Description

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FINALIST, Red Cedar Nonfiction Award

Based on extensive interviews, My Left Skate: The Extraordinary Story of Eliezer Sherbatov is a first-person biography of a Jewish teenager who had it all on the hockey rink: guts, drive, and exceptional talent. When a freak accident leaves him with a permanent disability and no feeling below his left knee, everyone believes Eliezer's career is over - everyone except his mother, a professional power skating coach. She teaches Eliezer to skate using the muscles in his upper leg, and after two and a half years of operations and rehabilitation, he returns to the rink to become one of Quebec's elite junior players.

Still undrafted at age nineteen, Eliezer embarks on a professional career in Europe in the hopes of one day returning to the NHL. His travels lead him to France, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and to Poland, where he lives and plays hockey just a few kilometres from the Auschwitz death camp, haunted by memories of the past.

In its stunning conclusion, My Left Skate describes Eliezer's life in Ukraine and his struggle to escape from war after Russia invades the very region in which he plays.

"Eliezer Sherbatov scores a hat trick with My Left Skate. This story is wonderfully told: gritty, inspiring, joyful at times and sad at other moments. He deserves to be a hockey hero for all that he has survived." - Marty Klinkenberg, The Globe and Mail

About the Author

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Anna Rosner is a Toronto teacher and author who has published short-story fiction, numerous scholarly articles, and the children’s biography Journeyman: The Story of NHL Right Winger Jamie Leach, which was selected as a “Best Book” by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and was a finalist for the High Plains Book Award. Dedicated to promoting her love for words, Anna has taught language and literacy to children and adults ages five to seventy-five. Anna is the Director of Books with Wings, which provides brand new, quality picture books for Indigenous children.

Praise For…

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“Eliezer Sherbatov scores a hat trick with My Left Skate. This story is wonderfully told: gritty, inspiring, joyful at times and sad at other moments. He deserves to be a hockey hero for all that he has survived.” – Marty Klinkenberg – The Globe and Mail

 

“My Left Skate is a phenomenally inspiring story! I couldn’t put it down. Anna Rosner delivers again with her great story telling.”  – NHL Stanley Cup Champion and Indigenous alumni Jamie Leach

 

“All Eliezer Sherbatov ever wanted was the opportunity to suit up for the famed Montreal Canadiens. Though he never made it to the NHL, Sherbatov defied the odds and became a pro hockey player, in part because nobody bothered to measure the size of his heart. Despite his diminutive stature and life-altering injury when he was a teen, Israeli-born Sherbatov played for various clubs throughout Europe and Asia. Author Anna Rosner provides a rollercoaster journey of Sherbatov’s life in My Left Skate allowing readers to cheer for him on and off the ice.” – Toronto sportswriter Sam Laskaris

“I have been fortunate to interview a number of Hockey Hall of Famers through the years, and have read many sports-related books, and none of the stories have been more surprising, interesting and just plain enjoyable to read than My Left Skate by Anna Rosner. His story is a TV miniseries needing to be made. The heart and determination of Sherbatov to play the game he loves should be inspiring to readers of all ages.” – Calvin Daniels, editor of Yorkton This Week, author, and sports journalist

“This powerfully written story of Eliezer Sherbatov has multiple layers of determination, perseverance, and courage. It is so much more than a sport story and captures immigration, war, and Jewish pride during trying times. Anna Rosner packed a lot into MY LEFT SKATE, a book for all ages, adults included. It should be in every school library!”  – Lorna Schultz Nicholson, award-winning author of over 45 books for children and young adults, including the biographies of Alex Ovechkin, Mitch Marner, and Connor McDavid

2023/24 Red Cedar Book Award nominee, administered by the Young Readers' Choice Awards of British Columbia

"Sherba­tov’s sto­ry will be of inter­est to read­ers who love sports and has the poten­tial to inspire many oth­ers. It shows how chal­lenges that may seem insur­mount­able can be met with courage, per­sis­tence, and a strong will to succeed." —Jewish Book Council