P.K. Subban: Making His Mark on the Hockey World

Gr 4–6—When P.K. Subban was still in kindergarten, his Jamaica-born father would wake him up after returning from work at 10 p.m. and take him out for late-night skating practice, allowing him to sleep through the morning before afternoon class. Today Subban is an all-star defenseman for the Nashville Predators and has two brothers who play professional hockey as well. We also learn about P.K.'s early career with the storied Montreal Canadiens, his passion for charity work, and his energetic and playful style that has led to criticisms from some other players and coaches. One chapter is devoted to a frank and informative discussion of being one of the very few black players in the NHL. A concluding chapter outlines personal details, including his penchant for custom tailored suits and glitzy vacations. Numerous pull quotes and black-and-white photographs give visual anchors and break up text blocks. There are occasional lapses in the narrative—a 16-game hiatus is ascribed vaguely to "an injury," and the Canadiens are referred to by their traditional moniker "the Habs" without any prior reference. But the text is light on the detailed description of game play that sometimes characterizes sports biographies, broadening its appeal to non–hockey fans. The volume closes with a time line, fact sheet including awards and family, suggested places to visit, and a substantial bibliography.