Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy coverHockey Girl Loves Drama Boy

By Faith Erin Hicks

Alix is a talented ice hockey player with anger issues, a mother who doesn’t even like sport, and a bullying, jealous teammate. Could Ezra the popular, queer, drama kid be just the friend, even boyfriend, that she needs?

Hicks’ graphic novel is both a feel-good romance and sensitive exploration of serious issues, including family violence. Topics of gender and sexuality are also foregrounded as both Alix and Ezra refuse to be labelled and tied to a single, defining identity.

The art can be cute when it suits but also powerful bringing both the sports action to life and and making the more emotional scenes hit harder.

Sports players will appreciate how Alix’s focus on her game at first isolates her but later becomes the way to build bridges with her parents and her new friends. It’s especially gratifying to see the mother character come to understand Alix’s passion for sport.

 

Bibliographic data
Publisher & imprint Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date 3 October 2023
Pages 304
Format Paperback graphic novel
Subjects Sport, Romance, Relationships, Coming of Age, Comics
ISBN 9781761560576