WINGMAN

If you see something, say something.

Tensions are running high as the crucial hockey game between the Hawks and the Cougars goes into overtime. Hawks captain Trace calmly lays out the strategy to the team, including narrator Max, who happens to be Trace’s best friend. Winning means a playoff berth, but also, it’s personal. Every Hawk would like to squelch the nonstop taunts of Cougar Jared and wipe the sneer off his face. In a crucial moment, Trace scores the winning goal…for the other team. The Hawks rush to support their inconsolable captain, but the winning Cougars are gleeful, and Trace’s verbally abusive dad doesn’t hide his displeasure. Trace’s depression lingers, and Max wonders if there’s more to the story. Later, at the mall, Trace’s ex-girlfriend, Cate, shares with Max the unsettling details of their recent breakup and the feeling that something bad is going down at Trace’s house. Max considers talking to Coach Scott but dismisses the idea. “As soon as you tell a teacher this stuff, everything gets messy.” Standing on the porch outside Trace’s house, the sound of a man’s angry yelling, a woman crying, and breaking objects confirms Max’s suspicions that something is wrong. What to do? Mills writes with economy, strong pacing, and crisply delineated characters. She nicely captures the flavor of team camaraderie and competitive rivalry. Max narrates in an energetic first-person as he grapples with his dilemma. Most characters read White.

A worthwhile cautionary tale, accessible and appealing to reluctant readers.