a teacher shines through in Power Plays. Maureen doesn't shy away from the tough topics when it comes to Jessie's experiences, and I'm glad she's shining a light on the situations in which Jessie finds herself.

Overall, Power Plays was a fairly easy read for me as I was captivated by the story that Maureen wrote. The 176-page book shouldn't trip anyone up too much, and there are lessons woven into the story throughout Jessie's adventure. Because Maureen weaves these lessons into a realistic and entertaining story about being a teenager and dealing with everything thrown Jessie's way including her first venture into hockey, Power Plays is absolutely deserving of the Teebz's Book Club Seal of Approval!

There are situations and discussions that wouldn't be suitable for younger kids, but the vast majority of Power Plays deals with moments that young men and women will experience. Because of this, I'd have to say that Power Plays would earn a PG-13 rating, and I'd recommend this book for teens and older. Look for Power Plays at your local bookstore or library today!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!