Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren
March 12, 2019
Blurb: Holland Delviss wants to be known for her talent as a hockey player, not a hockey player who happens to be a girl. But when her school team is selected to be featured and televised as part of HockeyFest, her status as the only girl on the boys’ team makes her the lead story. Not everyone is thrilled with Holland’s new fame, but there’s one person who fiercely supports her, and it’s the last person she expects (and definitely the last person she should be falling for): her bossy team captain, Wes.
SASCHA DARLINGTON’S REVIEW
I have read a fair number of YA hockey stories in the past few years, but
Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren definitely ranks as one of the best.
Although I’ve read about a girl playing on a boys’ team before, the girl was disguised as a boy. In Cold Day in the Sun, she isn’t disguised. She has earned her place on the team and is recognized as a girl, although that doesn’t mean that she gets the support of everyone. There are members of the old guard who believe that girls shouldn’t play hockey at all, not even on a girls team.
Besides playing hockey, going to school, and being on the school newspaper, Holland also writes a blog about rock music, hockey, and life, which is a great blend, especially for this reader!
Cold Day in the Sun is well-written with interesting and realistic characters. Holland comes across as a real teenage girl, struggling to do the right thing. She’s mentally strong, but she has a breaking point and can cry just like any other girl. And, I must admit, the point when she does cry, brought tears to my eyes too. Sara Biren has created a character in Holland that I cared about. I could understand her hesitation about putting everything that she has worked so hard for on the line.
The struggles she has as a female hockey player on the ice with boys ring true. I could imagine the trash talk that would be directed toward her and how that could be taken too far and feel devastating.
The romance between Holland and Wes, an enemies (on her part anyway) to more trope, also rings true and is adorable. Wes was also a fully developed character. He admits to his initial apprehension about playing on a team with a girl, but changes his mind when he see that she gives her all every time she’s on the ice.
My one gripe about the book is that it ended too soon for me. I wanted more. I wanted to see what happened!
Who would enjoy Cold Day in the Sun? This one is for YA sports fans, readers of YA romance, readers who like hard rock and grunge (lots of playlists that I might copy!) although there aren’t any bands or singing (you’re forewarned 🙂 ), readers who can identify with putting Cholula on everything.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
rating:
Nice review.
Thank you, Maggie! 🙂