Getting in the Game

by Dawn FitzGerald

Seventh-grader Joanna Giordano wants to play ice hockey, but the only game in town is the boys' middle school team. Everyone tries to talk her out of playing--from the principal and the coach to the class bully, and even her best friend, Ben. But Jo is as determined as she is talented, and even a grandfather with Alzheimer's and a father who needs anger-management classes can't stop her from getting in the game.

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Young Adult, Juvenile

136 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Dawn FitzGerald lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. She teaches high school English and—as Coach Fitz—coaches the girls’ varsity soccer team.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting in the Game is basically about a seventh grader named Joanna who is totally different than the other girls in her school. Usually the girls in her school love figure skating, but Joanna likes ice-hockey.There were no girls-ice hockey games, which to Joanna she thinks its completely unfair. The only game in the town were the boys-middle school ice hockey team. Everyone tries to talk Joanna out of playing such as the principal, the coach, class bully, her bestfriend, and her family, but even with all these people trying to talk her out of playing the hockey game, she is determined to play no matter what.

I can connect to the main character Joanna because I mean if I had a sport that I liked alot, I would have also be determined to play in the school sport teams. To me, I think everyone can play ice-hockey because not every girl wants to do figure-skating, there can be preppy girls,tomboys,and girly girls. If Joanna has that strength and skill, why can't she play in the boys team? She might even help the school win, you never know. If she were one of my friends, I would support her.

I rate this book 4 stars because Joanna have like the same personality traits as me. And it really relates to the world, of how everybody should not give up on anything they love, such as their favorite hobbies,sports,etc.

[Calvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A middle school girl wants to play hockey, but the problem is that there's no girls hokcey team. So Joanna Giordano is forced to play with the boys. After hearing criticism for almost everybody, she still chooses to to play with the boys only team. But problems happen along the way losing best-friends, bad luck, treated unfairly, Derek and Valarie enemies of Jo.

I picked this book up because it relates to my passion/life.
I finished this book because i wanted to see a girls point of view of hockey.
I would recommend this book to Jasmine H because she's a girl who plays hockey, and the narrator is a female who plays hockey.

[A Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurb From Goodreads:

"I'd rather kiss Derek's padded butt than leave the ice right now with everyone thinking that it's too rough out here for a girl."

Seventh grader Joanna Giordano wants to play ice hockey, but the only game in town is the boys' middle school team. Everyone tries to talk her out of playing--from the principal and the coach to the class bully, and even her best friend, Ben. With humor and a feisty spirit, Joanna fights for her place both on and off the ice.

A girl named Brittany or Ashley would have fallen in love with the spandex costumes and the white skates of a figure skater. But when your name is Joanna, and everyone calls you Jo, you grow up in Cleveland watching your older brother play ice hockey in the shadows of the steel mills and dream of the day when you can wear a jersey and carry a stick, waiting for your chance to slap that puck home.

Four and a Half out of Five Stars

Today I had to go to school, even though it is summer I know , to hand in some papers to the Counseling Office and ask a question about requesting transcripts. I picked this book up along for the ride because even though my school is only five minutes away, my mother wanted to go shopping afterwards and I wanted something to do for what was sure to be a long wait. It was. But in that time, I read Getting in the Game , which felt so personal that I thought Dawn Fitzgerald must have stolen my feelings and made them her book.

I finished this book in approximately three hours.

While I may not have liked the fact that the ending felt very open, I realize this is how MIddle Grade books are. So nuance.

First, the writing style. To sum it up: it is hilarious. That quote a few paragraphs above? It is on the first page. Said quote was probably what had me reading this book in the first place.

"Oh, no," I groan, and then I remember that, when I was in kindergarten, I barely knew my left hand from my right and tying my own shoelaces was out of the question.

These little gems were everywhere.

On a side note though, I feel like older people often dumb down how smart younger kids are. Personally, I could tie my shoes since I was three and I definitely knew my left from my right. I am not trying to brag and maybe I am just an exception, but I feel like was not. I feel like I was the rule.

Next, this book is relatable. While my middle school may not have had such fancy security as Jo's school does, it did often feel like we were locked up. Even now in high school, it feels like we're locked up. Sometimes, the monitors or administrators or whoever is really in charge locks bathroom doors because they do not want students in there at certain times. I think they are afraid we are doing to start "smoking heroin" or some crazy shit.

Personally, I'm more worried about what's roaming the halls inside our school than any threat from the outside. Metal detectors, surveillance cameras, and security guards carrying walkie-talkies and pepper spray make it feel like we're doing hard time in here with no chance of parole.

Oh! And that's another thing! I was a bit surprised to find curse words in this novel, but they are there, I can assure you. I was surprised because this is a Middle Grade novel. Not because middle schoolers do not curse. Because they do, which just adds to the accuracy of this novel.

Even though Ben and I play hockey and Taryn plays fast-pitch softball, there's more to being in the popular crowd than that. It also matters which side of town you live on, the style of clothes you wear, what country club  your parents belong to, and the cars they drive.

"Never judge a book by its cover," Ms. Freeman always says, but she's wrong. In middle school, everyone does.

However, something that did annoy me was the fact that Jo could not play on the team because she was a girl and how the popular kids were not nice to her. Perhaps this was more accuracy on Fitzgerald's part, but it really pissed me off. But again, middle school boys sometimes pissed me off when I was in middle school. Popular girls often piss me off as well. Although a negative emotion, my annoyance just adds to the appeal to the book.

I hate the way Valerie looks down on Angelo, Jamie, and all the other kids at school who are different or who don't have money, good looks, and expensive clothes.

I do too, Jo. I do too.

Another thing that I felt was accurately portrayed were relationships. Whether it was friendships or siblings or parents or grandparents. It was all true.

First, friendships. 

Ben's a no-show at lunch again.

I miss Ben.

Ben and Jo have been friends since they were little and he moved in across the street and ate gum off the asphalt with her. They get into some sort of fight because Jo is a girl and Ben is a boy and the they both try out for the hockey team. Since everyone trying out are boys, Ben pushes away from Jo. While this is not an excuse, it was the reason. And it sucked.

"You were my best friend, Ben, and...it really sucks to be dropped when things get tough...

I don't want to feel like that again. Friends stand by each other no matter what. It's just too hard any other way."

Next, siblings. 

Before Jim went away to college, we'd fight sometimes, but there was no one I admired or wanted to impress more. I know it sounds pathetic, but somehow my life doesn't seem completely real without Jim here to share in it.

Jo has two brothers. One older named Jim, who recently started college and also plays hockey. She used to dress up for Halloween as a hockey played using his jerseys. Obviously, it is from Jim that Jo's love for hockey stems. Jo also has a younger brother named Michael, who is in kindergarten.

Honestly, Jim and Michael are not terribly present in the story, but with a 136 page book with so much happening, it is not that surprising. They are a treat though. Michael is adorable (I mean he is in Kindergarten) and hilarious and does not do his homework when he is supposed to. And Jim is supportive of his sister and Jo loves him so much.

Jo may say, "it sounds pathetic," regarding how she wants to share her life with him, but it does not. Not to me. It is accurate. We may fight with our siblings, but we also love them. People who do not, piss me off. Especially when they "hate" their sibling(s) for no reason.

Lastly, parents. Or more accurately, dads.

Is it normal to love and hate your dad at the same time?

I think it is normal. I think there truly is a fine line between love and hate. Thus, when someone you love does something that embarrasses you or angers you or *insert negative emotion here* you, it is easy to feel like you hate them. However, I also believe that, unless something immoral has been done, you do not really hate them. You just dislike them for the moment.

I refuse to hear the whispering or see the disgusted looks on the parent's faces in the bleachers. I definitely don't hear my friend Taryn, on second base, say to the shortstop, "That's nothing. You should've seen when Jo's mom threw him out of the house."

We lost the championship game that day, 3-2.

There is also quite a bit of plot regarding Jo's grandfather, but I will let you find out about that on your own when you read the book. ;)

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[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 5th grader read this and wondered if it was appropriate for our classroom. I really enjoyed it and thought it would be instructive as a "diverse" read in that characters exhibited obvious sexism and classism, and we are fortunate that our school is a bit of a bubble in that regard. However, there are sexual references that I wouldn't be crazy with my own 6th grade child reading, so I think I'll send it up to the 7/8 classroom.

[Mckenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this rating because it was good and I reflected on it a lot, but some parts of the story were not that interested and I didn't like that

[Ash R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a very unique seventh grade girl that is different from the other girls. Instead of makeup and dresses she likes sports and guys stuff. That's why her passion for ice hockey is slowly coming through. Joanna wouldn't give that us for anything, its her hobby and life! Read this book to find out the struggles she goes through to stay on the team, and prove everyone shes a great girl hockey player.

I can make a text to world connection to this because some girls fight to be on co-ed teams because they believe and are determine to do what they think they can do. They will fight for what they want to do and prove that they can do it.

I rate this book a 3 because it was a good book, but it was kind of boring and I forced myself to finish the book. Those it did have a good theme and could relate of other girls or people that arent accepted into something they should be considered doing. I recommend this book to kids in the 6th grade because it is fairly easy.

[Telka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Joanna but goes by Jo. She is very different from the other girls in her town. Instead of being a figure skating princess, she's more like a hockey princess. Being on the boys hockey team is extreamly hard for Jo. Not only is it the teasing, but her older brother is also on the team, and is going to do anything to get her off. With lots of courage and strength, Jo is hangin in there, but that's not the only problem. Gramps is getting really sick, and Jo doesn't know what she's going to do without him.
During reading this book, I made a text to text connection. In this book, Jo reminds me of Gracie in the book called Gracie. Gracie is just like Jo in this situation. Only she trys out for the boys soccer team. In both books, they both learn how hard it is to get something you really want or deserve.
I would rate this book 5 stars. Jo really made me think of myself, and the author didn't make anything boring. It was so great!

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna is a girl who wants to play on an all boy hockey team. However, she must prove how much she loves the game in order to play. Many things such as her grandfather being hospitalized affects the game. She just wants to play the sport, but everything seems to get in her way, which stops her from actually in joying anything.

I feel as if I can relate to Joanna. Joanna and I both want to be in certain areas and teams, but do not feel comfortable being there. When I hang out with some friends, I feel lonely and not included sometimes. Joanna plays on an all boy hockey team which also makes her feel like an outsider.

I would give the book 4 stars out of 5. Joanna never really seems to be a hero and is a boring main character to deal with. However, the book does have some neat pages to read and it can be enjoyable for pretty much anyone. If you like sports books or books about fitting in, this may not be so bad for you.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have given this a "three" rating, but it rates a five for concept. The main character battles for a place on the (all male) school hockey team and contends with tension that has cropped up in her friendship with boy. Unlike so many books for this audience, the tension turns out to have nothing to do with "special feelings" that have cropped up between the two. It's refreshing to see a very contemporary and realistic picture of a male-female friendship, and just a little bit satisfying to read about a girl making her mark in a rough game that even today (even in spite of Manon Rheaume) is still often associated with being a boy's world.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanna Giordano wants to play ice hockey, but the only team in town is the all boys middle school team. Everyone from the school principal, to the class bully and even her best friend try to get her to change her mind. But Joanna isn't going to quit and she's willing to fight for her right to play the game she loves.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up because I liked the retro, badass cover, and because it was about a girl playing hockey. The cover is attractive, but as it becomes clear in the book, it is misleading. Joanna has to work hard to play the sport she loves, and she is not primping in any mirrors after a tough practice.

[Jaylaun G.S.]

Didn't enjoy it all that much.

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back in 5th grade, the curse words and raunchiness surprised me a bit, but it was really good, and I'll probably read it again someday.