Breaking the Ice: The True Story of the First Woman to Play in the NHL

by Angie Bullaro (Author) C F Payne (Illustrator)

Breaking the Ice: The True Story of the First Woman to Play in the NHL
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The inspiring true story of Manon Rhéaume, the first and only woman to play a game in the National Hockey League, featuring an afterward from Manon herself.

"One day, a woman will play in the National Hockey League. If no one prevents her," said a twelve-year-old Manon Rhéaume. Manon always dreamed of playing hockey. So, when the team her father coached needed a goalie, five-year-old Manon begged for the chance to play. She didn't care that she'd be the only girl in the entire league or that hockey was considered a "boys' sport" in her hometown of Lac-Beauport, Quebec, Canada. All she cared about was the game. After her father gave her that first chance to play, she embarked on a spectacular, groundbreaking career in hockey.

At every level of competition, Manon was faced with naysayers, but she continued to play, earning her place on prestigious teams and ultimately becoming the first woman to play a game in the NHL. Including an afterword written by Manon herself, Breaking the Ice is the true story of one girl's courage, determination, and love for the sport.

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Written in third person from Manon's viewpoint, the story unfolds with moments of drama and success, underpinned by her determination. Payne's expressive large-scale illustrations, created with acrylics and colored pencils, portray even minor characters as individuals. 

Publishers Weekly

When Manon Rhéaume skated onto the ice for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992, she became the first and only woman to play "in any of the four major North American sports leagues." But her boundary-breaking hockey career started at age five. In Bullaro's telling, Rhéaume's coach father puts her in the game wearing a goalie mask, explaining that, "People aren't ready to see a girl play on a boys' team.... But don't let that stop you." This straightforward, inspirational biography emphasizes Rhéaume's grit ("She played with bruised arms and pulled muscles") and the sexism she faced ("coaches still cut her from the best teams simply because she was a girl"). Payne's intensely detailed illustrations realistically capture the dull sheen of goalie pads and the thwack of slap shots as Rhéaume plays her way to the pros. Includes an afterword by Rhéaume, a timeline, and "fun facts." Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Angie Bullaro
Angie Bullaro makes her authorial debut with Breaking the Ice. She has been playing sports for about as long as she has been able to walk. She has always loved sports stories about underdogs and feels privileged to tell such an important story. She is now a (somewhat) proficient ice hockey goalie and an avid hockey fan. Angie lives in New York City with her husband, Mike Musco. Along with writing, she is also an actress and film producer. You can learn more about her at AngieBullaro.com.

C. F. Payne has illustrated more than a dozen picture books, including the New York Times bestselling Mousetronaut by astronaut Mark Kelly; the Texas Bluebonnet winner Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy, written by Phil Bildner; and the New York Times bestsellers The Remarkable Farkle McBride and Micawber, both by John Lithgow. He teaches at the Columbus College of Art & Design, where he is the chair of the Illustration Department. Payne lives with his wife and children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Visit him online at CFPayne.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781534425576
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date
October 20, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
JNF007100 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Sports & Recreation
JNF054070 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Sports & Recreation | Hockey
Library of Congress categories
Canada
Women hockey players
Rhaeaume, Manon

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