Rhapsody Smith: Ice Angel

Gr 4-7–Rhapsody Smith, known as Rap, lives with her grandparents after being orphaned as a baby. Each of her teammates/friends on the U13 Female hockey team has fitting nicknames, including Pipes (for her biceps) and Corny the goalie. Rap’s life revolves around the Ice Angels, her family, and her friends, some of whom have difficult home lives—like her friend Alex, whose mom can’t keep a job. When Gram helps an elderly woman move into the nearby retirement home, Rap visits Marion, who seems to have a wealth of hockey knowledge but struggles with memory issues. Marion sports a Women’s World Hockey Championship ring from 1990, the first ever Women’s World Championship. When Marion is assaulted and her ring disappears, Rap takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. Who is Marion, who hurt her and why, and where have her rings gone? She garners help from all her hockey friends to unearth the answers to these mysteries. While she has a heart full of empathy, Rap does several questionable things without telling Gram, like sneaking into the hospital and visiting pawn shops. Full of verve and humor between Gram and Gramps, the strength in the story lies with the multigenerational relationships, and its fast-paced and character-driven narrative. Rhapsody is cued white.