“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” - Wayne Gretzky

Emily Deibert takes a shot with “Bea Mullins Takes a Shot” and doesn’t miss. This is a sweet lighthearted book about missing out on the chances that you’re too scared to take a shot at.

Bea Mullins is forced to participate in a team sport to make up for phys ed classes because the school's gym flooded and is unusable. She gets talked into joining the startup girls hockey team. Over time, Bea finds herself unknowingly crushing on the co-captain Gabi. Because Bea has no faith in herself whether on a team or in life, she refuses to take the shots that would help her win.

This is a middle-school aged book about first love, self discovery, and sports. I was actually kind of jealous reading this book. I LOVE hockey and I always wished I could have played hockey when I was younger because I think I could have been bad ass at it. I probably would have been a great defenseman. I really felt for Bea because she had a bad experience in a previous team sport which soured the experience for her. However, having to be on a team sport for phys ed helps her grow in ways she didn’t think she was capable of. This is a great read for an adult but an even better read for anyone who might be middle-school age and struggling with self worth and identity.

Being the most unathletic person I know, I never thought I’d love a book with so much hockey in it, but there is truly so much to love in Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert.

Bea, an anxious 7th grader, believes she could be happy playing it safe and never taking chances—especially if that means avoiding the mortifying humiliation of failing herself and the people she cares about. But when she’s thrust into a hockey team with her best friend and an unexpected first crush, Bea must learn to take a chance on herself.

Bea, Celia, and Gabi are relatable characters that middle-grade readers are certain to connect with. Bea’s anxieties and insecurities in her family relationships, friendships, and crushes, as well as her fears about being perceived on social media, feel so real and relevant for this age group. All three characters are not only fleshed out, rounded, and unique in their own right, but their relationships feel sincere and wholesome, thanks to the author’s skillful middle-grade voice and earnest exploration of the emotional experience of a 7th grader.

Something else I particularly loved about this book was the *lack* of importance placed on scores and winning. Sure, it’s been said in all the books that “it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about how you play the game” or “what matters is that you have fun” and everything else one says when handing out participation trophies, but I’m not sure I’ve come across a book that has done a better job of *showing* (not telling) this in a way that is natural and not at all lesson-y or cheesy.

And yet . . . having said all that, it still must be said (I can’t help myself) that this book is an absolute winner!

This is so stinkin' cute and it makes me sad that I haven't been reading more middlegrade lately. I love middlegrades that you can even take life lessons from as an adult, and this was definitely one of those. Bea is such a relatable character, and I loved seeing her growth throughout the book. If you love reading about sports, definitely don't count out middlegrade! I really enjoyed this debut and am hoping for more from the author - I'll definitely pick it up.

This book was absolutely adorable from start to finish. I wish I had a story like this when I was middle grade age.

There was growing up, new schools, lasting friendships, hockey, young love, queer and BIPOC representation, and self discovery, all wrapped into one great package. The romantic moments were swoon-worthy, the funny bits made me laugh out loud, and there was a solid team worth cheering for the entire time.

This book is an easy 4 stars and I highly recommend it to any middle grade reader. I'm not a big sports romance person, but I still loved every second fo Bea and Gabi.

I was lucky enough to get approved by NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Bea Mullins had a terrible experience when she joined the basketball team, something I can totally relate to! I was also tall for my age, just like Bea, and everyone expected me to be a natural. Bea had no plans to join another team sport—ever. But when the gym is rendered unusable for PE and Bea is forced to join the all girls hockey team, she has to face her fears of bullying and not living up to anyone’s expectations—even her own. I totally relate to her trepidation!
Emily Deibert captures the challenges and triumphs of navigating first crushes, best friendships, new friendships, and failure. She also shines a light on the unfairness in boys vs girls sports (thank youuuu!) Bea's journey is both relatable and inspiring, making this book a must-read for young readers seeking stories of courage and self-discovery.

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is such a cute middle grade novel! Following a 7th grader as she navigates new experiences and feelings along with the anxiety that can often come with them. You can’t help but root for Bea as she conquers her fears and gains her confidence on and off the ice.

A great middle school book with diverse characters and family structures. Especially recommended to tweens/teens experiencing fear or anxiety over taking big steps.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was so cute! Even though it was a middle grade book I think any age would enjoy this!

It was written so well. It was a very quick read. I enjoyed every second of it.

Bea was such a fun main character to follow. She was funny and real. There were so many laugh out loud moments for me, whether it was her inner thoughts or the banter between her and her friends.

I liked that this book focused on friendships just as much as her relationship with Gabi. Even Bea’s relationship with her brother and her parents were touched on and I thought it was very well done.

There was a fairly large cast of characters, but I thought enough of them were fleshed out that they each felt like their own person. It could have easily just focused on Bea and Gabi and let everyone else not have a personality, but that wasn’t the case.

I thought her and Gabi were adorable. Their relationship was so natural, they started off as friends and it turned into something more. It was very innocent and sweet which is perfect for middle grade to read.

I really liked the team atmosphere and the message of never giving up and not letting fear or embarrassment stop you from doing something you want.

Some of the issues Bea had could have been avoided or she made a big deal of it for no reason, but she is young so obviously I don’t hold it against her. I thought for being in middle school her problems made sense and hopefully she can learn from them as she gets older.

I absolutely think everyone should pick this book up! I finished it in a day, that is how much I enjoyed it.

Super cute middle grade novel! Love the sapphic representation :)
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an early copy in exchange for this review!

This was a really cute MG book. As someone who tried and failed at several team sports as a child/teen, I could totally relate to Bea and her insecurities.

I loved the whole first crush plot line and I think lots of younger audiences will be able to relate to Bea and her feelings.

This is definitely one I would recommend to tween/teens but that I think would also be enjoyed by adults.

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhousechildrens for the advance Kindle copy of this 2.25.25 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This is such a great story of female sports representation with a sapphic romance thrown in. Bea and her best friend Celia are recruited for their school’s new girls’ hockey team. The problem? Bea is the opposite of athletic. Their team is kind of like the Bad News Bears of hockey, but with a solid teacher sponsor, some creativity, and team chemistry, they fight for their funding and improve their games. And, Bea finds more than a friend. Adorable. Hand to readers in grades 6+.

This middle grade through some of the unrealistic events still left me feeling cozy vibes. The exploration of the underdog aspect and throwing yourself out of your comfort zone to try something new was a fun journey. Go women’s sports! Each character brought something special to the team.

This was such a good book. I love all the hockey talk inside it. And the way Bea had to figure out what she did was amazing. She worked through everything like she should have. I was confused at frist, I didn't know if she liked Gabi or not. I truly loved this book, and I will definitely be buying this book.

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is a cute sapphic coming of age story- and hockey! I loved the storyline and the characters were interesting and so very believable. I appreciated the women’s hockey storyline especially, I am a huge fan of women’s hockey and seeing the PWHL come into play across North America has been amazing and this story will only further interest in the sport- as players or spectators.

Lately I've noticed an uptick in sports-themed middle grade books with lesbian characters, which I'm all for, despite my total lack of athletic ability. Erin Becker's Crushing It features eighth grade soccer teammates; the main character in It's All or Nothing, Vale is a competitive fencer.

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is about an unathletic tween girl who is encouraged to join a team sport after a flood damages the school gym. To the delight of her hockey-obsessed father, she picks ice hockey, a sport her older brother also plays. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with Bea or to the plot. Bea's feelings of self-doubt were very realistic but a little grating.

I'm glad this book exists, and I hope it makes it way to every hockey-loving girl out there. It just wasn't for me.

Absolutely loved this book. Awesome themes of friendship and fighting for what you want. I also loved seeing a book showing girls in a male-dominated sport. Highly recommend this phenomenal book.

As adept as Deibert is at describing the dynamic hockey scenes, where she truly shines is making me feel like that insecure tweener I used to be, and how that lack of self confidence often sabotaged me and my friendships. So immersive.

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is such a heartwarming story! Girls in sports, dealing with embarrassment, friendships, first crushes, action, and so much more. I fell in love with Bea and her voice in this book, and it was exciting seeing her go from reluctant to participate to an all-in members of the girls hockey team. Additionally, the story highlighted the importance of maintaining friendships when crushes come into the picture, being honest, and the imbalance of men’s sports vs women’s sports. This was such a great read and I highly recommend it.

I loveee sweet first crush stories and I love sports romances so I’m obsessed with this book!

I adored Bea. And while I don’t personally relate, I understood her fears and insecurities. I know the anxiety of not wanting to let your team down and how much it sucks to lose big in a game. I also know how scary it is to come out, even to people you know will be supportive.

But this blossoming friendship with Gabi was everything. It’s the kind of sweet romance that has you smiling and kicking your feet while reading. I loved the way all the storylines wrapped up. And ugh Bea and Gabi are simply the cutest! I want them to have all the happiness in the world!

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to read a sweet first crush sports romance!

I really appreciated this book for what it was. There’s not a lot of books about girls hockey/women’s hockey. There’s even less about gay girls hockey. It’s hard enough. Just going to middle school, but being a girl starting a team and having a crush on a teammate? That’s next level. And this book makes you feel every level it starts slow but I’d stick with it.