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Girl Talk #32
Katie's Close Call
Katie gets a chance to coach a peewee hockey team but before the first game she faces a life-or-death situation.
- GenresYoung AdultChildrens
114 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 26, 2024
Katie’s Close Call
Sabrina reads Rany’s horrorscope. It promises romace and increased creativity. Randy can do without the romance. Stacey puts in her usual caemo to put down horoscopes then she walks off. (Insulting Randy’s hair before she does). Katies says pay attention to a nagging worry. Then she sees a program for mentoring children called The Acorn League. They’re looking for coaches to start a hockey team for underprivileged kids in the urban Minneapolis area. Katie’s excited about it and they all think it’ll be perfect for her. They also need volunteers to read to the kids on Wednesdays and Fridays. Randy, Al, and Sabrina decide to sign up for that. Michel and Scottie show up and the girls get them to sign up to.
They meet Mrs. Walker whose over the Acorn League (a black lady whose nice). The thing is the kids don’t know how to skate and have probably never owned skates. She says that each program will meet for an hour and she’ll bring the kids over after school. The community has donated skates and the Bradley hockey and skating rink has loaned them use of there facility for a couple of hours. The reading program will be in the library. Right away a little boy named Danny sticks out because he pushes another little girl. Katie finds out that he’d rather not be there and instead just wants to hang out with his friends in the park. He says his mother doesn’t really care what he does and doesn’t get in til late. He doesn’t know anything about his father. Katie gets him to soften up by saying she’s sure his mother cares and that sometimes adults are just busy. She tells him she’ll teach him everything she knos and they’ll have fun.
On their first meeting, they’re given the rules. The kids will be divided into two teams and taught the basics of the game. On Friday there will be a scrimmage and the parents will be invited if they can come. The other coaches are John and Dave. First, they explain the equipment. Then they let the kids skate around. Some are better than others. Danny is good (tho he pretends to be bored). He’s fast and agile so Katie thinks he’ll be a good center. They all go through the kids and determine who will make the best positions. Katie makes sure Danny’s on her team. After practice, Katie compliments Danny and he actually smiles. Danny wants to know why she plays hockey. She’s a girl. Scottie tells him she might be a girl but she’s the best left wing on the team. Katie gets a sharp pain in her stomach and she doubles over, but Scottie isn’t fooled. Katie tells him it’s just a cramp or virus or something. But Katie is starting to worry because it’s been going on for two days. But she makes it to the end of pratice. Katie just wants to go to bed, but she’s promised to meet her friends at Firz’s. On the way to Fitz’s, she gets the chills. When she gets there everyone else gets junk food. She gets tea. She tells them about hockey practice. The others say they can bring their reading group and then can talk about it(like a show and tell). Katie gets nauseated when she sees the food and she runs to the bathroom. When The queasiness leave a little but there’s still a pain in her side.
Friday there’s a sleepover and Katie spaces and almost forgets. They tell her to bring soda. At the end of the dy Katie still feels bad but doesn’t want to miss the scrimmage. So she puts on her skates and heads over to the rink. Katie goes to put on her skates at the rink and gets another stabbing pain. They decide that the coaches will play the first practice scrimmage so the kids can see how it’s done. John gives the rules and the kids sit and watch. (I won’t go into the details of this game. If y our into sports or hockey you can read it). Katie doesn’t play her best game because of the pain. Scottie tho tells her she did good. Katie asks Danny if he’s ready for the real scrimmage next Friday but he says he guess. His mother won’t be there. Katie sees he’s disappointed and says she’ll be there to cheer him on.
By Saturday, Katie still has the stomach ache. It’s been four days. When Michel comes to get her for brunch she snaps at him and he leaves angry. Katie knows her mom will make her go to the doctor and it’ll remind her of her dad. She blamed them for a long time for not saving him, but she knows heart dieases ran in his family. Katie figures her stomach ache will go away in a day and if she doesn’t she’ll tell her mother by next Wednesday.
At the sleepover, Katie’s friends notice she’s not eating much and she’s pale. She admits to her friends she’s not feeling good. Sabrina says it might be a stomach virus. Lucke has it. Emily must have given it to her (a lot of people at the high school have it). They ask if she’s seen a doctor and she says if it’s not better by next week she will.
A week goes by and Katie still has the stomach ache. She decides to tell her after she comes back from the meeting. Michel has some good news. He says his father is donating all the kids matching shirts for the big game. Mrs. Smith offers to let Katie stay home but Katie turns it down. She tells them (Michel and Mrs. Smith) she thinks she’s coming down with the flu. The pain in Katie’s side gets worse as she tries to clean up the mess that falls out of her and Sabrina’s locker. Katie is shaky and tired and irritable. Unluckily, Katie leans on Stacey’s locker. Stacey accuses her of not having anything to feel bad about. She joined that program to be next to Scottie. She goes off on Stacey and then finds herself hitting the floor. Scottie catches her and takes her to the nurses’s office. Scottie gets mad and says it’s his fault. He knew all along she wasn’t fine. The nurse sees her temperature and asks her all kinds of questions. Katie tells her about her stomach and the nurse presses down on it. A sharp pain hits. The nurse then calls the ambulance. I’m gonna go with appendix. And YUP! In the next chapter we learn from Michel that’s what it is. Sabrina is talking to Micheal and she’s flipping out. He says it’ll be ok unless it bursts. He’s packing her hospital bag right then.
Everyone feels guilty. Scott feels guilty. Micheal tells him it’s not his fault Katie didn’t tell anyone. Scottie tells Michel also that Danny is upset because Katie won’t be at the scrimmage and says she’s just like his mom. Michel says he’ll be there. Sabrina feels guilty. Katie told her at the party she had a stomach ache. Al says she knows but Katie again didn’t let them know it was serious. Sabrina says she should have taken it more serious than just a stomach virus. But Randy and Al come up with the idea to make Katie a Get Well Card and have all the kids at school sign it at school since they can’t be at the hospital for her operation.
Katie wakes up. Her mom isn’t there and she overhears the doctor saying “fatal” but then Emily and Michel show up and tell her that it would have been fatal had her appendix burst. But as soon as her fever comes down they’ll operate. Then she meets the doctor who scolds her for waiting so long to tell them and says they’ll operate in the morning. Katie worries that no one will be at the scrimmage to see Danny, but hesitantly Michel tells her he thinks he’ll understand and Mrs. Walker was told about her situation and understood why she didn’t come to practice.
T
he operation goes fine. Katie still feels a little nauseated after from the anesthesa (been there). Katie asks the doctor if she can eat and she says if she can hold down soft foods. Then she asks when she can go home. The doctor says maybe Saturday night or Sunday morning. Deep down Katie feels bad for letting down all the kids. She knows they won’t understand.
Katie’s bored the next day. Her mom goes back to work. There’s not much to watch on tv and the food is bland. YEP BEEN THERE! Her friends show up after the scrimmage. They all bring her balloons, get-well cards, a collage, magazines, and a book. Katie’s spirits drop a little when she sees that all the kids sign one of the cards but Danny’s name isn’t on it. The GT girls tell her her team won the scrimmage tho. Michel and Scottie show up. Michel gives Katiee a team shirt that Jean-Paul made especially for her with “Coach” on the back. It’s powder blue. The rest of the teams are red and gold. Scottie gives Katie a small teddy hear with a hospital gown with a get well soon banner. The final surprise is Danny shows up with pink carnations.
Afterward (some weeks later) Mrs. Walker gives Katie props on all she’s done for the kids and the Acorn League. Mr. Walker tells her what Michel did. He went to Danny (who was about to quit) and explained to him about Katie. He was mad at first but then ever since he’s been a whole different person. Scottie and Katie are talking and she bends over. It’s just a rock in her shoe. When Scottie expresses concern she kisses him on the cheek. Then she makes up an excuse that she’s going to go check on Danny. It’s the teams second scrimmage. Danny tells Katie he doesn’t think his mother will be coming and Katie thinks about how this is progressing (at least he told her instead of getting angry). But then a lady in a waitress uniform shows up (Danny’s mother) and he rushes over to her with a big smile on his face.
My Thoughts
This was another one of those I can take or leave because it was so sports heavy. But despite that, I GOT IT (the larger picture). It was about making a difference in a kid’s life and how good that feels. It was a long time ago but I remember the feeling Katie got from helping Danny. I was in the fifth grade. Back then t then thing to do was for an oldr girl (fifth grader) to “adopt” a kindergarten (girl). “Adopt” as in basically just play with them at recess. Sometimes we would be allowed to come to their classroom and spend time with them (for some odd reason I can’t think of). Anyways all the “popular” (aka “pretty”) little girls were snatched up. I got the two “tomboys” (aka the ones that were “odd”) While the others had one. I had two. What I can vividly recall is how it felt to come out on the playground and have them rush up to me and say “Mommy”. It was the closest I’ll ever experience to motherhood. But I can tell you that it was the BEST feeling in the world. I’m not sure what difference I made in their lives or if any at all, but I still have their pictures and it’s a memory that I will always cherish because I probably (don’t plan to) have daughters. But had I had daughters I’d have wanted them to be just like them and I often wonder what happened to them and how they grew up. The other part I was able to guess RIGHT before it said her appendix. Up until then I was thinking she came on her period, but I wasn’t sure if it would go there or not.
Rating: 6
Sabrina reads Rany’s horrorscope. It promises romace and increased creativity. Randy can do without the romance. Stacey puts in her usual caemo to put down horoscopes then she walks off. (Insulting Randy’s hair before she does). Katies says pay attention to a nagging worry. Then she sees a program for mentoring children called The Acorn League. They’re looking for coaches to start a hockey team for underprivileged kids in the urban Minneapolis area. Katie’s excited about it and they all think it’ll be perfect for her. They also need volunteers to read to the kids on Wednesdays and Fridays. Randy, Al, and Sabrina decide to sign up for that. Michel and Scottie show up and the girls get them to sign up to.
They meet Mrs. Walker whose over the Acorn League (a black lady whose nice). The thing is the kids don’t know how to skate and have probably never owned skates. She says that each program will meet for an hour and she’ll bring the kids over after school. The community has donated skates and the Bradley hockey and skating rink has loaned them use of there facility for a couple of hours. The reading program will be in the library. Right away a little boy named Danny sticks out because he pushes another little girl. Katie finds out that he’d rather not be there and instead just wants to hang out with his friends in the park. He says his mother doesn’t really care what he does and doesn’t get in til late. He doesn’t know anything about his father. Katie gets him to soften up by saying she’s sure his mother cares and that sometimes adults are just busy. She tells him she’ll teach him everything she knos and they’ll have fun.
On their first meeting, they’re given the rules. The kids will be divided into two teams and taught the basics of the game. On Friday there will be a scrimmage and the parents will be invited if they can come. The other coaches are John and Dave. First, they explain the equipment. Then they let the kids skate around. Some are better than others. Danny is good (tho he pretends to be bored). He’s fast and agile so Katie thinks he’ll be a good center. They all go through the kids and determine who will make the best positions. Katie makes sure Danny’s on her team. After practice, Katie compliments Danny and he actually smiles. Danny wants to know why she plays hockey. She’s a girl. Scottie tells him she might be a girl but she’s the best left wing on the team. Katie gets a sharp pain in her stomach and she doubles over, but Scottie isn’t fooled. Katie tells him it’s just a cramp or virus or something. But Katie is starting to worry because it’s been going on for two days. But she makes it to the end of pratice. Katie just wants to go to bed, but she’s promised to meet her friends at Firz’s. On the way to Fitz’s, she gets the chills. When she gets there everyone else gets junk food. She gets tea. She tells them about hockey practice. The others say they can bring their reading group and then can talk about it(like a show and tell). Katie gets nauseated when she sees the food and she runs to the bathroom. When The queasiness leave a little but there’s still a pain in her side.
Friday there’s a sleepover and Katie spaces and almost forgets. They tell her to bring soda. At the end of the dy Katie still feels bad but doesn’t want to miss the scrimmage. So she puts on her skates and heads over to the rink. Katie goes to put on her skates at the rink and gets another stabbing pain. They decide that the coaches will play the first practice scrimmage so the kids can see how it’s done. John gives the rules and the kids sit and watch. (I won’t go into the details of this game. If y our into sports or hockey you can read it). Katie doesn’t play her best game because of the pain. Scottie tho tells her she did good. Katie asks Danny if he’s ready for the real scrimmage next Friday but he says he guess. His mother won’t be there. Katie sees he’s disappointed and says she’ll be there to cheer him on.
By Saturday, Katie still has the stomach ache. It’s been four days. When Michel comes to get her for brunch she snaps at him and he leaves angry. Katie knows her mom will make her go to the doctor and it’ll remind her of her dad. She blamed them for a long time for not saving him, but she knows heart dieases ran in his family. Katie figures her stomach ache will go away in a day and if she doesn’t she’ll tell her mother by next Wednesday.
At the sleepover, Katie’s friends notice she’s not eating much and she’s pale. She admits to her friends she’s not feeling good. Sabrina says it might be a stomach virus. Lucke has it. Emily must have given it to her (a lot of people at the high school have it). They ask if she’s seen a doctor and she says if it’s not better by next week she will.
A week goes by and Katie still has the stomach ache. She decides to tell her after she comes back from the meeting. Michel has some good news. He says his father is donating all the kids matching shirts for the big game. Mrs. Smith offers to let Katie stay home but Katie turns it down. She tells them (Michel and Mrs. Smith) she thinks she’s coming down with the flu. The pain in Katie’s side gets worse as she tries to clean up the mess that falls out of her and Sabrina’s locker. Katie is shaky and tired and irritable. Unluckily, Katie leans on Stacey’s locker. Stacey accuses her of not having anything to feel bad about. She joined that program to be next to Scottie. She goes off on Stacey and then finds herself hitting the floor. Scottie catches her and takes her to the nurses’s office. Scottie gets mad and says it’s his fault. He knew all along she wasn’t fine. The nurse sees her temperature and asks her all kinds of questions. Katie tells her about her stomach and the nurse presses down on it. A sharp pain hits. The nurse then calls the ambulance. I’m gonna go with appendix. And YUP! In the next chapter we learn from Michel that’s what it is. Sabrina is talking to Micheal and she’s flipping out. He says it’ll be ok unless it bursts. He’s packing her hospital bag right then.
Everyone feels guilty. Scott feels guilty. Micheal tells him it’s not his fault Katie didn’t tell anyone. Scottie tells Michel also that Danny is upset because Katie won’t be at the scrimmage and says she’s just like his mom. Michel says he’ll be there. Sabrina feels guilty. Katie told her at the party she had a stomach ache. Al says she knows but Katie again didn’t let them know it was serious. Sabrina says she should have taken it more serious than just a stomach virus. But Randy and Al come up with the idea to make Katie a Get Well Card and have all the kids at school sign it at school since they can’t be at the hospital for her operation.
Katie wakes up. Her mom isn’t there and she overhears the doctor saying “fatal” but then Emily and Michel show up and tell her that it would have been fatal had her appendix burst. But as soon as her fever comes down they’ll operate. Then she meets the doctor who scolds her for waiting so long to tell them and says they’ll operate in the morning. Katie worries that no one will be at the scrimmage to see Danny, but hesitantly Michel tells her he thinks he’ll understand and Mrs. Walker was told about her situation and understood why she didn’t come to practice.
T
he operation goes fine. Katie still feels a little nauseated after from the anesthesa (been there). Katie asks the doctor if she can eat and she says if she can hold down soft foods. Then she asks when she can go home. The doctor says maybe Saturday night or Sunday morning. Deep down Katie feels bad for letting down all the kids. She knows they won’t understand.
Katie’s bored the next day. Her mom goes back to work. There’s not much to watch on tv and the food is bland. YEP BEEN THERE! Her friends show up after the scrimmage. They all bring her balloons, get-well cards, a collage, magazines, and a book. Katie’s spirits drop a little when she sees that all the kids sign one of the cards but Danny’s name isn’t on it. The GT girls tell her her team won the scrimmage tho. Michel and Scottie show up. Michel gives Katiee a team shirt that Jean-Paul made especially for her with “Coach” on the back. It’s powder blue. The rest of the teams are red and gold. Scottie gives Katie a small teddy hear with a hospital gown with a get well soon banner. The final surprise is Danny shows up with pink carnations.
Afterward (some weeks later) Mrs. Walker gives Katie props on all she’s done for the kids and the Acorn League. Mr. Walker tells her what Michel did. He went to Danny (who was about to quit) and explained to him about Katie. He was mad at first but then ever since he’s been a whole different person. Scottie and Katie are talking and she bends over. It’s just a rock in her shoe. When Scottie expresses concern she kisses him on the cheek. Then she makes up an excuse that she’s going to go check on Danny. It’s the teams second scrimmage. Danny tells Katie he doesn’t think his mother will be coming and Katie thinks about how this is progressing (at least he told her instead of getting angry). But then a lady in a waitress uniform shows up (Danny’s mother) and he rushes over to her with a big smile on his face.
My Thoughts
This was another one of those I can take or leave because it was so sports heavy. But despite that, I GOT IT (the larger picture). It was about making a difference in a kid’s life and how good that feels. It was a long time ago but I remember the feeling Katie got from helping Danny. I was in the fifth grade. Back then t then thing to do was for an oldr girl (fifth grader) to “adopt” a kindergarten (girl). “Adopt” as in basically just play with them at recess. Sometimes we would be allowed to come to their classroom and spend time with them (for some odd reason I can’t think of). Anyways all the “popular” (aka “pretty”) little girls were snatched up. I got the two “tomboys” (aka the ones that were “odd”) While the others had one. I had two. What I can vividly recall is how it felt to come out on the playground and have them rush up to me and say “Mommy”. It was the closest I’ll ever experience to motherhood. But I can tell you that it was the BEST feeling in the world. I’m not sure what difference I made in their lives or if any at all, but I still have their pictures and it’s a memory that I will always cherish because I probably (don’t plan to) have daughters. But had I had daughters I’d have wanted them to be just like them and I often wonder what happened to them and how they grew up. The other part I was able to guess RIGHT before it said her appendix. Up until then I was thinking she came on her period, but I wasn’t sure if it would go there or not.
Rating: 6
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2026
nebolo to vôbec také zlé, ako som si po tých rokoch myslela. práve naopak, dobre mi to padlo po narocnom tyzdni :)
November 3, 2014
Self-sacrificing good girl Katie is at it again when she nearly allows herself to be murdered by her own appendix.
Spoiler alert: she lives.
Spoiler alert: she lives.
July 9, 2013
these books were like reading a diary each book was different though it was like you were in school again.
June 24, 2016
all books from this serial were with me in my childhood and puberty-time ;) and in that time it was great. One time...I will read it with my daughters
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews