Panic in Pittsburgh

Screech Owls #24

by Roy MacGregor

The Owls have been invited to Pittsburgh to compete in the biggest hockey tournament ever to be played on outdoor ice. The open-air tournament is to be held in the massive Heinz Field arena, home of football's mighty Pittsburgh Steelers. But almost as soon as the tournament begins, Travis suffers a serious concussion, just like the injury that sidelined Penguins' superstar Sidney Crosby. Travis is confined to his hotel room so his injured brain can recover. His memory is patchy, and he's having some weird dreams. And when he stumbles upon an outrageous plot to steal hockey's most coveted trophy, he can't be sure if his mind is playing tricks or the danger is a terrible reality.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Roy MacGregor is a Canadian author of fiction and non-fiction.

Reviews

[Jim Toner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novel in the Screech Owl series. I enjoyed reading about the city. Travis suffers a concussion during a hockey game. While bed ridden he believes he overhears a plot to steal the Stanley Cup.

[Crystalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I will admit that I requested this book from NetGalley mostly because it takes place in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is my adopted hometown, a place I love and adore for all of the things that make it unique: the inclines, the view from Mount Washington, and even the tourist trap known as Station Square. So, even though this book is about hockey (which I know nothing about), I thought I would give it a try. Besides, I reasoned, I need to read more middle grade novels since I am writing one for NaNoWriMo, and mysteries intrigue me.

I almost DNF-ed it right away. Not because I was lost and bored by the descriptions of hockey games (I hadn’t even gotten that far yet), but because I could not get over the inaccurate descriptions of Pittsburgh landmarks. First, the Consol Energy Center is described as “a massive NHL rink up on the hill.” Um . . . no. The Consol is not on a hill, and it’s not just a hockey rink. A bunch of other little details about Station Square, the incline, and Heinz Field bothered me too.

But I gave the book a chance, because who doesn’t want to read about an inclusive kids’ hockey team who solves mysteries all over the United States? This is apparently the latest in a very successful series by author Roy MacGregor. In this installment, the kids rescue the Stanley Cup from thieves, apparently for the second time. Which I suppose is cool for kids who enjoy hockey and mysteries, but just didn’t excite me. Action-packed hockey sequences were more prevalent than the (unbelievable) mystery plot that these kids solved on their own.

I give this author kudos, however, for representing a kids’ sports team where boys and girls of different backgrounds and physical abilities play together. One minor character is even in a wheelchair, and although he can’t play he is still considered a member of the team.

My conclusion: I’m just not the right audience for this book. It will appeal to middle school boys (and probably girls) who enjoy both hockey and mysteries, but probably not a lot of others. Any adult from Pittsburgh will probably be confused by the inaccurate descriptions of our fair city. I know I don’t know a lot about hockey, but it’s clear to me that this author knows a great deal about the sport, but not a lot about Pittsburgh.

Panic in Pittsburgh fell flat for me, but I am sure its intended audience will feel differently.

[Diane Lynch Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book not only had a mystery to solve, but it teaches life lessons and a bit of history.

Travis, the Screech Owl’s team captain, suffers a concussion early in the book. MacMregor did an excellent job of portraying his experience and feelings as he has to sit on the sidelines and watch his teammates. It was also touching how the person on the opposing team reacted. I know my son and his friends are always deeply concerned when someone gets hurt on the ice. Roy did an excellent job driving that fact home.

As the team manager of my son’s travel squirt hockey team, I truly appreciated Roy MacGragor’s attention to detail and hockey commentary. Not to mention he does a brilliant job in capturing the spirit of a travel hockey team.

This book literally made me laugh and cry. My ten-year-old son has all the Screech Owl books. He would agree that it is well worth the read. I highly recommend not only this book but series for any kid (or adult) that enjoys hockey and/or mysteries.

ARC provided publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[JG · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Screech Owls are in Pittsburgh for a competition, with the winners being able to pose with the Stanley Cup. However, Travis had sustained a game related accident causing a concussion. While resting, he started to hear sounds in the room next door, someone was planning to steal something. But he was still woozy and confused, so he didn't know if what he heard was real. What follows is an adventure trying to catch the would be thieves, trying to win the peewee hockey competition and making sure Nish doesn't really streak half naked after the games. Panic in Pittsburgh is a Screech Owls adventure. An excellent book for young teens and tweens, it has great hockey play by play games, a historical tour about Pittsburgh appropriate for kids. I especially like how good sportsmanship is stressed by the actions of kids and good clean hockey fun.

*The ARC for this book was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review*

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Panic in Pittsburgh was a fun, quick read, especially for hockey fans. In this book the Screech Owls are going to Pittsburgh to play in one of the biggest outdoor hockey tournaments ever. Once they get there though, they get more than they bargained for. They have to battle injuries, endure the cold weather, and solve a mystery. It is a great book for kids because it teaches valuable life lessons, and includes descriptions of historical events, places, and people. There is also an unexpected plot twist near the end that will surprise young readers and keep them reading. Overall, this was a fun read that I would recommend for kids who love hockey, mysteries, and friendship.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be a good book for young children who like sports - especially hockey. It was for a younger age group than I realized, but I think my friend's son will be able to appreciate it in a couple years. He should be getting into chapter books soon.

I think it could keep a child's interest, since it's short, but I was reading books more advanced than this at a very young age, so it's hard for me to judge. I definitely think young boys and girls would be interested in the story, but I'll have to see if I can get one of my friend's children to read it and give their feedback.

Should be a fairly quick read for most, since it's simple and easy to follow.