Customer Reviews

Open Ice

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a 14 year old girl and I just finished reading Open Ice. It was by far the best book I have read in awhile. I am a hockey player so I know how important hockey was to Nick. This was an inspiring book for me because I appreciated how much Nick fought to play, if something like that happened to me I would fight too. I think all teens should read this book whether you play hockey or not, it makes you realize a lot of things. Nick is an inspiring character to me because I could completely relate to everything he was talking about. Overall this book was amazing!

Nick Taglio has been on the ice his entire life. He loves hockey and is the best player on his team despite having had three concussions. His life seemed perfect until his fourth concussion. After the concussion, he can never play hockey again. How could Nick give up his entire life just because of a little concussion?

This book surprised me, in both good and bad ways. The situation that Nick is in is greatly emphasized through both his actions and words. Readers can understand the personalities and faults of every character in this book. Some of the dialog of the characters were inappropriate and may not be suitable for young children. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a realistic-fiction book and to anyone who enjoys sports.

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com
Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

OPEN ICE is the story of self-centered Nick Taglio, the sophomore star of the high school hockey team. When a head injury puts him on the sidelines, he loses everything he cares about. Friends start treating him differently, his girlfriend doesn't look at him the same, and well-meaning adults take pity on him. His parents keep telling him that he is risking his future if he plays, but Nick can't imagine life without hockey.

During his time off the ice, Nick must find a way to reinvent himself. He always thought of himself as only a jock. Will he discover that he is well-rounded and has other interests? Will he be able to put other people's needs before his own?

OPEN ICE is Pat Hughes's first young adult novel. She is the author of two middle-grade novels --- GUERILLA SEASON and THE BREAKER BOYS --- and is an editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Whether or not you are a hockey fan, you will experience the excitement and passion that Nick feels for the game. I found myself rooting for Nick and hoping he could get back on the ice where he belongs. Hughes has scored a goal with this one!

--- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner

I thought Pat Hughes captured perfectly the politics of teenage life. Setting her novel in the world of school sports enhances its themes of relationships, friendship, love and personal growth. I truly enjoyed Open Ice.

I gave Open Ice to my boyfriend (24) who does not read often for fun. He was reluctant to start the book, but as a hockey player, he was intrigued. He read it in 2 days and then told me to start right away so we could talk about it. I read it the next day and it was great! It was so cool to be able to talk about the book with him.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
After reading it, I e-mailed the author to express my delight with the book and she responded within 24 hours. I was so excited to actually communicate with an AUTHOR!
Check this book out, even if you don't care about hockey, you'll get so involved with the characters and Nick's plight.

A complex and a compelling REAL teen jock narrates. Nick is the most authentic 16 year-old I ever found in a novel. I love this book.

Pat Hughes can portray a character unlike anyone else. As in her first two outstanding novels, "Guerrilla Season" and "The Breaker Boys," Hughes ability to bring her characters to life is uncanny and Nicky Tag is no exception.

Nick Taglio, is a high school sophomore who's been playing hockey for almost as long as he's been able to walk. He's used to being the "star."The big man on campus. The center of attention on the ice. Head down, skate hard, nothing ahead but "Open Ice." Nick can hear the chants of "Nicky Tag, Nicky Tag" echoing through the arena. But what he didn't hear was the defender of the opposing team bearing down to blind side him! And when Nick ends up in the hospital with his fourth concussion his hockey career and all he's played for the past 10 years, may hang in the balance of his Doctor, and his parents. Nick's anger
not only jeopardizes his relationship with his best friend "Griff," and his self-centered girlfriend Devon, but he begins to alienate his parents,as well as the welfare of his baby brother! Nick needs to come to terms with his injury, but in the meanwhile his schoolwork suffers. With the help
of a Peer Tutoring Program perhaps Nick will learn that there is more to life then hockey.

As with Hughes' first two novels this is relatively a fast read. Believe me you'll have trouble putting it down. Hughes has put a lot of detail as well as a lot research into the game itself. From the terminology, to the equipment, down to the high school hockey lifestyle itself. Open Ice is a
real score!

Open Ice is a MUST READ! I am currently a high school student who was just told I could no longer play basketball due to too many concussions. I found this book one day and decided it was worth reading. While reading this book I could practically picture myself as Nick and knew the exact same emotions he went through. Nick is just another teenager living his life, exactly like most teens do. It is a definate must read!

ge. No matter how dangerous hockey is and how many concussions Nick receives, he continues to play. Between hockey and his girlfriend, Nick's life is good. Then, Nick receives another concussion, his fourth one in fact by keeping his head down, his number one habit. This concussion is not like the others, and Nick may never play hockey again. If Nick loses hockey, his life, then what else is left for him?

When I began reading Open Ice, I was a bit apprehensive because I had heard few things about it. Basically, all I knew was that the book was a coming-of-age novel about hockey. I like coming-of-age and hockey, so I figured I would give it a way. Luckily, I thought Open Ice was a good novel. Pat Hughes did a great job characterizing Nick. He was an incredibly realistic character, and I enjoyed the way Hughes portrayed him after his concussion. That's not to say I agreed with his actions, but his actions seemed like the way many guys would have reacted to being told to say goodbye to their favorite sport. Hughes also did a great job portraying Nick's parents. When dealt with Nick's situation, they acted in a responsible manner, without seeming cheesy.

The only character I had a complaint about was Devin, Nick's girlfriend. She's a stereotypical girl who only wants to date a star hockey player, and Nick is completely smitten (in the beginning at least). I think Hughes could have developed Devin more, while still keeping her general persona. Devin was just so blaaah, and aside from looks, I could not see any reason Nick dated her. At times, I also thought Hughes tried to push to appealing to teens too much. The smoking pot and Daves Matthews Band seemed forced at times. Overall, however, Open Ice is a wonderful portrayal of dealing with life after a sport injury.

I would recommend Open Ice to anyone looking for a coming-of-age that reveals the hardships of leaving a favorite sport.

If you are looking for a great book check out open ice.
The things I liked most about this book is that it had to do with my favorit sport hoskey, and the was exactly how a teen aged hockey layer would act. The things I diden't like was that if you don't know much about hockey you wouldn't understand it, and theres a lot of inaproprit things.
This book is about a teen Nick Tagilo the best hockey player on his high school hockey team that can't play due to a brain ingery he got from being blind sided, but to Nick hockey wasn't just a sport, it was his life.