Hitting the Target

A novel that pairs exciting hockey action with the growing pains of navigating bullying and body image.

Manny is the enthusiastic, happy-go-lucky defenceman on Team Chaos. As the oldest of six kids, he fits right into a team environment and is used to backing up his teammates. He’s also been working hard on his slapshot and has become a key part of his team’s success. But when kids at school start teasing Manny about his weight, he becomes self-conscious and insecure. He tries to stand up for himself but gets in trouble for it. Then Manny decides the fastest way to get the teasing to stop is to stop eating just before a big out-of-town tournament, which makes everything worse — on and off the ice. With the help of his family, coaches and teammates, Manny is able to focus on being healthy and loving himself just as he is.