
Reach for this book when you notice your teenager struggling to differentiate between a demanding coach and one who is emotionally manipulative or toxic. As the Wildcats field hockey team gathers for a traditional pre-season sleepover, the narrative uncovers how their coach uses favoritism and fear to control them. Through the eyes of six different players, the story explores how high-achieving girls can lose their sense of self in the pursuit of winning. This is a vital read for young athletes learning to set boundaries and trust their instincts about authority figures. It provides a roadmap for reclaiming personal agency and finding strength in collective action. Parents will appreciate how it validates the pressure teens feel to succeed while offering a powerful model for standing up against psychological bullying in a sports environment.
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Sign in to write a reviewCharacters must decide between following rules/authority and doing what is right for the group.
Occasional realistic teen profanity.
The book deals with psychological abuse and manipulation in a direct, realistic manner. It touches on body image, injury recovery, and the pressure of scholarships. The resolution is hopeful and empowering, focusing on the girls' solidarity rather than a simple punishment for the coach.
A high school athlete who feels drained or anxious rather than inspired by their competitive environment, or any teen navigating the complex social hierarchy of a high-stakes extracurricular group.
Parents should be aware that the book mentions past injuries and the pressure to play through pain. It can be read cold, but it is best paired with a conversation about what 'good' leadership looks like. A parent might reach for this after hearing their child describe a coach or teacher making them feel small, or if they notice their child is obsessed with 'pleasing' an authority figure at the cost of their mental health.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the friendships and the 'secret' nature of the sleepover, while older teens (17-18) will more deeply grasp the nuances of the grooming-like tactics used by the coach.
Unlike many sports books that focus on the big win, this book subverts the 'tough coach' trope to expose how excellence can be used as a mask for emotional abuse.
Over the course of 24 hours during a team sleepover, six members of a varsity field hockey team reflect on their relationship with Coach, a charismatic but manipulative man. As they share their secrets, they realize he has been isolating them and playing them against each other. They decide to take a stand during their first big game.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.