It's good to see the publication of more stories for young people about Indigenous athletes, both fictional and real. Byron Graves' Rez Ball is a case in point; as Debbie pointed out in her review, basketball is a Thing in many Native communities. In what's currently called Canada, so I'm told, hockey is that Thing. The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage is a middle-grade novel about a young Cree hockey player who moves from the reserve to Winnipeg.
Here's what the publisher says:
Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex Robinson. After his father accepts a new job, Alex and his family move from their community to the city. For the first time in his life, he doesn’t fit in. His fellow students don’t understand Indigenous culture. Even a simple show of respect to his teacher gets him in trouble. Things begin to look up after Alex tries out for a local hockey team. Playing for the Kodiaks, Alex proves himself as one of the best, but he becomes a target because he’s Indigenous. Can Alex trust his teammates and stand up to the jerks on other teams? Can he find a way to fit in and still be who he’s meant to be?
Reason #1: A caring, perceptive Indigenous family. Alex is a likable character who brings kindness and humor to his family and peer relationships. They reciprocate, which gives Alex the strength to adjust to the move, a new school, and a new hockey team. When he experiences a tremendous hurt, compounded by an injustice, his parents and friends stage what he thinks of as an intervention, to persuade him that in fact he should continue with hockey.
Reason #2: Realistically portrayed racist micro-aggressions and full-on aggressions. For better or for worse, trash-talking seems to be part of sports. Anti-Indigenous insults and general ignorance or malice spoken aloud can make competitions a minefield for young Native athletes. Alex experiences several such incidents and must come to terms with how to handle them. He finds the courage to speak up when he needs to -- as when a teammate nicknames him Chief or an otherwise well-meaning coach uses terms like "low man on the totem pole." Still, the time comes when anti-Indigenous hatred directed at him by opposing players and adult fans is too much. Robertson shows how devastating such an experience can be for a child, and how important wise support from adults and peers can be at such times.
Reason #3: Exciting game play descriptions. I don't know much about hockey but Robertson put me right there on the ice with Alex.
Reason #4: First of a series, which the publisher is calling The Breakout Chronicles. Good news for young people, Native or not, who love a high-quality series! We hope teachers and librarians will buy copies of this one for their shelves, and keep their eyes open for the next Breakout Chronicles book.
