Title: Playing Hurt
Author: Holly Schindler
First published March 1, 2011
303 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780738722870 (ISBN10: 0738722871)
Rating: 3.76
Overview
Derek is head-over-heels for Kaitlyn. But their love is doomed from the start.
Derek is a member of the Nightshade coven, a group of witches who have been practicing dark magic for centuries. And Kaitlyn is a Guardian of the Light, a powerful force for good whose duty is to stop Derek and his kind.
About the Author
Book critics have showered Holly Schindler’s work with praise, earning her starred reviews from both Booklist and Publishers Weekly. She’s been honored with silver and gold medals from ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year and the IPPY Awards, and her books have been featured on respected lists such as Booklist’s Best First Novels for Youth and School Library Journal’s What’s Hot in YA.
In addition, her work has been singled out as a PW Pick of the Week. When not writing, Holly can usually be found drinking lots of coffee and working on her next literary masterpiece.
You can learn more about Holly Schindler and her work by visiting her website at hollyschindler.com.
Editoral Review
Holly Schindler’s Playing Hurt is a gripping and heart-warming novel that explores the themes of love, friendship, grief, and self-discovery. This coming of age story is perfect for young adults who are seeking a relatable and realistic portrayal of the challenges and triumphs of adolescence.
Published on March 1, 2011, the novel has become a must-read for anyone who loves stories about resilience and redemption. Schindler is an accomplished author who has won numerous awards for her works that span multiple genres.
In Playing Hurt, Schindler skillfully weaves together a story that will captivate readers, drawing them in with her vivid descriptions and masterful characterizations. The novel features a cast of complex and multi-dimensional characters whose experiences will resonate with readers of all ages.
The protagonist of the novel is Starla, a high school student who has been dealt a difficult hand in life. She lost her mother when she was young, and her father has struggled with addiction and mental illness ever since.
Despite these challenges, Starla is determined to succeed and make a better life for herself. She finds solace in her love of softball and her friendships with her teammates, who become like a second family to her.
The novel is set in a small Missouri town, and the author does an excellent job of capturing the feel of a close-knit community. The town comes alive through Schindler’s evocative prose, and readers will feel as though they are there with the characters on the dusty softball field, at the local diner, or in Starla’s father’s rundown trailer.
One of the central conflicts of the novel is Starla’s relationship with her father. He oscillates between moments of unexpected tenderness and violent outbursts, leaving Starla uncertain of how to navigate their relationship.
Schindler does an excellent job of depicting the complexities of this father-daughter dynamic, exploring the nuances of a family relationship that is both loving and fraught with pain. Another strength of the novel is the way in which Schindler writes about grief.
Both Starla and her teammate, Glory, are struggling to come to terms with the loss of loved ones, and the author handles this delicate subject matter with sensitivity and compassion. Schindler captures the raw emotions of grief and loss, all while maintaining a hopeful and optimistic tone.
Overall, Playing Hurt is an excellent novel that is sure to leave its mark on readers. The characters are well-developed, the setting is evocative, and the themes are powerful and relatable.
While there are some minor pacing issues throughout the novel, these do not detract from the overall quality of the story. Fans of young adult literature or those who enjoy stories about the human experience will find much to love in this powerful and moving novel.
In conclusion, Holly Schindler’s Playing Hurt is a novel that deserves to be read and reread. Its messages of resilience, friendship, and self-discovery will resonate with readers of all ages, and its powerful themes are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published.
Highly recommended. 4.5/5.
