Undergrounders

by David Skuy

Can playing hockey help a street kid get his life back? After his mom dies, and the landlord kicks him out, 12-year-old Jonathan faces the loneliness and danger of life on the streets ― until he meets Lewis. Lewis takes him under his wing and leads him to his new home among a group of kids living in an abandoned underground shopping mall who call themselves the "Undergrounders." Now renamed "Mouse," Jonathan runs errands, delivers packages and panhandles for food money. An escape from this life underground comes to him in the form of hockey gear. Stolen hockey gear, but hockey gear nonetheless. He suits up and heads to the community rink, where he befriends regular kids who welcome him into their game and onto their team. He agrees, knowing he can never tell them about being homeless. Playing hockey makes him feel like a kid again, but keeping his double life a secret proves to be more difficult and dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

Genres: Young Adult, Canada, Hockey, Fiction, Sports, Contemporary

194 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Ethan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that i could not put down. This book is about a boy named Jonathan who became homeless after his mom died. He ended up finding this place called the underground which is a place for people like him to go for 50 cents a night, even though only the people who have been there new about it. One day he ended up walking into a closed hockey shop with tons of gear. He stole some equipment to play the sport he's always loved. While he was playing at the out door rink he found out that he was a little rusty. He ended up getting asked to play hockey with some normal kids. Since he did so well one of the kids asked his coach to come and watch. After the coach saw he immediately wanted Jonathan on his team. He ended up playing for there team the rebels. He convinced his teammates that he had a home farther away. He did really well, almost winning the championship but losing to the red wings. One of the kids and his family found about him being homeless and decided to make Jonathan part of there family.


It was a really good book, one of the best i have ever read.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Undergrounders" is a Young adult novel by David Skuy. The story follows a young boy of 12 named Jonathan, after his mom dies,and the landlord kicks him out. He deals with daily struggles of loneliness and danger of the streets and worries of how he would survive the streets. Until he meets Lewis and he leads Jonathan to his new home, among groups of kids living in an abandoned underground shopping mall. Upon arriving at his new home he starts to run errands, delivers packages and panhandles for food money. To escape all the problems around he stole hockey gear and turned to hockey. He then heads to the community rink and befriends regular kids who opens their arms to him and asks him to join their hockey team, Jonathan then agrees, but knowing he cannot tell them that he's homeless. I thought this book was excellent because it showed how much he wanted to feel like a kid again, to be loved, but knowing that no one in the world was there to care for him anymore destroyed his imaginary, so he's left to pick up the shattered pieces of it and reform it into something else. Hockey made him feel like he belonged, like a kid again and it was something from his coaxing past. He was still young enough to play hockey like the old times but old enough to know the cruelties of this world surrounding him. Image the line that's drawn on a chalk broad between his underground life as a homeless child and his desire to be with the rest of the kids was perfectly straight once, but then as the story proceeds it begins to smudge, little by little until it disappeared. He desperately wanted to tell them but was unsure of how they would react and different scenarios were placed in his head. Jonathan also searches for the parent-figure he once had, the warmness of everything but could not find any in the life underground. This books lovely because as readers when you see a character take a wrong turn you go "no,no,no don't go down that lane, it's bad." and give you an understanding of how things are going to be. What I truly loved about the characters was how much flaws and mistakes, and innocence they were made out of. It represents how much our world is corrupted. He was forced into adulthood with a push he didn't want and it made me cry because he had experienced such harsh perspectives of the world so young, no children should have to go through what he does in this book but sadly they do. He was a child who wanted the simplest of things, love, warmth and a safe home seem to be so out of his reach as he tried over and over again to reach it.

[GiadaWebster · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨
For English class

[Teebz Hbic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Undergrounders can be found on Hockey Blog In Canada.

[Aidan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the book Undergrounders by David Skuy,I really liked the book mostly becasue of the topic. The book was a about a boy named Jonathon and is 12 years old. Jonathon was on the streets on his own, living on the streets. The 'Underground' gave him a place to sleep. Jonathon has had a past of loving hockey, he steals some equipment from a local hockey shop. He quickly made his rush when the store was closed. Moving on in the book he meets up with some reggies with are normal kids with a house and attend school. He is asked to tryout for the team at there next practice, Jonathon showed his talents for hockey and was asked to play on the Rebels. After confincing Rasheed that he lives in a home and takes Jonathon to hockey every night. The book goes on with Jonathon having challenges throughout the book including stealing and not having the money to eat. In the end Jonathon and the Rebels make the playoffs but fall short not winning the championship by losing to the Red Wings. But Rasheed's family finds out that Jonathon lives on the streets. Rasheed's family invites Jonathon to join their famiy. I would recommend this novel to childrens ages 10-13 because the novel was a little easy but a good read. Someone that is into hockey will love the book Undergrounders.

[MrsHamel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description: Jonathan is forced to live on the streets when his mom dies, and he finds a "home" with other homeless kids who live in an underground abandoned mall. He played hockey in his former life, and ends up stealing equipment and playing on an outdoor rink for an escape. He is soon invited to join a real team, and he struggles with making sure his two worlds don't collide.

Reaction: An interesting look at how quickly life can change. Jonathan is likeable and readers will want him to find a home where he belongs. Particularly interesting to hockey fans, as the description of his time on the ice can be a bit extensive.

Recommended Level: Young Adult

Subjects/Themes: hockey, homeless, survival

Curriculum Connections: Grade 9 ELA - equal opportunity

Awards: 2012 Saskatchewan Snow Willow Nominee

Series Information:

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first-person narrative, from the point of view of a 12-year-old homeless kid (Jonathon a.k.a "Mouse")has its flaws, sure--a fairytale ending for one. That said, the experiences Jonathon relates about life on the street and an invitation to play AA hockey are well told for the 9-12 year-old-boy crowd. Many young boys I know love and devour this book. It's the story of an underdog with talent who finds the love of a good family and learns something about being a member of a team--lessons kids can genuinely relate to. The author manages to address some of the grittiness and danger of the streets without lapsing into the profanity which would deny the book a place in many school libraries. The writing is not extraordinary but the topic appeals. Recommended.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into the lives of homeless children. When Mouse is left homeless, he falls in with a group of children who live in an abandoned, underground mall. To pass the time, Mouse starts skating at a local outdoor rink, and ends up playing hockey with a group of regular kids (Reggies). As he gets deeper into playing with these kids, his lies get bigger, and he finds it harder to abide by the rules of the underground.

Good read for teens who have a love of hockey, or sports in general. Explores a bigger issue of teen homelessness and criminal behaviour, while including the excitement of the game.

Definitely recommend - particularly for teen boys or girls interested in hockey.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonathon is alone after his mother dies and has moved into the abandoned "Underground" with other homeless kids. His desperation and love for hockey attracts him to a team practice and leads him to some unsavory behaviour so he can join them.

This sport related book offers readers an interesting connection to homelessness. A great read even for those not into hockey.

Recommended: 9-12 years

Subject/theme: hockey, homelessness
Curriculum: Class Discrimination
Awards: OLA Silver Birch Fiction 2012

[Aliyah Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! A short story about a 12 year old kid who is living on the streets trying to survive each day, comes across a group of boys who invite him to be on their hockey team.

I honestly don't know how to review this properly other than saying its so so sad but so good. It really is heartbreaking to read as it's only fiction on page, and to think about all the children that are subject to abuse, and the unjustness of the systems around them.

Please read this!!

[Naomi]

Story about a young boy Jonathon who ends up homeless on the streets. We see how lucky the Reggies(Regular Kids) are compared to the Undergrounders( homeless kids). Rasheed and the janitor are kind to Jonathan since he can skate and handle the puck. A good look at homelessness. I think the stealing of the hockey equipment is glossed over and should be discussed.

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a really good book. I did not really like the hockey part of the books, because I thought that they were a bit corny, but I really liked the part where he was with the undergrounders. I think that the people who would like this book are people who like sport books, and realistic fiction.

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decently written junior-grade intro to homelessness. While I think a lot of the story is improbable, there are some good talking points about the need for shelter and food, and what life is like for kids on the street.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Silver Birch books are a sad lot this year - three out of three with the loss of their mothers and the resultant trauma. Sigh. Aren't there any happy stories?

[River · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a good book but i didnt like the hockey parts i loved it when he was running away from w5

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snow Willow Nominee 2012

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like the part were he steals and when he stays with the family

[Kathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good piece of writing (and a super pick for the boys), though a bit too much hockey talk for my liking.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing.

[Liliane Horan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever. Nuff said

[Avery Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best hockey book of all time

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good!

[Fred12345 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's cool

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a hear wrenching book!This was a re-read but it was still amazing!

[Linda]

Awesome book to introduce kids to how easy homelessness can happen. Enjoyed this as a read together with my 12 year old son.