Blind Squirrel

by Dave Mishkin

A moving story of family, loss, love, and hope.Noah Nicholson has a gift. He is blessed with extraordinary hand-eye coordination. This gift has helped him build a successful career as a minor-league hockey player. But Noah is damaged; his parents died in a car accident when he was twelve, and he has dealt with mental health issues ever since. It’s only after Noah loses his gift in a career-ending injury that he is able to begin the healing process.Readers will meet indelible Noah’s mother, cerebral and mentally tough; his good-natured, even-keeled father; his crusty grandmother, who has a soft spot for Boston’s sports teams; his effervescent, talented, Russian-born teammate, who becomes Noah’s mentee; an orange cat whose meow doesn’t have an ‘m’; an eleven-year-old girl who looks like Pippi Longstocking; and the pediatric dentist with a sense of humor and a crooked smile who makes her way past Noah’s defenses and captures his heart. Then, of course, there is Noah himself. Smart, selfless, and silently struggling. We cheer for Noah, but unlike the fans who come to watch him play, it is not in appreciation of his singular, one-of-a-kind gift. Instead, we cheer for Noah because he is plainly, ordinarily human.

378 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2024

About the author

Dave Mishkin has been the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning since 2002. Before that, he spent eleven years as a broadcaster in hockey’s minor leagues. Eight of those were in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where much of Blind Squirrel takes place. He is a 1991 graduate of Yale. Blind Squirrel is his first novel.

Reviews

[Sandybfl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, I really enjoyed it. Maybe a little too much description of hockey and what each term means, but I guess that would be helpful if you don't know anything about hockey.

[Christiana Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My monthly book club read this book, and it was such a pleasant surprise! Dave Mishkin's writing is smart, funny and full of heart. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a feel-good story with quirky, lovable characters who find purpose and meaning in unexpected places.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I originally purchased this book to support a friend. As I cracked it open, I thought to myself: “please be good enough that I find something nice to say about it.” Listen. I didn’t need to worry. This book is a fabulous read, and has SO MUCH heart. I haven’t rated a book five stars in a while, but this one definitely deserves all five. Amazing debut and I can’t wait to purchase the next Dave Mishkin novel, if there is one…if not, I’ll just keep this one on my wall of fame. And you’ll have to read the novel to fully understand that last sentence. Do yourself a favor, and pick this book up today.

[Boomer Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I typically don’t read fictional books…but considering Dave Mishkin is a Lightning Legend & that this book had some hockey in it, I gave Blind Squirrel a chance.

I don’t want to be extreme, but I want to give this book the title of “BEST BOOK EVER”.

I enjoyed this book more than any other book I’ve read and it instantly became my undisputed favorite book.

Give it a chance…even if you don’t typically read fiction, even if you typically don’t read sports books, even if you typically don’t read motivating, inspiring, and heart-warming books…give Blind Squirrel a chance. It’ll be worth your time.

Well done, Mishkin! Thanks for writing this book!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It had a great storyline that enlightens us about the struggles others suffer through and how they deal with them. Dave Mishkin’s writing shows empathy with humor thrown in to balance the ups with the downs. Noah and the other characters came to feel like family.
I also liked how he explained the hockey and baseball parts that was educational for those not well versed in the sport/s but yet not overdone for those that do know how the games are played. Highly recommend this story that melds different aspects of life and how to overcome the bad with the good.
Highly recommend and you’ll also get to learn why the title is called “Blind Squirrel”. Makes a great gift too!

[GA21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Blind Squirrel and I must say I loved it. It is a book that made me laugh and cry. I was cheering on the characters and hoping that they would find love, happiness and be able to let go of the guilt they had been carrying around for decades. We can all learn something from this book. Thank you Dave for sharing this work of art with all of us.

[Eli Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #13 of 2025

This book had me hooked from the start. Dave Mishkin vividly brings the world of this novel to life, making me feel like I was right there in the moment. A lighthearted and easy read, it’s truly a top-tier book for me.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to this book interested at first in the hockey aspect. However I quickly found myself drawn in to the relationships that are beautifully articulated amongst Noah and his family, teammates and friends. An entertaining read and an impressive debut for Mr. Mishkin.

[Dana Caggia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After getting through the tedious description of how hockey is played, the story touched my heart with themes of loss, parental love, depression and anxiety, and finally becoming comfortable in one's own skin.

[Jim Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a good story. Inspirational as well. Job well done!

[Eugene Beil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Blind Squirrel today. It was an excellent story, the kind that leaves you hoping for a sequel. Great job, Dave.

[Rachael Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hockey, romance and mental health… what more could you ask for! This is such a heartwarming story that draws you in quickly to the characters lives. I really enjoyed this read.

[Elizabeth]

DNF

[M Faiello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might be a little biased with this because this was written by a friend of mine but I genuinely enjoyed the story Dave told! It was heartfelt and dealt with a lot of real-life situations that people experience in every day life. A great read for any sports fan, too, since it involves baseball and hockey. Proud of you, Dave!