THE COMEBACK

Hockey player Chris learns to battle his depression while learning a new sport in this Canadian import.

Fourteen-year-old Chris has suffered from severe depression for months. This may have been exacerbated by a hockey injury that led him to quit before the championship game. Chris’ psychologist suggests that he can improve his mood through sports, but he is hesitant due to his lack of energy and because the hockey season has ended. When Chris confides in his best friend, Keiko, she suggests he joins her brother’s soccer team. Chris signs up but is also joined by Trent, captain of his former hockey team and, more importantly, a bully. Chris strives to improve his mental health and his soccer skills, finding an unexpected ally in the gruff coach of the regional team. While the plot points are commendable, the execution is humdrum. The stilted dialogue is reminiscent of low-budget after-school specials, and the characters are one-dimensional. Young readers affected by depression or who know someone affected may be sympathetic, but it’s doubtful they’ll stick around long enough to reach the cheesy Hollywood-style conclusion. A note to readers provides contact information for a Canadian mental health organization for children. Characters are default white, with diversity indicated primarily via naming convention (as with presumably Japanese Canadian Keiko).

Red-card this book.