Beartown #1
Fredrik Backman has the honor of being the only male author we read a book from for Bridge Street Book Club. And all because it’s a hockey book, one that I’d been slowly making my way through for years and figured I finally needed a deadline to finish it. And boy am I glad I did.
Synopsis
From the publisher marketing:
By the lake in Beartown is an old ice rink, and in that ice rink Kevin, Amat, Benji, and the rest of the town’s junior ice hockey team are about to compete in the national semi-finals–and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.
Under that heavy burden, the match becomes the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown.
This is a story about a town and a game, but even more about loyalty, commitment, and the responsibilities of friendship; the people we disappoint even though we love them; and the decisions we make every day that come to define us. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.
She’s fifteen, above the age of consent, and he’s seventeen, but he’s still “the boy” in every conversation. She’s “the young woman.”
Words are not small things.
Hockey, Heartache, and Small-Town Drama
Fredrik Backman’s Beartown is an unforgettable novel that takes readers deep into the heart of a small, struggling town where hockey is more than a sport—it’s a lifeline, a religion, and, ultimately, a mirror for the community’s soul. While it’s easy to label this a “hockey book,” Beartown transcends the sport. It’s a poignant exploration of identity, values, and the fragile threads that hold a community together, earning its place as a modern classic.
In Beartown, hockey isn’t just a game. It’s the town’s identity, the focal point of its hopes and dreams. The weight of that expectation rests heavily on the junior hockey team, whose success in a national tournament could breathe life into the town—or break it entirely. Backman masterfully captures the claustrophobic intensity of a town that lives and dies by the puck, showing how the dreams of an entire community can hinge on the shoulders of its young players—shoulders that are beginning to buckle under the pressure.
At the center of it all is Peter Andersson, the hockey team’s general manager, a man torn between his role as a father, a husband, and a leader in a town that demands everything from him. Backman’s ability to delve into the psyche of ordinary people shines here, as Peter becomes a lens through which readers experience the complexities of Beartown. Peter’s wife, Kira, offers a refreshing perspective as someone both within and apart from the town’s hockey obsession, while their teenage daughter, Maya, provides an emotional core to the story through her passion for music and her role in the unfolding drama.
Backman’s genius lies in his rich tapestry of characters. Sune, the aging and endearing former head coach, is a standout—a man whose wisdom and quiet strength anchor some of the novel’s most touching moments. Ramona, the no-nonsense bar owner, and Benji, a junior team member grappling with moral dilemmas and his own identity, are equally memorable. Every character, from the teenage players to the townsfolk on the sidelines, is vividly drawn, each flawed, human, and utterly compelling.
At the heart of Beartown is a devastating assault that sends shockwaves through the town, forcing everyone to confront their values and reckon with the toxic undercurrents that have long been ignored. The incident not only propels the plot but also serves as a crucible for the characters, testing their morals and their loyalty to the community—and to themselves. Backman doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but he handles the subject matter with grace and sensitivity, making the emotional weight of the story all the more impactful.
Beartown isn’t just about hockey; it’s about what the sport represents: ambition, sacrifice, and the need to belong. It’s also about the courage it takes to stand up for what’s right, even when it means standing alone. Backman’s writing is achingly beautiful, his insights into human nature sharp and unflinching. As readers, we’re invited to reflect on our own values and choices, making Beartown as much about us as it is about its characters.
This is a story that lingers long after the final page, challenging and inspiring in equal measure. For anyone who loves character-driven narratives, small-town dramas, or stories that peel back the layers of community and humanity, Beartown is a must-read. It’s not just a book—it’s an experience, a love letter to resilience and the human spirit.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Celebration of Books 