The Hockey Machine by Matt Christopher

[katekintailbc]

The Hockey Machine
Matt Christopher

The author, Matt Christopher, is well-known for writing Juvie sports books. I own a few of his hockey ones already but I didn't have this one already. I started reading it and was extremely creeped out by the plot!

This kid comes out of his hockey game and is accosted by a kid who lures him into a stranger's car. Then he's abducted and held prisoner in a seemingly nice, high-class facility passing itself off as an amazing hockey team. Every time he asks to go home or contact his parents, he's given the same sugary-sweet "oh, silly, you don't want that. Here, have another steak dinner!" It made me REALLY uncomfortable to read about since I could see what was happening and the characters seemed WAY too oblivious. Maybe I'm just a paranoid person, but the situation screamed DANGER! long before the main character figured it out.

And he does figure it out eventually. He breaks free, alerts authorities, and the book ends up with a happy, safe ending. And I'm sure the "don't talk to strangers" message is only illuminated by this story. Maybe to a kid it's exciting and mysterious. But it was extremely creepy to read about as an adult.