The three things 11-year-old Conor loves most are hockey, his dad, and Sinbad, his Doberman rescue. After Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor’s dad tells Conor not to give up his dream of being on the AAA team, although they stop private lessons to better afford Sinbad’s treatment, which the vet has made clear will only prolong his pet’s quality of life. Conor can’t imagine losing Sinbad, but he’s also worried about his dad, who still seems sad since his divorce from Conor’s stepmom, and whose job as a police traffic officer is stressful even without the financial worries. Finely developed characters and nuanced, meaningful relationships are at the heart of a story about finding acceptance, not answers, and embracing opportunities and change even when they’re scary, like reconnecting with the Japanese American grandparents Conor hasn’t seen since he was young. An abundance of hockey action and the friendships Conor has formed through the sport, as well his struggles with reading his playbook and his natural gift for seeing and understanding the patterns of play on ice, are a seamless part of a narrative in Conor’s open, appealing first-person voice. (Ages 8–11)

“Kadohata’s slapshot is the heart-swelling narrative of a father and son…Truly powerful.” —Jason Reynolds
“A deeply poignant story about a boy sorting out his priorities.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A vivid, memorable portrayal of a boy within his family, his sport, and his gradually broadening world.” —Booklist (starred review)

From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata comes a brilliantly-realized novel about a hockey player who must discover who he is without the sport that defines him.

Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too—and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?