Curriculum Approved Titles

Offside is a novel for young adults that deftly blends Canada's love affair with hockey and the gritty realities of teen addiction.
Based on real events that took place in Calgary, Offside is the fictional story of a fifteen-year-old boy who inadvertently creates a dependency amongst his teammates on a cold remedy which they think is a performance enhancer. Beveridge sets the often difficult realities of family and peer groups against a narrative (at times comic, at others serious) that balances exciting hockey action with the experiences of depression and drug use. Cinematic in scope, Offside is sure to appeal to all teen readers.

• Winner of the 2003 Saskatchewan Young Readers Choice Snow Willow Award
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Selection

Ages 9-13

* Student Response Guide