So Beartown is supposed to be a story about hockey, but it is so much more than that. It is a story about a town and the people in that town and how they react to a tragedy. Beartown itself doesn't have a whole lot going for it. It is a town in the forest where people seem to leave more than they stay. But it is a hockey town and they have a great hockey team. The junior team is set to become champions and if they do the town will rise again. But on the eve of that rise the star of the team, Kevin, rapes the general manager's daughter Mya at a party. This sets off a chain of events that almost destroys the town and the hockey club. Loyalties are tested and bonds will be broken.

I really wasn't sure what I thought about this book until I finished it. And then I decided I loved it. It might be one of the best books I have read. I am still thinking about it days after I finished it. It was so much darker than other Backman books even though he does deal with dark subjects in his other books. I was actually thrilled to see there is a sequel to Beartown and am eager to read it. 

There is something so true and universal to the events of this book. It doesn't matter where it is set or what sport is played. It says something about our culture that worships sports players and reviles girls that report rape. Rape is not seen like other crimes that seem more clear cut (even though it really is). People often think rape is subjective (its not) or that sex-regret causes girls to cry rape (so very rare).  This seems like such a raw and honest portrayal of what a rape accusation can do to a small town that it almost reads like nonfiction. 

I don't think I can recommend this book to everyone, but I would definitely recommend it.