Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Cold Day In The Sun! How much did I like this book? I read it in ONE day!
This is a young adult novel about a group of hockey players in high school. Our main character is Holland “Dutch” Delviss. She plays on her high school’s boys varsity hockey team, and rightfully so, she’s that damn good. She has always played with the boys (partly due to the fact that she has 3 brothers) and sees nothing wrong with it.
Let’s break this book into 3 parts; a romance, a town trying to be featured for the state’s HockeyFest, and being a woman in a man’s world.
But you know being a woman playing a “man’s” sport comes with its challenges. Holland faces more roadblocks than any of her teammates. From people saying she has taken a place on the team away from a boy who deserved it to opposing team members calling her a slut and then intentionally taking her out after she scores a goal. But let’s face it, this is what girls everywhere face when they want to do something with the boys.
I think about my daughter and how unfair the world can be. I think about my own experiences. I took a lacrosse class in college and there was one other girl in it. We were always the captains and picked the players and were expected to only play against each other. I took a coaching football class in college as well and was accused by the teacher that I didn’t write my own papers. How could I know so much about football? It wasn’t until I took my chicken scratch notes in to show him I did NOT cheat for him to give me the grades I deserved! Were any of the guys treated like that in class? No. I love how this book brings to light the reality of what goes on and I am so happy that Holland is a role model for girls in her town. She is a true character of what modern day feminism looks like. I applaud her so much. She never backs down from the, “why don’t you just play with the girls” and stands up for what is right!
Ok, so I got on a pretty serious note, how about I lighten it up? HockeyFest. When HockeyFest comes to town it brings your town’s hockey game to state-wide (and potentially nation-wide) viewing, college & NHL scouts, and all the attention you could imagine. Guess what it all hinges on…an interview with Holland.
Did I mention there was a romance in this book? Yes…but the question is, with whom? Holland has a rule to never date her teammates and that’s a sound piece of advice to give yourself. Talk about making things complicated…ut oh…Holls made things complicated.
This is a fun, quick read and I found myself cheering Holland on throughout this book. I felt she helped grow her teammates when it comes to women and how we’re treated and I appreciate that so much. It is so important for young girls not to be scared to be themselves. This is a book that isn’t to be passed over for the message it sends everyone.
I am going to give this book 5 stars. This is absolutely a 5 star young adult novel that I feel would be appropriate for ages 13 and up. There is some foul language (nothing teens haven’t heard or say themselves) and slightly PG make out scenes (but again, nothing kids in high school aren’t doing). I would highly recommend this book to any teenage girl who wants to empower herself. I think the boys would gain something out of the book as well, like, how to treat girls better. Huge shout out to Holland for bringing sexism out in the open and I applaud her for the changes she makes in her town. Pick up this book as soon as possible!
Title: Cold Day In The Sun
Author: Sara Biren
Publisher: Amulet Books
Expected Release Date: March 12, 2019
Donna's Reading Chair 