This trilogy by Fredrik Backman includes Beartown, Us Against You, and The Winners. It centers on a small Swedish town deep in the forest and their hockey club. I have reviewed Beartown previously but it is worth a second review.
In Beartown, the entire town is hopeful for big breaks when their hockey team is expected to play and even win the championship. Everything changes for the entire town when an unspeakable crime occurs. In Us Against You, the town is still dealing with the aftermath of what happened and after many of Beartown's hockey stars defect to Hed's team, their rival. A new coach is hired and the hockey team puts all their hope on Amat, Benji, and Vidar. Tensions between the two towns grow and leads to tragedy. In The Winners, it is Hed's hockey club that is facing bankruptcy and possible disbandment sparking even more apprehension between Hed and Beartown. A huge windstorm destroys Hed's hockey rink creating more of rift when Hed's teams are forced to practice at Beartown's hockey rink. However, Hed's hockey club is not the only club in danger. A newspaper editor and her father, an investigative reporter, are looking into Beartown hockey club's shady finances and deals. When a beloved townsperson dies, Maya and Benji return to Beartown for the funeral and rekindle friendships. This is a fittiing conclusion to the trilogy. I enjoy watching hockey, but I wouldn't say I am a huge fan. It didn't matter if you like hockey or not to like this series. For me, it was all of the unique characters throughout the novels. There are so many likeable characters in this series, it's hard to pick just one. Hockey fans and those who enjoy novels with strong characters will enjoy this series.
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Mick is a running back and he wants to make the varsity team even as a Freshman. His father was a pro-football player who made some wrong choices which ended his career. When Mick's team loses the championship game after he is tackled just inches from the goal line, Mick is determined to get stronger. He starts a rigorous training program, but when he still isn't gaining weight and muscles, he decides to go a different route - steroids. Mick is a good kid. He wants to be the very best running back. His father who is reliving his glory days through his son's success, encouraged Mick even as a little boy to love football. Mick doesn't want to let his father down. Then there's Pierre, his personal trainer at Popeye's (a gym, not the restaurant) who also played a role in influencing Mick. But the bottom line is Mick decided to go on steroids. This is great book full of action during the football games and a realistic portrayal of a good kid making some harmful choices to get ahead. Beartown is a small dying town in the forests of Sweden. The people of the town are hoping the junior hockey team will win the semi-finals and go on to the finals. Then perhaps, a hockey academy will be built in Beartown, and then shopping centers and a convention center would follow. When the unimaginable happens off the ice, the whole town is affected including its future.
There are a lot of characters in this story from the players, coaches and their families, parents, President and the General Manager of the Beartown Hockey Club, sponsors... All play a role in the story. Some characters you will love, others you will not. I strongly recommend this book to those who are hockey fans and those who like stories about small towns. |
AuthorMr. Andrusyk is a school librarian at IC Catholic Prep in Elmhurst, Illinois. Past Book RecommendationsClick here to view a listing of Mr. Andrusyk's list of favorite authors, series, fiction, and nonfiction. Archives
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