Maureen Ulrich – författare

Jessie McIntyre, 14, is new to Estevan Junior High, and she''s having trouble fitting in. By signing her up with the local girls hockey team, her parents hope to give her a fresh start and help her make new friends, but bullies can be found everywhere-including the dressing room. Power Plays, a gritty tale about the problems facing today''s teens, is sprinkled with humour, heart-pounding hockey action, life lessons, and positive female role models. Power Plays is the first book in the Jessie Mac Hockey Series.

Why did I let Jodi and Greg mix my drinks? And why did I drink them?

   Jodi offers me her cup. "How about a sip of the water of life?"

   "I''ll have a coke," I say.

   "Come on, Jessie Mac. Freakin'' summer is right around the corner."

   Mark scowls at me. What right does he have to approve or disapprove of everything I do?

   On impulse, I grab Jodi''s drink, and I guzzle it. Every last drop. It leaves a warm glow all the way down.

   "All right, Jessie!" Jordan holds up his palm for a high-five.

   "What do you say?!" Greg holds up his as well.

   I smack both their hands, ignoring the sensation of Mark''s eyes scorching the back of my neck.

   "Got any more?" I ask.

Jessie McIntyre, 15, has it made. She''s got the world''s best boyfriend, great teammates, and a hockey coach she really looks up to. But a bad decision at a party changes everything. Worse, some of the guys at school seem determined not to let her, or anyone else, forget it.

Face Off is a recipient of a Moonbeam silver medal. Power Plays (Book 1 in the Jessie Mac Hockey Series) won a Moonbeam gold medal and was a finalist for the Saskatchewan Book Awards, Snow Willow Awards, and BC Young Readers Choice (Stellar) Awards.

Damn you, Liam MacArthur.

My vision has adjusted to the darkness, and I can see his face more clearly now. He''s frozen in place, dark eyes intent.

"If you won''t go out with me," he says, "don''t go out with anybody else. Okay?" He grabs my hand and squeezes it. His palm is calloused.

"Look, it''s not you that''s the problem." I try to take my hand back, but he threads his fingers through mine. "It''s me."

He steps closer. "How about I kiss you? That should convince me it''s not going to work."

"You''re only interested in me because I''m not interested in you," I tell him. "If you kiss me, you won''t find me nearly as fascinating."

He brings his face close to mine. "Close enough to a yes."

Jessie McIntyre, 17, starts her last year of minor hockey-and high school-with loads on her mind. Her AAA team is short a head coach, her future plans are unclear, and some of her teammates aren''t impressed with her new role as team captain. On top of it all, her little sister is making some lousy decisions while Jessie''s parents seem unaware. But, hey, should Jessie be critical? She''s made some pretty bad ones herself-especially when it comes to guys.

Breakaway is Book Three in the award-winning #jessiemachockeyseries. Power Plays (Book 1) won a Moonbeam gold medal and was a finalist for the Saskatchewan Book Awards, Snow Willow Awards, and BC Young Readers Choice (Stellar) Awards. Face Off (Book 2) was a recipient of a Moonbeam silver medal.