Beartown Book Review
Overview: People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever-encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semifinals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.
A victory would send star player Kevin on to a brilliant professional future in the NHL. It would mean everything to Amat, a scrawny fifteen-year-old treated like and outcast everywhere but on the ice. And it would justify the choice that Peter, the team’s general manager, and his wife, Kira, made to return to his hometown and raise their children in this beautiful but isolated place.
Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semifinal match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Hers is a story no one wants, the end of the dream. Accusations are made, and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.
Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain.
Pages: 432 Pages
Writer: Fredrik Backman
Recommendations:
Review By: Jason Schulte
Rating: 
Beartown is like that quirky little town you stumble upon in the middle of nowhere, where everyone is obsessed with one thing and one thing only – hockey. The players of the club are like local celebrities, living and breathing the sport to fulfill the dreams of the entire community.
At first, the story may seem a bit slow, but as you get to know the characters, you realize they’re just like people you’ve encountered in your own life. From the town drunk to the overbearing hockey mom, they all have that familiar small-town charm. Maybe it’s because I come from a small town myself, but I found myself drawn into their world.
As the plot thickens, the story delves into some serious issues, from personal struggles to LGBT topics, all set against the backdrop of an ice hockey rink. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that keeps you on your toes.
Overall, the story may start off at a leisurely pace, but it quickly picks up speed, throwing unexpected twists and turns your way. You’ll find yourself rooting for the characters, eager to see how it all unfolds. It’s a well-written tale that captures the essence of small-town life in a way that’s both relatable and captivating. Beartown may be fictional, but it feels like a place you could stumble upon in any small town across the globe.