Hockey Karma

I am a hockey fan. Yet, this is the first time I have heard about these books. I have read many hockey books but not a graphic novel one. The graphics in this book were great. They really did help to make the story come alive. They were done nicely without being overworked with too many details. What I enjoyed the most about this book is that this was not just a book about a hockey player but that there were actual scenes featuring hockey players playing the game. In addition, the commentators were accurate in regards to reporting on the game. Another, aspect of this book that I appreciated was the fact that the hockey coach, Emma Schell, was a female. I know how male dominated this sport is, yet more female are breaking the barriers down and showing that women can be great coaches as well. Having not reading the prior novels I had not established that relationship with Jake and Tom so I was not as invested in their lives as I would have been if I had that established relationship. However, the lesson of this book showcasing the struggles that Jake had to overcome from bring the star player to a third lineman was good.

This is the final book in the Forever Friends Trilogy and I give it 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed how the boys were all brought back together again in this book many years later, even Jacoby, their friend and drummer who died from cancer in the first book was mentioned and pictured when they opened the time capsule.

Most of the book centered around legendary Jeremiah “Jake” Jacobson, now thirty two, has been the world’s best hockey player over his fourteen year career. He’s married with kids, but all he cares about is hockey and is paranoid about the young new star who he believes is out to displace him. He suffers a back injury and gets addicted to pain pills. He is being a jerk to his family and to Tom. He is not very likeable in the story, but he eventually redeems himself. Tom's story brings him together with his highschool crush Jaelithe and he attends a highschool reunion and gets together with the guys from the band. He and Jaelithe try a long distance relationship, but with her being a single mom, it does not seem to be working. There is also a storyline about the female coach of an all male professional hockey team. Lots of various characters with several storylines, but they all seem to come together nicely.

The artwork shows a lot of emotion on the face of our craggy hero, but I was not happy with the female figures. I felt like I was in a video game with the women looking very shapely and rather similar to each other. I probably would have given this a 4 star rating, but as a graphic novel, the illustrations are a major part of the book.

I would definitely recommend this book as a YA offering, the first one may have been able to be read by younger readers, but the last two have a more mature story. Boys in particular would enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book from publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.