Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks

 

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy

by Faith Erin Hicks

YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Summary:

        Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy is, essentially, exactly what the title says, with some fun self-discovery plot points thrown in, too. Alix, the star hockey player on her team, asks the calm and cool-headed drama geek, Ezra, for help with anger management. Alix learns how to stand up for herself while not giving in to violence, while romance develops between her and Ezra.

Justification:

        This is sure to be a crowd pleaser on any middle or high school campus. The bright cover looks a lot like the romances circulating on the ever-popular BookTok accounts, while still being school-appropriate, unlike many of the titles popular on social media. While being a romance, this one also promotes social-emotional learning in the format of a fun read. 

Reader Response:
        While I didn't love this one nearly as much as the other graphic novels I have reviewed, I still found it to be a solid read for the demographic. The art style opts for a more neutral color scheme, using only whites and blues. Though I personally prefer a wider color palette, the art was very detailed and well done, and it contributed to the plot in a significant way. This art style also gives it a more mature feel than the elementary or middle grade graphic novels, which have a cutesy and colorful style. One aspect of this novel I enjoyed was how it explored sexuality. Ezra is known as gay around school, but he actually likes all genders, which leaves Alix shocked when she finds out that he likes her. The lack of labels for Ezra was very empowering to read about, and I think it could benefit students who are still exploring their sexuality, too. 

Hicks, F. E. (2023). Hockey girl loves drama boy. First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press.