Reading Metrics
Description
A middle-grade sports thriller, the story follows thirteen-year-old hockey prodigy Steve Crandall, who is kidnapped by a fan and forced to join a professional junior team. Stranded in a high-stakes world where winning games is only part of the battle, Steve must outplay dangerous opponents and outwit his captors to survive. As the pressure mounts, he races to find a way back to freedom while protecting his teammates and his own life.
Quick Summary
If you're a middle-grade hockey fan, this fast-paced thriller drops you onto the ice with thirteen-year-old star center Steve Crandall, who gets kidnapped by a "fan" and forced to join a professional junior team. The story mixes the adrenaline of fast breaks and slap shots with a chilling mystery as Steve realizes he's not just playing for wins he's playing for his survival. At just under 20,000 words and an AR level of 4.8, it's a quick, manageable read that still packs enough suspense to keep even reluctant readers turning pages. Parents will appreciate that the scary moments are moderate and the book emphasizes courage, teamwork, and clever problem-solving over graphic violence. If you enjoy Matt Christopher's other sports-thriller hybrids like "The Kid Who Only Hit Homers," you'll find the same blend of action and intrigue here.