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A review by nataliealane
Rez Ball by Byron Graves
4.0
Honestly, I think I requested this book in a 3AM scroll through netgalley from anxiety induced sleeplessness. It sounded like a story that would make me cry. And it did. But it was also so much more.
Predictable? Yes
Underdog, coming of age, flawed characters, emotional storylines? Also yes.
Now, this is definitely YA. Lots of slang/“teen talk,” which I wasn’t a huge fan of, I could have done without the love triangle/crush drama, and I’m a bit said I can’t include it in my class library when it has several scenes of underage drinking and smoking. I also know nothing about basketball, so I was lost during half the games, but that’s totally on me for choosing a sports book! It fills a niche in YA, hits plenty of emotional sweet spots, has you rooting for Tre and the other Red Lake Warriors. As my family is currently going through a difficult time, certain exchanges between Tre and his parents were familiar and relatable to me. I also loved the focus on community, both how it it’s so important and encouraging to have, but also the unique position and pressure it puts on indigenous athletes like Tre to represent their communities and make change. There’s lots of discussion around legacy and heroism.
I also loved finding out in the author’s note that the Red Lake Warriors is a real team, that the author was a part of, and that he wove a lot of his experiences into the novel. Again, I’m not really a sports person, but now I have to look up videos of some of these games!
Predictable? Yes
Underdog, coming of age, flawed characters, emotional storylines? Also yes.
Now, this is definitely YA. Lots of slang/“teen talk,” which I wasn’t a huge fan of, I could have done without the love triangle/crush drama, and I’m a bit said I can’t include it in my class library when it has several scenes of underage drinking and smoking. I also know nothing about basketball, so I was lost during half the games, but that’s totally on me for choosing a sports book! It fills a niche in YA, hits plenty of emotional sweet spots, has you rooting for Tre and the other Red Lake Warriors. As my family is currently going through a difficult time, certain exchanges between Tre and his parents were familiar and relatable to me. I also loved the focus on community, both how it it’s so important and encouraging to have, but also the unique position and pressure it puts on indigenous athletes like Tre to represent their communities and make change. There’s lots of discussion around legacy and heroism.
I also loved finding out in the author’s note that the Red Lake Warriors is a real team, that the author was a part of, and that he wove a lot of his experiences into the novel. Again, I’m not really a sports person, but now I have to look up videos of some of these games!