Book Review: Check, Please!: # Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu

Bitty is a former-figure skater-turned-hockey player starting college and doing a vlog about his experiences. This book covers his first two years (I believe there is a planned sequel that presumably will cover the rest of college.) He is gay and he goes to a college that has a good reputation for inclusiveness, even if he's involved in a sport that isn't known for being super gay-friendly. But his teammates are actually very accepting when he finally does come out to them. It probably helps that he's already won them over with his fantastic pies. He is scared of being hit, but otherwise is a great player, which also doesn't hurt. The star player--whose dad was a professional NHL player and has high expectations--helps out with Bitty's weaknesses and he just improves.

College is tough and Bitty is a wonderful stand-in for any teen worrying about what it will be like. Even though he is a white man, he still has a lot of issues with and worries about being accepted, and different people have varying levels of issues with him as a person, some of which are related to his identity but more of which aren't, as with everyone. He struggles with difficult conversations, he worries about crushes, he is told he has to improve his big hockey problem or he'll lose his spot on the team, and he has a relatively normal college life.

I loved this story. Bitty is so endearing and optimistic and tries so hard that you can't help but root hard for him. I do find it fascinating that the author is an African-raised woman, and yet she's written about a white male. But don't worry--my little brother played hockey for at least 13 years and everything hockey struck me as really accurate (she did a ton of research.) The only problem to me was that I wanted the book to keep going! I wish the sequel was out right now! (I hate reading books in a series before they're all available.) The book is sweet and fun and honest and just great.

This review is a part of Kid Konnection, hosted by Booking Mama, a collection of children's book-related posts over the weekend.

This book is published by First Second, a division of Macmillan, my employer.