Emily Deibert's Be a Mullins Takes a Shot is a relatable upper MG read that took me right back to my middle school years. When seventh grader Bea's middle school gym floods and she's forced to choose a sport in place of PE, she joins the new girls' hockey team--mostly because she's watched hockey with her dad, but also because cute eighth grader Gabi is at the sign-up table. Bea's BFF Celia throws herself into the team just like she throws herself into every activity, but Bea's more reluctant. The last team sport she participated in--basketball--ended up being a disaster, and she worries about letting her team down once again. Practicing with Gabi helps, but all the time together only makes Bea's feelings for her new friend all the more confusing. When the fate of the team hangs in the balance, Bea takes a brave step to save it--and in the process learns what it really means to be part of a team. The friendship drama, first crush feelings, and anxiety and self-consciousness Bea experiences will be familiar to so many readers, whether or not they love sports. Discussions about the inequities in women's and men's sports are well integrated into the story without feeling preachy. Give this story to sports fans, but also to kids who want a fast-paced, realistic story with relatable characters.

5 out of 5 stars

Rep: Sapphic MC, sapphic Colombian immigrant love interest, Chinese side character with two moms, various BIPOC side characters

Content warnings: Separation (past), panic attack, bullying, misogyny in women’s sports, mention of racism, mention of a past parental death

This is genuinely one of the best books I've read all year! I'm shocked that this is Emily Deibert's debut -- it reads like a seasoned author wrote it. She captures exactly how it feels to be a middle schooler, from feeling like everyone's eyes are constantly on you to the awkwardness of realizing you have a crush to not knowing how to talk about what you're feeling. Despite the characters all acting realistic for their ages, they don't come across as stereotypical. On the flip side, sometimes authors try to show they're Down With The Kids to painful degrees (think nonstop pop culture references or cringey jokes), but Deibert's humor feels completely natural and had me chuckling at times. Bea and Gabi had such a sweet little romance, too! It makes me so happy to see more middle grade novels portraying and discussing healthy crushes.

This book also discusses the misogyny surrounding women's sports in ways that young readers will likely understand. The pay gap, unequal air time, and lack of funding are heavy topics, but Deibert tackles them with ease. Yes they're addressed, but in more matter-of-fact ways (as opposed to preachy or overly intellectual), and with plenty of hope for the future. I've never been much of a sports person myself, but "Bea Mullins" has me seeking out women's leagues in my area that I could watch. If you ask me, that means Deibert accomplished her mission. I'm so very excited for what she writes next!

**HUGE thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**

3 stars - a middle grade book about a Canadian tween questioning her identity through the lens of a hockey team. Another one I read to finish a challenge. I felt it was rather slow and longer than it needed to be, so if a retired reader feels that way, what will hold the attention of the target demographic given both their ages and short attention spans due to the internet? Anyway, I did like the points made about women’s sports & misogyny, in general, and appreciated the author’s note about the current and changing state of women’s hockey.

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is an inspiring middle grade debut. Bea is roped into joining her middle school's inaugural girl's hockey team despite her history of being bullied on another team. At first she is reluctant and afraid of being seen, but over time she realizes what the team really means to her and has to fight for the team to survive. Bea has to make amends with her best friend Celia and her crush Gabi before everyone can come together on the ice. The messaging here is great and I hope inspires young readers everywhere to also take their shot even if they're scared.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a bookseller, I pride myself on being able to find a fun queer book for all ages and Bea Mullins Takes A Shot will absolutely be added to my children’s recommendations list. This book was such fun and reminded me so much of myself in middle school (though I was never able to tell a crush that i liked them). I loved all of the characters and the relationships between them and I do love a hockey book!

Ice hockey, middle school girls, Canada, crushes, bake sales - all the good things in this book! Bea Mullins joins a struggling hockey team when her school gym is flooded and PE is canceled. She makes new friends, develops a crush on the co-captain, brings in much-needed funds with her Mom's baked goods, connects with her newly-single Dad over hockey, and finds some common ground with her brother. She learns the meaning of "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take" (attributed to Wayne Gretzky)! A great story for any middle schoolers going through this awkward period in life. Pretty dialog-heavy, but in authentic teen speak, and Bea is mostly a relatable character. While this was written before women's professional hockey, it is certainly relevant for girls today. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the eARC. Would love to see this in our summer reading program.

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert

Full Disclosure: I know author Emily Deibert personally. After reading an early draft of this story, I begged Dr. Deibert to let me write this review. She kindly reminded me that I’m not the target audience (middle-grade readers), but after further groveling on my part, she relented. In my defense, I do have three children, one of whom is in the target age range, and we read together. So here we are!

Summary
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot follows the story of Bea Mullins, a girl who has long avoided the spotlight but finds herself forced to step forward when she has to take on a new challenge—both on and off the ice. The story captures the wonder, awkwardness, and joy of navigating first crushes, first kisses, and the courage it takes to put yourself out there.

What I Loved
The standout feature of this book is Bea’s self-deprecating humor. She’s a relatable and compelling character who brings light to what can be messy moments in middle school life. The story may be filled with awkwardness, but ultimately, it’s a heartwarming affirmation of family, friendship, and believing in your own self-worth. One of the laugh-out-loud moments is Bea’s relief when she thinks she’s saved from participating in PE class due to a gym flood. These hilarious moments (Bea’s first time on the ice is another) are perfectly balanced with Bea’s more introspective and vulnerable thoughts, creating a narrative that middle-grade readers can relate to.

Character Dynamics
Bea is wonderfully imperfect—sweet, salty and plucky. Her split family is not flawless either, but they are fiercely loyal to one another. The relationships in this book feel authentic and touching, providing a grounded foundation for Bea's journey. Her yearning for connection and self-confidence is heartfelt, and anyone can relate to her struggles. I especially loved how, throughout the story, Bea slowly wills herself off the sidelines of her life, learning to hope, dream, and take risks.

Themes and Impact
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is filled with deft touches of sensitivity, often leavened by physical humor. The book shines a light on social anxiety, self-doubt, and the pressures that kids face at this age, but it also reminds readers of the joy of taking risks and the power of personal growth. Important lessons for this age group. Bea’s optimism, even in the face of overwhelming feelings, is refreshing. She isn’t overly snarky cynical (a common trap of this genre) despite the challenges she faces, making her a solid role model for middle graders navigating their own challenges.

The Hockey Element
As someone from New England who reads with kids who are sports fans, I can confirm that the author knows her hockey. The action is exciting and adds an extra layer of engagement. Bea Mullins brings to mind the best aspects of Inside Out 2, Bad News Bears, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but Deibert’s voice is completely her own.

Final Thoughts
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is a must-read for any middle grader seeking community and perspective. Bea’s thoughts and feelings are at the forefront of the story, and the book is packed with humor, sensitivity, and charm. I hope we see more stories about Bea in the future. Wilderness camping trip, anyone?

This book is great for middle-grade patrons who want a hockey book with friendship troubles and young LGBTQ+ romance in the mix. Title character Bea goes through several journeys, from her slow improvement at hockey to her first crush to reconciling with her best friend. The young romance does include a kiss, which may be good to mention to adults interested in the book for younger kids reading at a middle-grade level. At times it seemed like Bea actions and thoughts were that of someone much older than a seventh grader, so I would recommend this book to older middle-grade readers.

When Glenwood Middle School's gym is flooded, Bea thinks it's the best thing ever... until Coach Armstrong suggests that parents get their kids involved in sports to make up for the lack of gym time. There's an activities fair in the gym, and Bea's best friend, Celia Chan, wants to play hockey. Bea's older brother Tyler has played the sport, and it doesn't hurt that one of the cocaptains of the team, Gabi, is really cool. Bea wants to impress her, since she's in 8th grade, and is surprised when the older girl offers to coach her, since Bea hasn't skated much. Kitted out with Tyler's equipment, and hoping to make her father happy, since he no longer lives at home, Bea tries to pay close attention at practice. The team is really short of money, so put together several fund raisers, including a bake sale and a chuck-a-puck competition. When the Glenwood Geese run out of money and have to cancel the season, Bea's dad takes her and Tyler to the Hockey Hall of Fame, where they are all surprised at how little attention women's hockey gets. Angry, Bea really wants to save her team, and organizes a fund raising scrimmage with the teachers at her school. Her relationship with Gabi has been a little rocky; they enjoy spending time together, but neither of them talk about whether or not they are dating. Bea even falls out with Celia (who has two mothers) when she is not ready to admit that she really does have a crush on Gabi. Luckily, not only is the scrimmage a success, with a reporter and a famous woman hockey player showing up, but Gabi and Bea finally talk with each other, an decide that they really do like each other.
Strengths: There were lots of details about playing hockey, which was great. Since Gabi had watched games with her father, but never played, there was just the right amount of information about positions, technique, and skills. I also enjoyed that while Bea and Tyler got along pretty well, there were some moments of typical sibling tension. The romance will appeal to young readers, and it was good to see that Bea and Gabi were friends and shared many of the same interests. Even though this is set in Canada, I don't think US readers will find anything odd. Funding problems exist everywhere!
Weaknesses: If Bea's mother had Tyler when she was 20, and he's 15, that makes her 35. This is roughly my own daughter's age, and I can't think of any of her friends who are big Abba fans. I was a tiny bit surprised that a bake sale was allowed at school; even before the pandemic, my school cracked down on homemade baked goods in the building.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like the hockey in Eyre's Mean Girl Meltdown or Being Sloan Jacobs, or the light romance in Dee's Star-Crossed.

Listen, if you tempt me a queer hockey book, I'm gonna read it. But this? THIS I relished in. It was marketed a A League of Their Own meets The Mighty Ducks and that SUCH a perfect comp.

Part of me think Deibert is two seventh graders in a trench coat, because how was this so accurate to my middle school experience?

Middle school is full of so many awkward situations- new crushes, navigating a parent's divorce, sibling relationships, a first fight with a best friend, trying something new on a very visible stage - it's no wonder Bea's feelings are all over the place! The story tackles each one with heart and such thought, and you really can't help but root for Bea and her gaggle of Geese teammates.

Found family is one of my all time favorite genres, and what better found family is there than a hockey team? Watching the girls all work together and get better was one of the most rewarding parts of the story and they just! Tried so hard!

Also, I can't tell you how much I loved reading about a girl's hockey league where they talked about women hockey players! I read Sarah Nurse and Natalie Spooner's names in this book and it had me looking like that Leonardo DiCaprio meme where he's point at the tv. You know the one. Also any book that mentions my queen Tessa Virtue is a win in my book.

A sincere, charming debut that I know is going to hit home with so many young kids. I cannot recommend this enough!

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot captures the awkwardness of being a middle schooler. While not always likable, Bea is an interesting main character. At times, I wanted her to stop jumping to conclusions and making silly assumptions. But, young teens are not known for their good judgment. The author does well to capture the atmosphere of a hockey rink. Overall, I love that this book encourages girls to participate in sports and it highlights the importance of friendship.

This was such a heartwarming story of empowerment in women's sports as well as first crushes and navigating middle school friendships! I loved every chapter, and am excited to read more from Deibert.

This was so fun!!! I love a good hockey romance, and there's no reason why middle-grade readers shouldn't get in on the fun. The characters were well-developed, the depiction of a young queer crush was as un-cringey as possible, and who doesn't love a children's book that uses the phrase "consciously uncoupled"? I'm excited to recommend this book to readers and to see what Emily Deibert does next!

I liked the look into hockey and finding a place to fit in. But I didn't love Bea. I think her anxiety really takes over who she is. I get that is a very real thing, but I just wanted more development of her. I liked that she does find a place to fit in on the hockey team.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

This is a queer friendly MG hockey novel set in Canada that focuses on the importance of self confidence and teamwork. Bea Mullins is a frankly neurotic middle school student who loathes team sports due to a past experience being the weakest player on children’s summer basketball team. When she’s forced into participating in a team sport she and her best friend select ice hockey, a sport neither of them have ever played. Bea spends most of the novel convinced everyone is laughing at her, often to a degree that quite frankly doesn’t make sense even given her backstory. She also struggles to realize her incredibly obvious crush on a fellow player is, in fact, a crush. The usual MG romance hijinks are present and the story is, overall, sweet. That being said, I’d love to see more books about the other characters, all of whom seem to be more interesting and less navel gazing than poor anxious Bea.

A hilarious and heartwarming middle grade debut that celebrates taking a chance on yourself and finding friendship through sport!

This charming debut middle grade novel has everything young readers could ask for: friendships, school angst, first crush, sibling dynamics, and finding ways to take action. In this case, it's finding a way to save a hockey team the protagonist, Bea has come to love--even though she joined it grudgingly.

I loved the humor, the hockey references, and the genuinely sweet discoveries Bea makes throughout the novel. In times that feel rather dark, this novel is a bright light. Bea improves as a hockey player, but realistically. Her growth feels organic and natural. She develops a crush on fellow player, Gabi and but isn't sure if the feelings are reciprocated--one of the most relatable situations possible to middle grade readers! She loves her older brother, but has to deal with his teasing and annoying behavior towards her, which is also a very relatable experience.

This book ends on a bright and hopeful note. I enjoyed watching Bea's growth over the course of the book and I think young readers will find her story relatable. There are plenty of lessons here about friendship, finding a love for playing a sport and not just winning, and handling bullying behaviors by fellow students. But the book never feels as if it's trying to teach lessons. Bea Mullins Takes a Shot will make a great addition to upper elementary and middle school classrooms.

This was a great read! As a hockey fan, I loved seeing how Bea learned to love the game and brought attention to the lack of coverage for girls’/women’s sports. I enjoyed the discussions about friendship and teamwork. A must read.

Very cute middle grade novel about a girl who reluctantly signs up for her schools hockey team. She eventually ends up enjoying it and her teammates. The LGBTQ rep was amazing and honest. Them not knowing whether it was a date is so sapphic coded. I gave this one 4/5 stars

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read and share it.

Bea isn't good at sports. At all. But when the gym floods and the kids are "strongly encouraged" to join a team to make up for the cancelled PE class, she signs up for hockey....due to an immediate crush on Gabi, one of the captains.

I honestly love reviewing queer romance books because 90% of the book is building a relationship between the characters, who rarely even feel comfortable disclosing that they're attracted. It ends up being an amazing model of consent and communications that often "romance" books lack.

This book is no exception. Bea gradually becomes better at hockey, gradually becomes part of the team, and, gradually, connects with Gabi. None of which comes easy. I think sports fans would enjoy this book, even if they don't know much about hockey, but this non-sports fan also enjoyed it, and those who like sweet, light books with a hint of romance would also enjoy it.

Unfortunately, the fact that Bea and Gabi are both girls may well keep this book from reaching the audiences it deserves. Which is a shame, because it's exactly the sort of thing I would love to see tween/early teens reading. I am adding it to my Little Free Library list.