Review by Evelyn Hussey
Orca Soundings, 2023
120 pages, Paperback, $10.95 CAD, 9781459834323
Young adult, HiLo, ages 12+
Contemporary Realism
Content Warning: this review references themes of domestic abuse
[Trace is] pissed off for sure. Yes, he’s pissed off at himself for that big mistake on the ice. But there’s something else. There has to be.
Maybe he’s pissed off at me and Cate for looking all friendly as we came into the classroom this morning? Maybe it’s about Jared, the chief chirper for the Cougars?
Or maybe he’s pissed off at whatever or whoever gave him that bruise on his face.
But I don’t say any of this to the guys.
Fifteen-year-old Max’s best friend Trace is the star player on their hockey team. When Trace accidentally scores a goal on his own net, the whole team is disappointed. But no one expects Trace to react the way he does, getting angry and shutting everyone out. Max finds that Trace’s ex-girlfriend Cate has similar worries. Will Max and Cate be able to figure out what’s going on with their friend and help Trace?
Trace has been acting differently towards Max since that fateful hockey game. He begins to avoid Max and shows up to school with bruises on his face. Usually, Trace has a witty comeback for the bullies on their school’s rival hockey team, but lately he just seems to shut down. Max is concerned about his friend, and teams up with Cate. Together they talk about how Trace has been acting differently, and Max mentions an argument he witnessed between Trace and his dad. He knows Trace’s dad puts a lot of pressure on him to make hockey his career, but could it be more serious than that?
This book deals with the serious topic of abuse, and realistically portrays how a teenager would deal with someone they care about experiencing domestic abuse. Trace is a believable character, whose behaviour reflects that of a survivor. Despite not knowing what exactly the problem is, Max and Cate show empathy towards Trace, and are there for him, even when he lashes out. In Wingman, author Jean Mills writes a short, but serious novel about sports, friendship, parental pressure and abuse. The text is easy to read and printed in large font making it accessible for any reader. The topic of abuse is a very complex one, and while this book tackles it on many fronts, the ending felt a little too simple, especially when the reader learns that the police had been contacted before. I felt that Trace’s emotions could have been explored in more depth because for many, abuse has long-lasting impacts.
Wingman shows how sport can bring people together, but also create an arena of immense pressure for young athletes, which can affect their mental wellbeing. I recommend this book for any reader interested in sports and mental health.
Evelyn Hussey is a BA Psychology student minoring in Creative Writing at UBC. She loves reading memoirs/creative nonfiction as well as realistic fiction. When she is not reading or writing she spends her time rock climbing, binging true crime content, or with her beloved dog, Dipsea.
YOUNG ADULTING 