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Book Review of The Value of Tenacity: The Story of Maurice Richard (Value Tales series)

The Value of Tenacity: The Story of Maurice Richard (Value Tales series)
kuligowskiandrewt avatar reviewed on + 569 more book reviews


Ann Donegan Johnson uses her children's book series to meet two goals to use the biography of a famous person as a device to demonstrate the results of applying / adhering to a positive human value.

As an adult attempting to view this work from the perspective of the target audience, I found that "The Value of Tenacity The Story of Maurice Richard" largely met its goals. The book gives the basic biography of the man known in Canda as "The Rocket", and touches upon the highlights of his life including (surprisingly to me) the "Richard Riots" which were triggered after the NHL suspended The Rocket.

I am torn over the use of a "talking" hockey stick to personify the man's or at the start, the boy's "tenacity". The book makes it clear that the stick isn't really talking it's Maurice's imagination, and the emotion is actually inside of him but I'm not sure that kids need the device. Plus, calling it "Slapper" ... as the slapshot hadn't been invented / named yet, the author made a historical faux pax.

Overall, a good story both bio and moral lesson for kids.

RATING: 3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.