Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey

Eric Bittle, a former junior figure skating champion from Georgia, begins his freshman year at Samwell University as a member of the men's hockey team. Despite his speed and agility on the ice, his fear of being checked poses a major obstacle to his success in the sport. The story follows Eric's experiences navigating college life, from making friends on the hockey team to pursuing his passion for baking and maintaining his video blog. His teammates become an important support system as he works to overcome his fears and find his place at Samwell. Through practices, games, and life in the team's shared house, Eric learns to balance athletics, academics, and relationships. The narrative emphasizes how sports can bring together people from different backgrounds and create lasting bonds. The graphic novel format captures both the physical intensity of hockey and the emotional journey of self-discovery in young adulthood. Themes of friendship, identity, and personal growth are woven into this sports story that transcends traditional athletic narratives.

Readers highlight the book's upbeat tone, LGBTQ+ representation, and accessible introduction to hockey culture. Many note the charm of protagonist Bitty's personality and his baking hobby as standout elements. The art style receives praise for its expressiveness and ability to convey action during hockey scenes. Common criticisms include a slow-moving plot and that the story feels incomplete without Book 2. Some readers mention the romance develops late in the narrative. A few note the webcomic-to-book translation loses some digital storytelling elements. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (32,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,300+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.7/5 (200+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Perfect for fans who don't know hockey" "The baking + hockey combination shouldn't work but does" "Characters feel real and relatable" "Wish there was more depth to secondary characters" "Story pacing could be tighter"

Heartstopper, Volume 1 by Alice Oseman Two boys navigate romance and friendship at a British boarding school through warm graphic novel storytelling.

Fence, Vol. 1 by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad A rivalry between two fencers at an elite boys' school unfolds through manga-influenced art and sports competition.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang A prince who secretly wears dresses and his talented seamstress build trust and understanding through their shared passion for fashion design.

Bloom by Kevin Panetta, Savanna Ganucheau A baker's son finds unexpected connection with a new hire at his family's bakery while planning his future.

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall A transfer student joins her school's popular girls who transform into werewolves at night to hunt predatory boys.

🏒 Author Ngozi Ukazu raised over $74,000 through Kickstarter to self-publish Check, Please! before it was picked up by First Second Books 🥧 The story began as Ukazu's senior thesis project at Yale University, inspired by her research into hockey culture and the NHL 📚 Check, Please! started as a webcomic in 2013 and built a massive following online, particularly on Tumblr, before becoming a printed book 🏆 The book won the 2019 Eisner Award for Best Webcomic and the Harvey Award for Best Digital Book 🍯 The protagonist Bitty's pie recipes featured in the story are all real, tested recipes that fans can actually make at home