A Young Adult Hockey Novel
Face-Off
Head-to-head, skate-to-skate, it’s winner-take-all!
Stacy Juba wrote Face-Off when she was just 16 years old.
Since its original publication under her maiden name of Stacy Drumtra, the novel has appeared on numerous recommended reading lists, including Best Books for Young Teen Readers Grades 7–10 and a list produced by the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Junior Education Program.
Face-Off combines fast-paced hockey action with the complicated relationship between twin brothers who find themselves competing both on and off the ice. This young adult hockey novel explores sibling rivalry, family relationships, friendship, and the pressure to prove yourself.
Brad’s twin brother T.J. has gotten himself out of the fancy prep school his father picked for him and into the public high school Brad attends. Now T.J. is a shining new star on the hockey team where Brad once held the spotlight. And he’s testing his popularity with Brad’s friends, eyeing Brad’s girl, and competing to be captain of the team.
Meanwhile, the twins must also cope with problems at home, including divorcing parents and a troubled younger brother. The whole school is rooting for a big double-strength win, not knowing that their twin hockey stars are heating up the ice for a winner-takes-all face-off.
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Hockey, Family & Sibling Rivalry
Read an Excerpt
As Mrs. McKendrick and Chris followed Jory into the living room, Brad and T.J. stared at each other.
Finally, T.J. said, “Look, you’ve been ticked at me since practice. You’re mad that I got made cocaptain aren’t you? Come on,” T.J. said when Brad didn’t respond. “I’ve got just as much right to it as you do.”
Brad scoffed. “Hardly. I’ve been slaving on that team since I was a freshman.”
“So? It’s not like I’ve never played the game before.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve been playing for Bayview for three years and you haven’t even played one game for them!”
“Look, it’s not my fault that I got yanked out of Hayden! I didn’t ask to go to Bayview. You think I wanted to leave all my friends and go to a new school? It’s hard enough going there without you acting like such a jerk.”
“You’re the one who’s acting like a jerk, T.J.”
“You’re just afraid that I’m going to do better than you, and you can’t take it!”
“Are you kidding? You may be Dad’s precious genius, but you’re never going to be better than me at hockey. And if you think I’m playing on a line with you, you’re crazy. So let’s just see who Reynolds sends down a line, T.J.,” Brad challenged his brother.
“Yeah, well have fun playing with McCann,” T.J. snapped.
Brad shoved his brother into the refrigerator, and T.J. promptly pushed him back. They were grappling with each other when their father strode into the room and ripped them apart.
“What on earth is going on in here?” Mr. McKendrick demanded, his face red.
“Nothing,” Brad said.
“Nothing?” Mr. McKendrick asked.
“Nothing other than the fact that T.J. is an obnoxious jerk.”
“Hey, you’re the one who’s threatening to quit the line,” T.J. said.
“I’m not threatening to quit the line. I’m threatening to get you kicked off it.”
T.J.’s green eyes flashed. “Go to hell!”
“Look, I don’t know what this is about,” their father began, “but you two have an obligation to your teammates. You can’t just go back on that because of personal differences.”
“He started it,” T.J. said.
“I don’t care who started it. I just want it stopped.”
What Reviewers are Saying
“There are a pile of moral lessons to help teach readers about the ups and downs of relationships with family and friends, and these are reinforced throughout the book by both the McKendrick family and by T.J.’s and Brad’s coach. Face-Off certainly deserves the Teebz’s Book Club Seal of Approval.”
“The thing I really enjoyed about this book is that it wasn’t my typical hockey book. Most times I go for hockey romances, but this was different. It was intriguing to see a book that does involve hockey without the romance. But at the same time, I enjoyed the switch-up. It’s always nice to take a step outside your comfort zone.”
“I don’t often give a full five rating to a book I’m reviewing and especially when it’s not in a genre I usually enjoy but I have to say Face Off had me drawn in from the beginning and I read it in all one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite not being a teen and knowing nothing about ice hockey. (Although I do know a bit more about it now!)”
- The Masquerade Crew
“Hockey fans will be attracted by the cover and held by the game descriptions, and those who like realistic fiction will appreciate the complexity of the boys’ home life, with battling parents, hero-worshipping younger siblings and a father who expects too little of one twin and too much of the other. A good read for both proficient and reluctant readers.”
- Booklist
“Lots of action and emotional upheaval ensure that this will be a popular book for boys as well as girls. This reviewer’s YA Book Review Group gave it nine points out of a possible ten for ‘Good Read’ status.”
- VOYA
“I dig the witty banter among brothers and friends. My heart went out to those boys when at home. Another pleasing story that keeps you thirsting for more.”
- Tifferz Book Review
“I’m a new fan of Juba’s, but it’s like I’ve been reading her writing for years. What I like most about it is that she can make two POVs completely different … It’s a good message that Stacy Juba gives out, a rare one indeed that is neither present nor hidden in most stories.”
- My Home Away from Home
“Stacy Juba does a great job showing the emotional issues both boys are facing. I could see many kids and adults relating to this story. I recommended this book to my son and the kids on his PeeWee hockey team.”
“Maxwell Glick, the narrator, does a good job of changing tones when voicing all the different boy characters in this novel. I could distinguish the subtle pitch in TJ’s voice that was slightly different from Brad ,who was more of a hot-head … This book is a quick read and ideal for anyone who likes hockey within a school setting or who just likes a good clean YA read.”
“I loved this book! First off, I am a huge hockey fan. (Born and raised cheering on the Washington Capitals.) Second, this book perfectly demonstrates the inner turmoil inside families, whether it is the side effects of parents fighting or sibling rivalries.”
- Ariesgirl Book Reviews
“The audio is excellent. The narrator is perfect for this story and he does a great job with the different voices.”
Next in the Hockey Rivals Series
The rivalry isn’t over. Continue the twins’ story in Offsides, the action-packed sequel to Face-Off.
Love Hockey Stories?
Visit Hockey Rivals Books for Stacy’s hockey novels, reading recommendations, and behind-the-scenes extras.