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J Michael Neal

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Becoming Phoebe Paperback – February 1, 2016

by J Michael Neal (Author)

27

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Eighteen-year-old Phoebe Rose spent her childhood in one foster household after another, never having a place she could feel safe or group of friends she belonged to. What kept her going was hockey. The rink was the only place she felt at home. Now what she wants more than anything is to play on her college hockey team--to leave her past behind and start building a new life. But she knows things are never that simple. Becoming Phoebe is about painful secrets, unexpected friendships, and joining a team so you can become your true self.
Becoming Phoebe won a Bronze Medal for Best Regional Fiction - Midwest from the 2016 IPPY Awards.

Print length

422 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Melancholy Donkey Press
Publication date

February 1, 2016
Dimensions

6 x 0.86 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0997025808
ISBN-13

978-0997025804
See all details

Editorial Reviews

Review

Becoming Phoebe, like its protagonist, jumps in right away and never quits for even a minute. . . . J. Michael Neal's love of hockey shines through on every page-and so does a profound caring for young people trying to find their way in the world through difficult life circumstances." -Marissa Lingen, author of Dragon Brother and Other Stories

Neal's decision to explore Phoebe's life in a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards . . . turns out to be a brilliant stroke of storytelling. . . . [An] emotionally gripping narrative. . . . A triumphant tale of surviving abuse, embracing hockey, and finding love." - Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

J. Michael Neal lives in Minneapolis where he owns a house and in turn is owned by three cats. His passions are history, fantasy and science fiction, role playing, prog rock, sports, good liquor and especially the Gopher women's hockey team. Unproductive at home he works primarily from various restaurants around the Twin Cities. His favorite authors include Guy Gavriel Kay, Jon Courtenay Grimwood and Alistair Reynolds. He has been published in By Polaris Bright, an anthology from the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers. His story "Living After Noon" won the Open Division of the 2013 Minnesota Geek Partnership Society Writer's Contest, and his story "The Love of His Life" will be published in an upcoming issue of Tales of the Unanticipated.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Melancholy Donkey Press (February 1, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 422 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0997025808
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0997025804
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.24 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.86 x 9 inches

Customer Reviews:
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J Michael Neal

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J. Michael Neal lives in Minneapolis where he owns a house and in turn is owned by three cats. His passions are history, fantasy and science fiction, role playing, prog rock, sports, good liquor and especially the Gopher women’s hockey team. Unproductive at home he works primarily from various restaurants around the Twin Cities. His favorite authors include Guy Gavriel Kay, Jon Courtenay Grimwood and Alistair Reynolds.

He has been published in By Polaris Bright, an anthology from the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers. His story “Living After Noon” won the Open Division of the 2013 Minnesota Geek Partnership Society Writer’s Contest, and his story “The Love of His Life” will be published in an upcoming issue of Tales of the Unanticipated.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

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Paula B

Compelling story

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2016

Verified Purchase

This coming of age story tells the story of Phoebe Rose, a unique young woman who discovers her way in life through playing hockey and interacting with a team. It is a compelling read and is not your usual feel-good here’s the answer book. All sorts of human interactions are explored - family, team, work, intimacy and self. There is no explicit sex in this book but it is for mature, open-minded readers. Although dialogue is the main way in which the story unfolds, the descriptions of hockey and other situations are well done and easily visualized. The flashbacks to her earlier life are well integrated into the story line, the flash forwards into the future are sometimes confusing but it all makes sense in the end. Phoebe became a genuine person to me. This is masterful storytelling that dwells on personal interaction and and what it means to be a fulfilled individual. It is also full of realistic hockey action!

One person found this helpful

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Susan O'Shaughnessy

I tend to assume that boxing moves will be boring. But I love the movie "Rocky"

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

As a person who knows nothing about boxing, I tend to assume that boxing moves will be boring. But I love the movie "Rocky"! I can say the same with hockey and "Becoming Phoebe" -- the sport is almost a character in this novel, but it is explained in a way that makes it intelligible and interesting. Likewise, I thought the frequent time jumps would be confusing, but in fact they revealed Phoebe's character in a useful way. I especially liked it when the time jumped into the future! Phoebe and her many teammates, as well as other characters, were fully fleshed out people. I was sorry when the story ended, and I look forward to more books from this author.

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KayK

I'm glad I found Finding Phoebe

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

With no family, and no one she can count on, Phoebe dedicates her allegiance and her life to the sport of hockey. Having suffered betrayal, abandonment, and abuse from virtually everyone in her young life, Phoebe manages, through stubborn determination and grueling effort, to become a top college athlete. In the process, she finds/creates the family she has missed for so long.

This was a book I put most everything aside for. I was sorry to see it end.

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Dorothy Winsor

Unusual coming-of-age story

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

Becoming Phoebe is an engaging coming-of-age story set among women's hockey players. While sports often play a part in men's coming-of-age tales, you don't see it much with women, and I really liked the glimpses into a world I knew nothing of. The story also uses both flashbacks and, more novel, flashforwards in ways that add tension to the story. It was an enjoyable read.

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Reader

Not for me

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2016

This is the story of Phoebe, an orphan girl with aspirations of becoming a hockey player. Her earliest memory is about her wandering the streets at four years old with skates around her neck and a man took her to the police station. That’s where it all begins.

Sixteen years later, Phoebe is living her life in college, where she tries out for the hockey team.

Written in the POV of Phoebe, story is an earnest and succinct account of a poor, lonely girl and a dream. We’re basically reading the girl’s diary by the way it’s written, and all she talks about is hockey. Every brief snippet seems to center on hockey. Of course, I believe that girls can play hockey, if that’s what they want, and Phoebe was literally born for it. She’s smart, savvy, and tough.

Being that I’m not into sports so much, the hockey stuff wasn’t that interesting to me. But I admire stories with strong, independent women who go for the gold.

If you say, “Girls can’t play hockey,” Phoebe says, “Watch me.” You have to admire her gumption.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel that the story centered more on hockey than anything else. Of course, hockey is the central theme, but it becomes weary after a while. I personally would’ve liked to learn more about Phoebe—her past, her friends, her life sans hockey. C’mon, the girl should be able to think outside of hockey. Even in A League of their own, the girls had other things going for them besides baseball.

All in all, this was an okay story, but I anticipated it to be more than just hockey. Phoebe’s a great character and readers will enjoy watching her try and fumble. It’s hockey’s version of G.I. Jane.

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Whispering Stories

It will leave you with a sense of satisfaction, whilst throughout it will have you breaking your heart in some places

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2016

At just four years old, Phoebe is found wandering the streets on her own. As she grew older, she found herself sent from one foster home to another, until at the tender age of 18, she was old enough to grow her own wings and leave the system.

Phoebe’s childhood was marred with neglect and abuse. Her only safe pace was on the ice rink, playing hockey, in a mainly male-orientated sport. On the ice she felt less lonely and enjoyed being a part of a team.

As Phoebe flourishes on the ice, she starts to break down her own frozen wall, that she has built around herself, to become the person she should have always been – herself.

Becoming Phoebe is a page-turner of a book. There are many sensitive and delicate issues within the story which the author handles with great care and understanding. Through a series of flashbacks, you come to feel a real connection with Phoebe and have a genuine sense of love for her, and a will for her to become the woman that deep down she really is.

Phoebe is a complex character that you will instantly feel an empathy towards. Whilst her traumatic past does play an important part in her life, she doesn’t let it dictate who she is now and who she wants to be. She has learned to control her own future.

The book is about one young woman’s courage and battle to leave her horrid past behind, and flourish in the present with the help of a great team of hockey players, who she has the pleasure of calling her friends. It will leave you with a sense of satisfaction, whilst throughout it will have you breaking your heart in some places, and beaming at others.

Reviewed by Stacey at Whispering Stories Book Blog

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

One person found this helpful

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Molli M.

Really enjoyed reading this

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2023

Great book!!!!!

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