Book Review of “Rez Ball” by Byron Graves
This YA sports book provides insights into modern day teen life on a reservation and is more exciting than a tomahawk dunk!!!
This is one of the best YA and sports books I’ve read in the past year! It’s available at your local independent bookstore or library.
This book handled grief and talked about it in a realistic way. I can imagine a young person reading this book and realizing how important it is to be there for any friend who has lost someone close to them. Death scares us all, and often as a society we try to avoid it. With this book, good friends help support the main character, a sophomore basketball player, Tre through his grief.
The loss of Tre’s brother Jaxson affected their family, but it also affected the whole reservation. Jaxson was the leader of the Red Lake Reservation team- the Red Lakers. Tre also plays basketball, but how would he fit with a team that played together most of their lives?
The author did a great job of sharing pop culture and the way high school kids talk. He threw in some graphic novels and superheroes. I also appreciated his sharing of the Ojibwe and reservation culture.
The characters had to deal with racism from the white community by being followed around by security guards at the nearby city’s mall and being racially profiled by police on a traffic stop. Some of the opposing team’s fans even used racist chants.
Alcohol, unfortunately, plays a big and terrible part of Native American culture. Just about all the native author books I’ve read this past year discussed alcohol and described the despair it brings to the Native people.
An athletic director talked about how the Red Lakers first won the district and then lost their next game because everyone on the reservation partied too hard and drank too much after winning district. The team couldn’t play well while hungover against a team they could easily beat.
Despite being the youngest starter on the varsity team, Tre leads the seniors and the rest of the team by getting everyone to not drink or smoke until the season is over.
The action and excitement of basketball games are captured for the reader to enjoy! I loved how the book mixed up close games and blowout wins and losses and kept me engaged. I didn’t want to put this book down!
The Red Lakers with Tre became the first team from a reservation to make it to state. Natives from all around came to watch them play at the state games. This was a big deal!
I highly recommend this book for sports fans, young adults, and those interested in native teen culture. The book has a lot of four-letter words, but if you hung out with teenagers or played team sports, this will bring you back to these exciting moments!
Last but not least, I want to dedicate this book review to all those who experienced grief. Just remember: you are not alone. Lots of support groups exist for those who have lost someone. Thank you to The Compassionate Friends/USA for being there for me!
“Look at your parents, your grandparents, your teachers, your classmates, your friends, our Elders, our community. They’re here to cheer you on, to show you love. We aren’t separate – we’re all connected.” Use their wisdom.
*Special note* It’s been a while since I wrote a review here. I’ve been busy chasing my dreams and helping where needed. Round Table Bookstore and the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library provides various reading programs. Keep those on your radar! Also I’m hoping to focus more on Kansas authors this school year.
The 2025 Kansas Book Festival will be held at Washburn University on Saturday, September 20. If you have never been to a book festival before, this is a good one to check out!
Byron Graves, who wrote “Rez Ball,” is an amazing person. I’ve been wanting to meet him since I’ve read his book. He will be at the 2025 LitUp Fest on September 20 at the Woodneath Library Center in KCMO sponsored by the Mid-Continent Public Library.
I just wish these excellent book festivals about an hour away from each other would stop holding their event on the same day! Please coordinate together!!
That being said: I’ve been in contact with Byron Graves and Haskell University’s Library. I will also see if I can get would be interested in
