{"product_id":"9781250177957","title":"Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eCheck, Please! Book 1: # Hockey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Ngozi Ukazu\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eEric Bittle may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and \u003ci\u003every \u003c\/i\u003etalented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It is nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s \u003ci\u003echecking \u003c\/i\u003e(anything that hinders the player with possession of the puck, ranging from a stick check all the way to a physical sweep). And then, there is \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJack\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003ehis very attractive but moody captain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA collection of the first half, freshmen and sophomore year, of the megapopular webcomic series of the same name, \u003ci\u003eCheck, Please!: #Hockey\u003c\/i\u003e is the first book of a hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book includes updated art and a hilarious, curated selection of Bitty's beloved tweets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eA \u003ci\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e Best YA Book of 2018\u003cbr\u003eYALSA William C. Morris 2018 Finalist\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Check, Please!\u003c\/i\u003e is very much a thing of our time in its approach to gay identity and romance... There's no big coming-out scene, no 'convert the lone homophobe' drama, no storyline cooked up just to educate the reader about the gay experience. Bitty doesn't need any of that, and Ukazu gives the reader credit for not needing it either.\" —\u003ci\u003eNPR\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eCheck, Please\u003c\/i\u003e — an endlessly delightful web comic about hockey, baking, and bros.\" —\u003ci\u003eDen of Geek \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eCheck Please! \u003c\/i\u003eis the perfect reminder of the growth in queer narratives we’ve gotten in the past few years...filled with cute romance, zero toxic masculinity, and a really great sense of male comradery that’s refreshing to read.\" —\u003ci\u003e The Mary Sue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Ukazu, who began Bitty’s story as an uberpopular webcomic, folds in plenty of hockey terms and highlights team camaraderie while skillfully dismantling themes of toxic masculinity…A slow-burn same-sex romance is just the icing on the cake (sorry—pie) in this irresistibly fun and utterly charming sports story. Volume two can’t come fast enough\" —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"This is a warm story with an irresistible protagonist, a clever supporting cast, and lively and plentiful game and practice scenes... A fun and deeply satisfying read for teens.\" —Kirkus Reviews, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"\u003c\/b\u003eThe art relies on thick linework and facial shots to tell the story, playing to Ukazu’s knack for pithy, personality-showing dialogue. Ukazu blends a series of tropes (coming-of-age, coming out, an outsider finding acceptance) into one coherent, amusing tale.\" —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLong-listed Boston Globe Best Books of the Year (2018), Long-listed NPR Best Book of the Year (2018), Short-listed YALSA William C. Morris - finalist (2019), Long-listed Bookish Best Books of the Year (2018)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250177957\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"First Second","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40678746292430,"sku":"9781250177957","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_7cd38396-a56b-42ed-9661-1790b83ef32b.jpg?v=1640062194","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250177957","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}