Overview

Jessie McIntyre, 14, is new to Estevan Junior High, and she's having trouble fitting in. By signing her up with the local girls hockey team, her parents hope to give her a fresh start and help her make new friends, but bullies can be found everywhere--including the dressing room. Power Plays, a gritty tale about the problems facing today's teens, is sprinkled with humour, heart-pounding hockey action, life lessons, and positive female role models.

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9781989078273

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Reviews

Thrust into the world of girls' hockey, Ulrich's reader learns the intricacies of playing on a girls' team and being a girl playing on a boys' team and the challenges of both. (Amy Mathers, Amy's Marathon of Books) Ulrich demonstrates that there are many ways to succeed in relationships without resorting to any sort of bullying. She stresses the importance of accepting and celebrating the differences between people rather than using them as an excuse for malicious behaviour. This is an excellent novel which provides lots of action, a little romance, and a great deal to think about. (CM Magazine) The author has managed to insert into the book, without seeming high-handed, a number of other topics, including racism, peer pressure, parental pressure, sexism, and drug and alcohol abuse. I highly recommend this book. With all the underlying themes and topics included in the book, I believe it would be a good one for junior high teachers to include in class discussions. (Prairie Fire Review of Books) Power Plays is amazing, and if you play hockey, then for sure you will love this book. (Koda, 13) Not only are the book's characters relatable and the story packed with heart-pounding hockey action, but Power Plays delivers an important message in a world where girl-on-girl violence has become all too common: standing up to bullies is the only way to end the type of torment that can lead kids down a dangerous path to depression, drug use and even suicide. And she does all this without seeming heavy-handed or preachy. (Calgary Herald) Really good book, really good read. It was easy to follow the plot. The author was able to get the basic teen issues of bullying and loneliness that accompanies moving to a new town and the natural responses of covering up and hiding. (Jordynn, age 15) I learnt many ways to try and stop bullying. The parts about Jessie going to parties was also very true and how it is hard to say no. (Courtney, 12) Maureen Ulrich has grasped many of the key issues young teens are dealing with today and rolled them into one to create a fast-paced novel, like the game of hockey. An inspiring read, sure to help anyone with problems in school, and even without problems in school Power Plays will put a smile on your face. If in need for a humorous uplifting read, Power Plays is definitely the right choice. (What If? Magazine) Power Plays seemed like it was written by a teen. (James, 13) Each teammate has a unique personality, and even the meanest characters turn out to be likable. Readers will relate to Jessie: she chats with her friends on the computer, dates, and has struggles with her parents. Some lessons are imparted along the way, mainly about teamwork, forgiveness, and bullying. (School Library Journal Review) I have seen things like this (bullying) happen before and when I first read this book it gave me goose bumps because it seemed so real. It really made me think about bullying and how it hurts people and how people can be so mean, sometimes without realizing it. (Haylee, 13) As my class read the novel aloud, they laughed together, were intense together, and felt empathy for the characters together. This novel made my class better. (Dana H, teacher) Normally the action parts of sports novels confuse me. Even though I don't know much about hockey, the novel's action was easy to understand. (Kaitlyn, 13) Maureen knows her characters and the game. I found myself both believing Jessie and believing in her--this despite her terribly human tendency to speak when she shouldn't and not speak when she should. Ultimately, Jessie does choose the truth, and that makes her a hero. (Richard Harrison, Professor Mount Royal University)

Author Information

Maureen Ulrich was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan but grew up in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. She started writing horse stories when she was eleven and historical fiction during her high school years. 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. She has been writing plays for young people since 1997. Two titles - Sam Spud: Private Eye (2007) and The Banes of Darkwood (2010) are available through www.samuelfrench.com. Maureen has also written and produced several professional adult productions - Snowbirds (2015), Diamond Girls (2016-2018), and Lords of Sceptre (2018-2019). Souris Valley Theatre in Estevan SK produced her full-length musical Pirate Heart (2018), scored by the incomparable Ben Redant. 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. Please visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or maureenulrich.ca.

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