The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey

About this book

The true story of Larry Kwong, who in 1948 became the first player of Asian descent in the NHL — breaking a barrier in a single shift after years of being held back. A nonfiction biography about perseverance and breaking hockey's color line. Nominated for the 2025-2026 Maine Student Book Award (grades 4-8), the statewide reading list Maine students read from and vote on.

Why widely assigned

This Nonfiction title, typically at grades 3–7. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on biography and sports; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Maine Student Book Award

  • recommended·4th grade · Mainesource: 2025-2026 Maine Student Book Award Reading List (grades 4-8)
  • recommended·5th grade · Mainesource: 2025-2026 Maine Student Book Award Reading List (grades 4-8)
  • recommended·6th grade · Mainesource: 2025-2026 Maine Student Book Award Reading List (grades 4-8)
  • recommended·7th grade · Mainesource: 2025-2026 Maine Student Book Award Reading List (grades 4-8)
  • recommended·8th grade · Mainesource: 2025-2026 Maine Student Book Award Reading List (grades 4-8)

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Common questions

What grade level is The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey?

The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey?

It takes about 1h 40m to read The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey (93 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 100 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey?

The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey appears on reading lists for Maine Student Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey banned in schools?

The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey explore?

Central themes in The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey include biography, sports, perseverance, history. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.