Sudden Impact

by Lesley Choyce

When Kurt is hurt in a soccer game and ends up in the hospital Tina tries to help him, but nobody will tell her what is wrong, and Kurt's parents don't want her around. Tina learns that Kurt needs a donor with a rare blood type, and she finds a match in Kurt's soccer rival Jason. Jason agrees to donate his blood to Kurt, but when Kurt disappears from the hospital, the situation becomes desperate. Then Kurt's rival is in a tragic accident that may change everything.

Genres: Young Adult, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Lesley Choyce is a novelist and poet living at Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia. He is the author of more than 80 books for adults, teens and children. He teaches in the English Department and Transition Year Program at Dalhousie University. He is a year-round surfer and founding member of the 1990s spoken word rock band, The SurfPoets. Choyce also runs Pottersfield Press, a small literary publishing house and hosted the national TV show, Off The Page, for many years. His books have been translated into Spanish, French, German and Danish and he has been awarded the Dartmouth Book Award and the Ann Connor Brimer Award.

Lesley Choyce was born in New Jersey in 1951 and moved to Canada in 1978 and became a citizen.

His YA novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

True to hi/lo form, the novel moves forward at a fast pace. Readers will be compelled to learn more about the nature of Kurt's illness/injury, and will experience frustration along with narrator Tina as she tries to help her friend despite the resistance and outright hostility of Kurt's parents toward her. The hi/lo format is, by it's nature, limiting to character and plot development, but that's the librarian's over analysis. Struggling readers at the intermediate/senior level will enjoy the exciting story line without feeling that the author is talking "down" to them.

Oh yeah, there's some soccer in there too.

[Abby Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this book was really good and it really grasped my attention. From the start when Kurt and Tina started running and exercising together to the end when Tina was being so nice to Kurt while he was majorly ill. This book was one of my favorite books because I can relate to playing soccer and so that part interested. Also, it grab my attention when everything went down with kurt. This part was probably the most interesting because of everything that happen. If you want to find out what happens in this, read Sudden Impact by Lesley Choyce.

[Lauren Ellzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a good hi/lo novel. Fast-paced, easy to read, and engaging. Loses one star because I felt that certain behaviors, like underage drinking, parental verbal abuse, discrimination, and law-breaking were glossed over too quickly -- as in, if these topics weren't going to be unpacked more seriously, then perhaps their inclusion was not the best choice.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super!

[Trixie Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart wrenching and real.

[Jessie Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your best friend gets in trouble do you stand up and help or do you run away? In this case Kurt, Tina's best friend gets hurt from a soccer game and ended up in the hospital. No one decides to tel Tina but she found out it was because Kurt has a special kind of blood and has lost blood which was also found in her teammate Jason's body.This social Issue book based on friendship and trust written by Lesley Choyce is a interesting and exciting book that gain itself a 5 star rating. I recommend this book to the readers out there because this may change peoples mind. This may help people realize to stand up for each other and help others realize that they should help others that need help.

[Kathryn Adam-Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tina's has a difficult family life. Kurt is her best friend and he understands what is going on in her life. He wants to try out for sports but he does have the stamina. She helps him train and he makes the team. During a game, Kurt is hit in his side and is rushed to the hospital. He already had trouble with his liver and the hit made it worse. He now needs a transplant but his blood type in negative B. Tina tries to help him but his parents don't want her to be involved.

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Orca books. Short, quick read with a good story. Kurt gets injured one night playing soccer. Turns out his liver is working at 25%. He needs many transfusions and a transplant. His friend Tina is a pistol and doesn't back down in getting help for Kurt. This story reminded me so much of Miss Ashley's liver ordeal. Livers are very scary when not functioning properly.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Orca Currents are a hit among my striving readers. Sudden Impact is predictable, but still compelling and heartfelt. I recommend it to my seventh graders - boys and girls alike - who will appreciate the familiar, realistic characters.

[Ms. Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far, I like the narrator a lot because in the very first scene, he offered to train his friend to be a great runner. I liked that because I also like to run, and I also like to help my friends to accomplish their goals.

[Pedro gutierrez]

it was good ooooooh ya give it some

[Yasmin Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best book i had ever read . Or probably because it was one of the first books i started reading this year. This book made me want to read more and more.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25