Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy

by Faith Erin Hicks

Overview

New York Times bestseller Faith Erin Hicks is back with Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy, a young adult graphic novel romance about a hotheaded hockey player who asks for temper management lessons from the cool, calm boy in drama club.

It should have been a night of triumph for Alix’s hockey team. But her mean teammate Lindsay decided to start up with her usual rude comments and today Alix, who usually tries to control her anger, let it finally run free. Alix lashes out and before she knows it, her coach is dragging her off Lindsay, and the invitation to the Canada National Women’s U18 Team’s summer camp is on the line.

She needs to learn how to control this anger, and she is sure Ezra, the popular and poised theater kid from her grade is the answer. So she asks for his help. But as they hang out and start get closer, Alix learns that there is more to Ezra than the cool front he puts on. And that maybe this friendship could become something more....

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250838728
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	89,996
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Faith Erin Hicks is a writer and artist who lives in Vancouver, Canada. Her published works include Friends with Boys, The Adventures of Superhero Girl, The Last of Us: American Dreams (with Neil Druckmann), The Nameless City trilogy, Comics Will Break Your Heart, and the New York Times bestselling Pumpkinheads (with Rainbow Rowell).

Editorial Reviews

A Texas Library Association 2024 Tayshas List selection

"With a keen eye, Hicks (Ride On) delivers a heartfelt graphic novel that is both a perceptive subversion of gender roles and a remarkable tale of unexpected friendship, personal growth, and the transformative power of embracing one’s true self. "—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Eisner-winning Hicks is a remarkable storyteller, equally convincing in words and panels…plenty of memorable moments on and off the ice.” —Booklist, starred review

"Compelling characters presented through captivating, expressive illustrations." —Kirkus

"A feel good romance that doesn’t shy away from the painful side of life." — SLJ

"Faith Erin Hicks is a master of putting emotion in every line and adding true depth to the rom-com genre.” —Colleen AF Vennable, co-creator of Kiss Number 8

“Messy and relatable and charming as heck." —Sarah Winifred Searle, creator of The Greatest Thing

From the Publisher

11/01/2023

Gr 9 Up—Alix feels awkward in just about every area of her life. The only time she feels empowered is when she is playing hockey, but after she hits the captain of her team in retaliation for bullying her, Alix's future in hockey becomes questionable. Desperate to get her anger under control, she seeks out Ezra, a drama kid who has an uncanny ability to confront his bullies with his words, not his fists. What started as a mentorship turns into friendship, and then something more, as Alix and Ezra open up about their past, present, and future fears. Alix and Ezra's budding relationship is endearing yet also requires them to confront traumatic situations from outside sources (homophobia from classmates, spousal abuse at home, parental abandonment, and bullying from peers and adults) which adds a layer of depth to an otherwise sugary sweet romance. Illustrations are black and white with splashes of blue and expressive line work. Alix is light-skinned with straight hair. Ezra is light skinned with black hair and hasn't found a label for his sexuality yet. VERDICT A feel good romance that doesn't shy away from the painful side of life.—Amanda Melilli

School Library Journal

2023-08-11
Ice hockey dynamo Alix asks cool-under-pressure theater-loving Ezra for help with managing her temper, sparking an unlikely friendship and journeys of self-discovery.

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, teen Alix is struggling with Lindsay, the mean captain of her hockey team who verbally torments her in front of the other girls. Meanwhile, Ezra is recovering from a breakup with his boyfriend and fielding homophobic insults from a classmate. After physically lashing out at Lindsay, Alix approaches Ezra. He agrees to work with her, and their honesty and vulnerability allow them to confide in each other. The story thoughtfully explores identity, sexuality, and complex family dynamics: Ezra shares information about his sexual identity (“I’m attracted to lots of different people, not just guys”) and traumatic past with his father; Alix opens up about her romantic inexperience and complicated relationships with her mom and absent father. Alix and Ezra read as real, complex, interesting, unique teenagers, and their romance unfolds naturally and believably. Amid the sparse grayscale illustrations, Hicks makes stunning, purposeful use of touches of light blue, carefully highlighting details like Ezra’s hair and Alix’s hockey uniform. The visuals are crucial to readers’ understanding of the story, offering powerful images full of tension and nuance. The ending feels a bit abrupt, but readers will forgive that thanks to the overall incredible storytelling and character building. The main characters appear white; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast.

Compelling characters presented through captivating, expressive illustrations. (bonus art) (Graphic romance. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

★ 08/14/2023

After Canadian teenage hockey player Alix punches her team captain Lindsay following Lindsay’s berating remarks on her lack of social skills, Alix worries about her ability to manage her anger. Even worse, Alix’s coach warns her that she’ll have to learn to control her temper if she hopes for Coach’s recommendation to attend a prestigious hockey camp. When Alix witnesses queer classmate Ezra calmly de-escalate a homophobic encounter with a bully, she asks Ezra to teach her how to handle tense situations. As the duo’s mentor-mentee relationship develops into an earnest friendship, she discovers that, despite his tranquil demeanor, Ezra is hiding intense feelings of rage and pain stemming from his own challenges. Empathetic dialogue and compassionate depictions of characters’ struggles are complemented by gently rendered illustrations. Vibrant blue accents set against thick, inky b&w line emphasize high-energy moments and aid in narrative and emotional immersion. With a keen eye, Hicks (Ride On) delivers a heartfelt graphic novel that is both a perceptive subversion of gender roles and a remarkable tale of unexpected friendship, personal growth, and the transformative power of embracing one’s true self. Main characters appear white. Ages 14–up. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly