52 pages • 1 hour read
Beartown is a hardworking place where townspeople live for their hockey team. Their economy is suffering, and their town identity has recently been shaken by a rape, in which the town sided with the boy who committed the crime. Now, Beartown is trying to heal, but the healing process will bring a rivalry and an accident.
Maya and Ana are 16 years old, total opposites, and best friends. A few months ago, Maya was raped by Kevin, whose mother is now moving the family out of Beartown. Maya pointed a gun to Kevin, which caused his own breakdown. Now, Kevin’s parents are getting a divorce and his mother, who loves him despite the rape and is struggling with how to parent him through this crisis, drives them far away from the town that cannot forget about the crime. Kevin’s father is not as supportive as his mother, believing that there are winners, losers, and the people who watch.
The townspeople await the news of the fate of their hockey team, their one pride and joy now threatened by the crisis with Kevin and Maya. Peter Andersson, Maya’s father, is the General Manager of Beartown Ice Hockey club.
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By Fredrik Backman