Beartown is a small town struggling to keep its residents.  Luckily, this year's junior ice hockey team is competing in the national semifinals.  If this team can win, Beartown will be selected for the new hockey academy.  The academy would bring new families wanting to play under the prestigious Beartown name and could reinvigorate the town.  When something happens to jeopardize this opportunity, the locals of Beartown must decide if they stand with what is right or if they want to choose the easy way out.

I am absolutely amazed with this book.  Backman is able to narrate a character with so much detail only then to zoom out and comment on human psychology as a whole.  He makes Beartown feel so small and remote, but also so universal.

I love hockey so I knew I would like Beartown from the start.  It quickly became a new favorite of mine.  I've heard good things about the second one, I can't wait to start reading!