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Hot new releases and under-the-radar gems for adults and kids.
Staff Pick
Set against a backdrop of hockey and pies — with a soundtrack that’s all Beyoncé — # Hockey follows Eric “Bitty” Bittle as he navigates coming to college, coming out, and coming to terms with his feelings for his team captain, Jack. Funny, charming, and honest, Ngozi Ukazu’s heartfelt coming-of-age comic is one of a kind: a genuine gift to the reader and an absolute joy to experience. Recommended By Madeline S., Powells.com
# Hockey (Check Please! #1) is about so much more than college hockey bros. It's about college hockey bros who aren't afraid to show their emotions and support for one another! It's about college hockey bros who learn to foster healthy relationships through open communication! It's about college hockey bros facing the impending doom of adulthood and pursuing their dreams! I will not stop raving about how fantastic and adorable this book is. Recommended By Brianna B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Eric Bittle may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It is nothing like coed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking (anything that hinders the player with possession of the puck, ranging from a stick check all the way to a physical sweep). And then, there is Jack — his very attractive but moody captain.
A collection of the first half, freshmen and sophomore year, of the megapopular webcomic series of the same name, # Hockey (Check Please #1) is the first book of a hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life. This book includes updated art and a hilarious, curated selection of Bitty's beloved tweets.
Review
"This is a warm story with an irresistible protagonist, a clever supporting cast, and lively and plentiful game and practice scenes....A fun and deeply satisfying read for teens." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"Ukazu, who began Bitty’s story as an uberpopular webcomic, folds in plenty of hockey terms and highlights team camaraderie while skillfully dismantling themes of toxic masculinity....Volume two can’t come fast enough." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"Check Please! is the perfect reminder of the growth in queer narratives we’ve gotten in the past few years...filled with cute romance, zero toxic masculinity, and a really great sense of male comradery that’s refreshing to read." The Mary Sue
Review
"Check, Please — an endlessly delightful web comic about hockey, baking, and bros." Den of Geek
About the Author
Ngozi Ukazu is the creator of Check, Please!, a massively popular online graphic novel. She graduated from Yale University in 2013 and received an MA in sequential art in 2015 from the Savannah College of Art and Design. While she used her intensive knowledge of ice hockey to launch Check, Please! in 2013, Ngozi has a deep interest in sports that ranges from half-marathon training to basketball documentaries. Ngozi also cites '90s sitcoms as a major influence in the quirky, found-family feel of Check, Please!