Tom’s mittens felt much too big as he stood on the edge of the ice, his skates wobbling on the frozen surface. It was his first day with the Maple Grove Minions, the after-school ice-hockey team, and his heart thudded in his chest like a wild drumbeat. The other kids zipped around, laughing and calling out to each other, sticks clacking, cheeks red with excitement. Tom shivered, but not just from the cold. He didn’t know anyone on the team. Not Finn, the captain with the thunder-loud voice, or Zoya, who carved circles into the ice like a figure skater. Mostly, Tom was afraid he’d never keep up. What if he let everyone down? What if he slipped—or worse, missed the puck completely? Coach Patel clapped her hands. “Okay, Minions! Pairs to practice passing!” Her curly hair bounced as she glanced around, then beamed at Tom. “You’re with me, Tom!” Tom crept onto the ice, gripping his stick so...

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