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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
this is the most i’ve ever cared about basketball and i loved it so much. tre was like a real human, with multidimensional characteristics and flaws.
i only wish there wasn’t swearing so i could put this in my classroom :(
i only wish there wasn’t swearing so i could put this in my classroom :(
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
3.5/5
This is undoubtedly going to be a great read for those who have been seeking a sports-focused, slice-of-life story, and it's great that this one features an Indigenous teen and his story (Tre and his family are Ojibwe, and live on a reservation in Minnesota). Graves' writing is quite straightforward, but the novel is interspersed with some very moving and heartrending moments where Tre really grapples with his grief over the death of his brother and the burden his legacy leaves on him. To be honest, I felt many of the characters were underwritten, from supporting characters to Tre and his family. The book was at its strongest when the emotionally resonant moments between characters came out, but a lot of the story is focused (naturally) on the journey of the Warriors from underdog to the state championships. Graves can really write a play-by-play of a game in a way that brings you right into the action, so readers who really love that type of action will love this.
I had no idea Graves' own life and story aligned so closely with the novel's until I read his Author's Note, and it's great that he was able to share it in a wider way via this book.
Give this one to fans of Kwame Alexander's The Crossover!
This is undoubtedly going to be a great read for those who have been seeking a sports-focused, slice-of-life story, and it's great that this one features an Indigenous teen and his story (Tre and his family are Ojibwe, and live on a reservation in Minnesota). Graves' writing is quite straightforward, but the novel is interspersed with some very moving and heartrending moments where Tre really grapples with his grief over the death of his brother and the burden his legacy leaves on him. To be honest, I felt many of the characters were underwritten, from supporting characters to Tre and his family. The book was at its strongest when the emotionally resonant moments between characters came out, but a lot of the story is focused (naturally) on the journey of the Warriors from underdog to the state championships. Graves can really write a play-by-play of a game in a way that brings you right into the action, so readers who really love that type of action will love this.
I had no idea Graves' own life and story aligned so closely with the novel's until I read his Author's Note, and it's great that he was able to share it in a wider way via this book.
Give this one to fans of Kwame Alexander's The Crossover!
I didn't know I could care so much about basketball until I read Rez Ball, the debut YA by @Makwa_giniw - Byron Graves - an Ojibwe author.
Sucked into Tre's story from the very first page, not only was I rooting for his team of Red Lake Warriors to make it all the way, but also for his larger-than-life heart as he tries to pick up the pieces of his life after his older brother's passing.
A story about indigenous joy, resilience, and community, this book is a powerful testament to the need for stories that sit outside of so many of our lived experiences. And also for the blatant and continued need for further Indigenous voices. So that Indigenous children can see themselves as the main characters that they know they are - and so that we on the outside of the communities can be reminded of it too.
It's a story about basketball, sure, but it is also so much more than that. A perfect addition to our lit circles, book clubs, and text studies, I can see this pulling many reluctant and not-so-reluctant readers into its pages.
It is a book that deserves a spotlight, and to be read widely. Tre's story is staying with me long past the last page. Pre-order now for its September 12th release.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC access
Merged review:
I didn't know I could care so much about basketball until I read Rez Ball, the debut YA by @Makwa_giniw - Byron Graves - an Ojibwe author.
Sucked into Tre's story from the very first page, not only was I rooting for his team of Red Lake Warriors to make it all the way, but also for his larger-than-life heart as he tries to pick up the pieces of his life after his older brother's passing.
A story about indigenous joy, resilience, and community, this book is a powerful testament to the need for stories that sit outside of so many of our lived experiences. And also for the blatant and continued need for further Indigenous voices. So that Indigenous children can see themselves as the main characters that they know they are - and so that we on the outside of the communities can be reminded of it too.
It's a story about basketball, sure, but it is also so much more than that. A perfect addition to our lit circles, book clubs, and text studies, I can see this pulling many reluctant and not-so-reluctant readers into its pages.
It is a book that deserves a spotlight, and to be read widely. Tre's story is staying with me long past the last page. Pre-order now for its September 12th release.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC access
Sucked into Tre's story from the very first page, not only was I rooting for his team of Red Lake Warriors to make it all the way, but also for his larger-than-life heart as he tries to pick up the pieces of his life after his older brother's passing.
A story about indigenous joy, resilience, and community, this book is a powerful testament to the need for stories that sit outside of so many of our lived experiences. And also for the blatant and continued need for further Indigenous voices. So that Indigenous children can see themselves as the main characters that they know they are - and so that we on the outside of the communities can be reminded of it too.
It's a story about basketball, sure, but it is also so much more than that. A perfect addition to our lit circles, book clubs, and text studies, I can see this pulling many reluctant and not-so-reluctant readers into its pages.
It is a book that deserves a spotlight, and to be read widely. Tre's story is staying with me long past the last page. Pre-order now for its September 12th release.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC access
Merged review:
I didn't know I could care so much about basketball until I read Rez Ball, the debut YA by @Makwa_giniw - Byron Graves - an Ojibwe author.
Sucked into Tre's story from the very first page, not only was I rooting for his team of Red Lake Warriors to make it all the way, but also for his larger-than-life heart as he tries to pick up the pieces of his life after his older brother's passing.
A story about indigenous joy, resilience, and community, this book is a powerful testament to the need for stories that sit outside of so many of our lived experiences. And also for the blatant and continued need for further Indigenous voices. So that Indigenous children can see themselves as the main characters that they know they are - and so that we on the outside of the communities can be reminded of it too.
It's a story about basketball, sure, but it is also so much more than that. A perfect addition to our lit circles, book clubs, and text studies, I can see this pulling many reluctant and not-so-reluctant readers into its pages.
It is a book that deserves a spotlight, and to be read widely. Tre's story is staying with me long past the last page. Pre-order now for its September 12th release.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC access
medium-paced
For someone who really dislikes sports, I actually really enjoyed this book. If I understood any of the basketball terminology during the game and practice scenes I might've given this a 4. The story outside of the basketball elements could have been developed more in my opinion. However, at its core, this is a sports book and as I've stated I am not a sports reader so maybe I was just looking for something else to latch on to.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Forgive me for a second, but I need to gush. I don’t often gush, but I really did love this book and Tre’s story. From the very beginning Byron Graves had me on the edge of my seat. We are dropped right into the final moments of a regional playoff game that means a lot to Tre, his family, and his community. The loss they’ve had makes them want the victory even more than usual. Byron expertly weaves that tension throughout Tre’s year to come and made it so putting down the book was almost impossible.
The structure of the story is that Tre is trying to make the varsity team with the ultimate goal being an NBA spot and one of his friends is making a documentary along the way. It was a clever bit of storytelling because Tre does several interviews for this film and we get to hear his answers to questions that might not be asked in typical daily conversations. The documentary frames the story well.
Aside from the way the story is structured, the setting and community is incredibly vivid. The rez, the high school, and the basketball courts are painted clearly and it feels like I stepped through into this space and time to see and hear the “beautiful chaos” of the game and can appreciate the relationships of everyone involved. This book is going to speak loudly and clearly to those folks who’ve played and/or watched rez ball.
Though Byron Graves was definitely writing to and for Native readers, this story can also speak to others because there are universal themes of pain, loss, community, love, survival, and people striving to thrive. There are difficult situations and many moments of intense pressure on and off the court. I appreciated that there are wins and losses and it’s hard to guess which one is coming. Above all, it all felt real. Life isn’t often as tidy as a Disney or Hallmark movie. Tre is making some excellent choices like his summer training plan and he’s also managing to make some poor choices that create dumpster fires.
He’s surrounded by friends, including one he’d like to have as more than a friend, and family who help him navigate life and bring love, laughter, and sometimes hard truths. HIs parents are still grieving the death of his older brother so it’s a struggle for all concerned, but they are steady. They don’t always see through to his pain, but they give him space and support when they do see past his armor.
Recommendation: Get this as soon as you can. Pre-order. Recommend it to your local library. Do all the things that will get it into your hands and into lots of other hands too. It’s a page turner with a lot of excitement and heart. I will be recommending this one to pretty much anyone. I watched basketball frequently with my father when I was a child, but am not interested enough to watch it on my own as an adult. Nevertheless, I cared about every single game in these pages. Graves pulled me in there and had me in the stands jumping and cheering with the Red Lake Warriors fans.
The structure of the story is that Tre is trying to make the varsity team with the ultimate goal being an NBA spot and one of his friends is making a documentary along the way. It was a clever bit of storytelling because Tre does several interviews for this film and we get to hear his answers to questions that might not be asked in typical daily conversations. The documentary frames the story well.
Aside from the way the story is structured, the setting and community is incredibly vivid. The rez, the high school, and the basketball courts are painted clearly and it feels like I stepped through into this space and time to see and hear the “beautiful chaos” of the game and can appreciate the relationships of everyone involved. This book is going to speak loudly and clearly to those folks who’ve played and/or watched rez ball.
Though Byron Graves was definitely writing to and for Native readers, this story can also speak to others because there are universal themes of pain, loss, community, love, survival, and people striving to thrive. There are difficult situations and many moments of intense pressure on and off the court. I appreciated that there are wins and losses and it’s hard to guess which one is coming. Above all, it all felt real. Life isn’t often as tidy as a Disney or Hallmark movie. Tre is making some excellent choices like his summer training plan and he’s also managing to make some poor choices that create dumpster fires.
He’s surrounded by friends, including one he’d like to have as more than a friend, and family who help him navigate life and bring love, laughter, and sometimes hard truths. HIs parents are still grieving the death of his older brother so it’s a struggle for all concerned, but they are steady. They don’t always see through to his pain, but they give him space and support when they do see past his armor.
Recommendation: Get this as soon as you can. Pre-order. Recommend it to your local library. Do all the things that will get it into your hands and into lots of other hands too. It’s a page turner with a lot of excitement and heart. I will be recommending this one to pretty much anyone. I watched basketball frequently with my father when I was a child, but am not interested enough to watch it on my own as an adult. Nevertheless, I cared about every single game in these pages. Graves pulled me in there and had me in the stands jumping and cheering with the Red Lake Warriors fans.