Hockey Player For Life [Paperback]

Howard Shapiro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 8, 2008

Hockey Player For Life is a story about a 13 year old can't miss hockey player who misses. The story deals with his rising up after falling down and the subsequent mistakes he makes. The main character, Tom, is his hockey team's best player and he gets invited to be on a all star team in Canada and he thinks this is the beginning of his march to the NHL. He's never really faced any adversity and he leaves his hometown team which ends up missing the playoffs without him.

He plays in 2 tournaments in Canada before being unceremoniously cut. He returns to his old team and must earn his teammates and his coach's respect back. He becomes good friends with the team s worst player and they share a great bond and the worst player teaches him what it means to be a hockey player for life!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Good story - well suited for younger audience of 11 - 12 yr olds. Story has sufficient plot to maintain interest, and it offers some good 'life lessons'. The relationships between father & son, adolescent friends, youth player & adult coach, and amongst hockey teammates are well done. I think the story flows well from beginning to end. The story has an (age & stage) appropriate 'voice' for the thirteen year old protagonist, and his friends.

I like the way that the main characters develop - Tom matures and learns the fun of playing a team game. Tom learns to accept Billy and sympathizes with his family problems. And Billy accepts Tom and together they win. Coach Brantford recognizes that his approach and punishing Tom isn't helping the team, so he apologizes. Well done. --Dave McColl, Canada

About the Author

HOWARD SHAPIRO lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife and two sons. The Controller for the Pittsburgh-based graphic design firm, BD&E Inc., he has also written three children s books. The fourth, Hockey Player For Life, will be published in October, 2008. His first three books (Hanukkah Counts Too!, Destructo Boy & Spillerella...We Are Who We Are! and Hockey Days), combined, have sold over 3,500 copies to date. He has received positive reviews in The Jewish Monthly Magazine, The Canadian Jewish News, Pittsburgh Magazine and the Hockey News. His book, Hockey Days, was the only book featured in the December 2007 Sporting News Annual Gift Guide as a Best Buy Gift for Children. He has been published in the National Business Employment Weekly and his short story, Waterfall (White Knuckle Happy), was featured in the Literary Fragments Espresso Cafe, A Short Story Collection. For more information, please log on to howardshapiro(dot)net

Product Details

• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: Supersonic Storybook Productions (August 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595517854
• ISBN-13: 978-0595517855
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Teens > Sports & Hobbies > Fiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hockey, life lessons, and a heartfelt bond between father and son., November 16, 2008

By 

TradeIsLife (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hockey Player For Life (Paperback)

The book "Hockey Player For Life" by Howard Shapiro is a great, fun and captivating read no matter your age. A heartfelt story about a father and son bonding through the sport of hockey, you really won't want to miss this charming book. Howard's easy to read, familiar writing style is easy for everyone to enjoy.

I sat down to read the book and literally couldn't put it down until I finished the whole thing, then I read it again! Howard is a master of transcribing genuine emotion through his writing, and this book is yet another great example of this. The book made me feel like a kid all over again. Be sure to pick up a copy for yourself or your family this holiday season!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Grew Up with Hockey, You'll Love This Book!, August 19, 2008

By 

Paul A. Becker "PB" (Chandler, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hockey Player For Life (Paperback)

Growing up in the sport of hockey entails countless hours of driving to rinks, going to practices, playing in tournaments, and dreaming of stardom in the NHL. Friendships are formed that might last lifetimes and memories of playing are not soon forgotten. Most importantly, family relationships are stregnthened due to the sheer amount of hours young people spend with their parents driving from town to town chasing dreams and playing the game.

These are the themes in Howard Shapiro's book Hockey Player for Life and he does an excellent job crafting the environment and the experience of playing youth hockey. Though it is much more than a book about hockey as Hockey Player for Life describes the other nuances of the game, from the cultural experience of competitive youth hockey in Canada to the sacrifice parents make to help their children grow in the sport.

Hockey Player for Life is a great read for those that grew up playing any time-intensive organized sport like hockey as well as for those that have children currently playing. The book will speak to your experiences and offer some surprises along the way.

After the first chapter, I was hooked, and if you are looking for a book that celebrates the sport of hockey, I think you will be hooked too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Goonblog.com Loves "Hockey Player for Life", November 30, 2008

By 

Chris from goonblog.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hockey Player For Life (Paperback)

If you have ever played hockey, or know someone that has, I highly suggest buying "Hockey Player for Life".

Howard Shapiro does a fantastic job of telling a tale of a young man just learning not only the hockey lessons one learns, but the life lessons a youngster learns playing hockey. Games will be won and lost. You will make some teams, and others you won't. When the deck is stacked against you, and the odds look impossible, one can rely on teammates to help them get through tough times on and off the ice.

From the first chapter, to the final page, I could not put this book down. Much like a real hockey game, this book is filled with every emotion you'd feel during a game. I'd like to thank Mr. Shapiro for reminding me of my youth hockey days, but even more for reminding me I am a "Hockey Player for Life."