Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren
Published by Amulet Books
Released March 12 2019 (in the US)
ISBN 9781419733673
Read March 10 2019
For some reason, I love a young adult novel involving ice hockey. Maybe because Australia is as far away from cold as possible. In fact, over the next few days we will experience extremely hot conditions, and we are in autumn already. So, it was quite lovely to read a book where they have a snow blizzard, where they are bundled up every time they leave the house, and a book where skating on an outside pond seems romantic.
Holland has been playing ice hockey with boys’ teams for her whole life. While she has complete confidence in her abilities, she is often brought undone by the negative reactions and words of other people. She hangs on to the views of some old timers in her small Minnesota town, and drags them out way too often for her own good.
There are many predictable tropes here, but that doesn’t mean they are trite or shallow. Holland’s fight for recognition, and to be treated the same as any other player on her team are given serious consideration, and the people who are around her are not one dimensional. They support her, especially co-captain Wes (hot sauce) Millard. I love all of their nicknames for each other, and that they change according to situations. Holland mostly gets Hols, but Wes starts calling her ‘Dutch’, and the sparks between the two of them are strong and static-y. It’s ‘duckling adorable’ (her words).
Holland’s fight for acceptance is timely in today’s interesting climate. Movements begin and fade, and some have been going on for a long time. Women’s issues continue to raised, because no matter how far we go, there is always something more than can be done. Each woman in her own way, fights personal battles, yet if we don’t see other females fighting, it’s easy to feel isolated. Several important books have come out recently, and it’s great to be able to put them in the hands of young women who need to know they are not alone.
While Cold Day in the Sun is primarily a romance book, there are certainly enough questions about Holland’s treatment to make the readers think more about their own situation. A bonus, if you ask me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amulet Books for advancing me a copy. Highly recommended for readers who like their romance full of snark and banter. Holland puts in 100% into her beloved hockey, and is rewarded for her hard work. She does stumble a bit when it comes to articulating her feelings for Wes, and when all of her worries come true, she has to stay strong.
Cold Day in the Sun comes out tomorrow (March 12) in the US. Hopefully we’ll see it soon here in Australia
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