Iceman [Paperback]

Chris Lynch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 1995

The other guys on Eric's hockey team call him the Iceman, because he's a heartless player, cold as ice. Only Eric knows the truth -- he's not cold, he's on fire, burning with a need he just can't explain. Least of all to his fanily -- not to his dad, whose only joy in life id watching Eric smash other hockey players to a pulp. Or his mom, who starts every conversation with "Your problem is..." Or even his brother, Duane, once a star athlete, now a star slacker.

Can Eric find a way to make them understand how he feels -- before the fire inside consumes him completely?

"At 14, Eric still loves his parents, but knows they are incapable of giving him the warmth and honest emotion he seeks. He slams out his anger and suffering in the hockey rink, where he's the Iceman, 'the animal,' so out of control even his own teammates shun him. Only time spent at the local mortuary—with the taciturn recluse who works there—gives him some measure of comfort. . . . Much better than the usual sports novel . . . a thought provoking book guaranteed to compel and touch a teenage audience."—BL. "Eric's narrative voice is clear and distinctive. . . . Iceman will leave readers smiling and feeling good." —SLJ.

1995 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1995 Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA)
1995 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
Books for Youth Editors' Choices 1994 (BL)
English Journal Young Adult Literature 1994 Honor List

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A disaffected hockey player tries to use the sport's violence to reconcile his inner turmoil. "Despite the solid sports angle, this one," in PW's words, "falls short of a goal."Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Like Lynch's Shadow Boxer (HarperCollins, 1993), this metaphor-rich, coming-of-age novel with a sports backdrop focuses on a conflicted teen seeking his own identity. Divided into three sections paralleling the periods of a hockey game, the story is told by 14-year-old Eric, whose hitman tactics on the ice mask his alienation from his family and from the game he plays so mean and hard. The boy is encouraged by his father, whose bloodlust defines his enthusiasm for the game, and confused by his fanatically religious mother. His iconoclastic older brother, Duane, lightens Eric's life with his upfront humor and helps him finally come to terms with his anger. The language is at times raw, but not out of character. The first period is filled with the gratuitous violence that has been the young man's trademark; in the second period, Eric does penance on the ice, sacrificing his body to stop the puck; and in the final period, he becomes the skilled skater, sharp shooter, and team player he always wanted to be. Also in this section, he becomes disillusioned with a maverick loner whom he idolized and abandons his notion of pursing a career in mortuary science, opting instead to deal with the living. Hockey enthusiasts will enjoy the abundant on-ice action, although this novel is clearly about much more and is no advertisement for the sport. Eric's narrative voice is clear and distinctive, and his brother, mother, and father all emerge as unique and often touching characters even though they serve highly caricatured roles in the story. Although Eric's difficulties are resolved too easily through the magic of the metaphorical last game, Iceman will leave readers smiling and feeling good.
Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 25, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064471144
• ISBN-13: 978-0064471145
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Sports > Winter Sports

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars IceMan, October 29, 2007

By 

Danielle Nuhfer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iceman (Paperback)

Why is this kid so messed up? This book was about a kid who played ice hockey, and he was a big goon. People all around the country knew who he was, and hated him for his style of play. Through the book it talked about his team and how he played in the different tournaments, and it was pretty good explination in the hockey perspective. This book was a fast read, but it didnt keep my attention. I just couldn't get into the book. I think that people should read this book if they are into hockey, or if they want a dramatic book that involves family problems, or if they would like to read a good book. I would recommend that you give this book a try, and who know's, you might even like it.

Kody Nolt
Block 3

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a really great book to read, February 7, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Iceman (Paperback)

This book was great it caught my attention in the beginning of the book by saying Eric the main character slammed a hockey goalie into the net and scored a goal. Eric used his brute force to win games in hockey. The people who are at the game usually boo at Eric and call him names because of what he does at the games. Eric's dad loves when Eric beats up on people in the hockey rink. Eric's brother Duane was a sports player until he had a vision that made him give up sports and play guitar. Eric's mother was a former nun and she thinks of Duane as a devil like figure. Eric has only one friend which is a water dragon named Mary. Eric has some strange obsession with dead things. He can't stop going to the cemetery. Eric is a very strange person who lives a very strange and interesting life.

4.0 out of 5 stars Iceman, March 12, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Iceman (School & Library Binding)

Iceman By, Chris Lynch

Iceman is about a hockey player named Eric. He is the best player on his team. He is always getting in fights and hurting people badly. Nobody on the team likes him, they think that he is too violent for hockey. Eric doesn't really enjoy playing hockey. He starts to get sick of it because his teammates, his opponents and the fans all hate him.
Eric's only friend is the undertaker at Gromley's funeral home. His name is McLaughlin. Eric often skips school to help McLaughlin prepare the bodies for the funerals. He enjoys this work because he feels that he can relate well to McLaughlin. McLaughlin is like Eric because he doesn't get along well with other people.
Eric has an older brother named Duane. Eric idolizes him. Duane used to be a star in all sports. His hockey number is retired and he was a star in Lacrosse and football. One day Duane decides that he doesn't want to play sports any more. He said that he saw a vision when he was trying out for football, so he sells all his equipment and buys a new guitar. Eric's dad loved to see Duane play sports and he is saddened that he will never get to see him play again.
Eric's dad loves to go to his games. He practically lives for it. He goes crazy when Eric makes a hit or does any thing good. His dad loves to be hated. At a tournament in Quebec he gets soda poured all over his head and he doesn't ever flinch. Erics dad works as a Public Relations man. He is always bringing clients to the house. One day he brings home a former hockey player and Eric and Duane really connect with him.
Eric's mom was a former nun. She reads the bible all the time and tries to get Eric to go to church. She is worried about him because he is so violent. He once broke his stick over a teammates head. Eric said he didn't even feel angry. Eric goes to church once and he hates it. He only goes to church that one time.
I think this is a really good book. I like is because it has a lot of action and it makes you want to keep reading. I also like how the whole book isn't about him playing hockey. There is a lot of other part of the book. Like Eric's relationship with McLaughlin and how he cant make friends. I also like the book because Duane is funny. He is always saying things to his parents that get them mad. I liked how you can see the change in Eric from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. There is a really big change in his attitude and how he plays hockey. I would recommend this book to anyone. It is a good read.