Beartown

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of bullying and emotional abuse.

Amat remembers when he almost quit hockey. He has been playing for the boys’ team—the level below the juniors—and was sick of the abuse in the locker room, where he was frequently called “a zero from the Hollow” (79). David’s assistant coach, Lars, is also abusive, tormenting the players and frequently singling out Zacharias. His mother had convinced him to go back, telling him that he is a lion playing with bears, and they don’t understand him: “That was the morning he realized that the only way to become better than the bears at their own game was to stop playing it their way” (80).

David watches the boys’ team practice and then approaches Amat. He gives him some tips on how to move more like Kevin, then tells him he is going to be practicing with the juniors in 15 minutes. He tells Amat to go get a jersey. When Amat enters the juniors’ locker room, they scream at him to get out until David steps in and tells Lars to give Amat a jersey.