Byron Graves' Rez Ball is a fantastic addition to the sports-YA genre. While the pace is a little slow for the first quarter, it picks up nicely as we follow Tre, a Minnesota Ojibwe teenager with dreams of basketball glory whose family is still grappling with the recent death of his older brother who was also a school basketball star.

While the strong language may make it a harder sell for certain teachers or parents, it gives the dialogue a natural feel that I think teenage readers will appreciate. One that I'll be recommending for secondary school libraries wanting to add additional sports stories (or specifically basketball stories) or family dramas, or wanting to add more titles with Ojibwe/Anishinaabe (or generally Indigenous) representation.

Tre Brun has hopes of getting a DI basketball scholarship and making it to the NBA one day, but first he has to make his school’s varsity basketball team. The Red Lake Warriors are expected to make a run for state and would be the first indigenous team to ever make it to the state playoffs, so there is a lot riding on this season. On top of that, Tre’s dad and brother, Jaxon, were both star players for the Warriors, and after Jaxon dies in a car accident, Tre feels immense pressure to live up to his brother’s legacy. With his friends Nate and Wes by his side, as well as upperclassmen teammates Dallas and Kevin, Tre learns to believe in himself and come into his own.

I really enjoyed this book. It takes place on the reservation and references unique Ojibwe culture and experiences, but there are a lot of elements that teens of any culture can relate to. Tre deals with love and loss, highs and lows, but it’s ultimately a sports book. There is a lot of detail put into describing the games that Tre plays and basketball-specific terminology that would be especially engaging to boys or anyone who enjoys sports/basketball. I felt the ending was anti-climactic, but overall this was a fun read. Thanks to NetGalley, Heartdrum, and Byron Graves for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A non-stop run of emotions from the moment Tre steps onto the basketball court. A story of a young Ojibwe man, who plays basketball for his parents, family, his tribe, the Rez and late brother Jaxon, who he is constantly compared to throughout the novel. Tre has to come to terms with who is he really playing for? Himself or those who expect him to step into his brother's very large shoes. The basketball game scenes had me rooting for Tre and the rest of the Warriors. Not only does Tre have to cope with the loss of his brother, but also peer pressure when it comes to drinking and the heartbreak of first love. This is definitely a book that any teen would devour!

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I love the title of this book and being Native American and growing up on the Rez this book hit so differently. Basketball is a very big deal and it is kind because the center of community during the season. Tre is doing his best to fill his brother's shoes and make the dreams he had come true for the community. That puts a lot of pressure on his shoulder. I like the character Khiana. She was just fun. I felt connected to this book and that is something reading should do.

The year after his big brother Jaxon’s death in a car accident, Tre Brun finally has the opportunity to both honor his brother’s legacy and step out of Jaxon’s shadow. Tre is the only sophomore on the Red Lake Reservation high school basketball team, and he is determined to represent his Ojibwe rez all the way to their first state championship – and take the first step towards his dream of playing in the NBA. But that goal puts Tre in the spotlight, and he begins to feel the weight of carrying the hopes of his community on his shoulders. Full of fast-paced, on-the-court action, Rez Ball is equal parts adrenaline-fueled sports novel, and coming-of-age-story-with-heart.

It was really refreshing reading a book that young men can actually pick up and enjoy. We need more books targeted for teen boys because I feel like so much is written for women. Great book about facing your demons and pursuing your dreams with your best friends at your side.

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!

Disclaimer - I do not like basketball. The squeaking of the sneakers on the floor makes my skin crawl. So I'm not sure what made me want to read this book, but I'm glad I did.
As you can guess, I don't know anything about basketball. I didn't realize you set up plays, fouls, etc. So this was all new to me. But the author was able to grab my attention by the excitement while still explaining what was going on. Having the players live on a reservation opened my eyes up to life there. I really liked the feeling of community and family that was portrayed even when community members are deceased.
I kept thinking of the song Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen when I was reading this. And I wasn't far off!
Enjoy!

I loved the idea of this book, but I'll be honest, I ended up skimming it after a few chapters. I personally didn't enjoy the writing style but I skimmed the book because the plot was intriguing and I very much enjoyed what I skimmed. I will still recommend this book to my friends and fellow book lovers because the story was so great. Thank you for the ARC for my honest opinion!

I loved this book so much! A beautiful story of grief, perseverance and learning to live without fear of failing! Amazing book!

Byron Graves is just the right person to write this book. He himself is Ojibwe, played basketball, and was born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota. And that's all of what this book is about. Graves does a great job of telling a story and suddenly you're smack in the middle of the rez with the characters. As you head towards the ending it is like being at a basketball game. Who's scoring the next point and who is going to win? I think we're all winners with this book and I look forward to reading more from Graves. Unforgettable characters who you'll end up loving and a kid whose family has suffered a tragedy but instead of letting it tear them apart, they end up being even stronger.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'm not a kid and I loved it. It's a winner!

This was a very heartfelt story. I really enjoyed it when normally I wouldn't think of reading a book like this. I'm so glad I got to read it.

Omg what an incredible ride. I was tearing up towards the end and my heart was racing. Loved the story about the team, family, and community, and how it’s based off the authors real experiences with the basketball team. Highly recommend

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Yes, another delayed ARC review...and one that I sincerely considered DNFing because I couldn't get into it...and then it had me crying at the end of it. ANYWAYS, this is beautiful indigenous rep and I'm also always trying to read more of it and sports books so...this was a no brainer.

Tre is dealing with the legacy of his brother's death after he was the star basketball player and his dad was the star basketball player and now Tre has that expectation. Along with representing his brother. And everyone on the Rez. Not only is this a story of grief and expectations, but it's a story of Rez life and overcoming odds on and off the court.

It's definitely a "teen narrative" and I think that's why I struggled to get into it because it's first person from Tre's POV...and also I know nothing about basketball.

At the end though? I cried.

I thought this was a great read, that fills a clear niche in YA. Publishing needs to pick up a lot more books by Indigenous authors, as well as books for and about teenage boys. This is both, and I think teens would really love this. I thought it was well written with a well fleshed out main character you'll be rooting for, who has a lot to deal with and has to go on a journey to work things out for himself.

I got an ARC of this book.

Was this book for me? Not at all. I am not a young cishet jock. I do not understand their motivations or the ways they interact with each other. I don't enjoy these books. I ended up DNFing it, because it was just so much not for me.

Am I excited this book exists? Hell yeah. More books like this need to exist. More Indigenous voices. More male voices. More authentic young voices. More rez voices. This book is one I would buy for teens. It isn't for me, but not every book has to be to be amazing. I will talk up this book to the people I know who work with straight male teens for sure.zing.

I like a lot of things about this book. First, Tre and his family were super easy to root for. I liked the closeness between them and could really feel the gaping hole that is their grief over Tre’s brother Jaxon’s death. Tre’s friends also make up a tight-knit community whose interactions seemed really natural and believable.

I was a little bit confused by the subplot about Tre’s love life, though. The opening of the book is very basketball-focused and then there’s a long interlude where he seems very focused on a girl, and then he’s back to focusing on basketball for the rest of the book. It felt a little bit uneven, and because of that part with the focus on the possible relationship, I think I expected there to be more of a romance subplot through the rest of the book.

On the whole, though, I enjoyed the way Tre’s experience on the team changed him and impacted his whole community. I wish there had been a deeper dive into his grief and the way that playing basketball made him feel closer to his brother and possibly helped his family to heal from that loss. It’s there, but I would have liked to see that get more time in the spotlight of the story.

I found the book to be an easy read and an inspiring one. I think readers who enjoy books about sports or are looking for inclusive stories about overcoming adversity will find lots to love here.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Rez Ball by Byron Graves is more than a basketball story: it’s a love letter to community.

Tre Brun’s life is split into before and after when his brother unexpectedly dies in a car accident. Jaxon was the star of the basketball team, beloved by the community and his family. After Jaxon’s death, the whole Red Lake reservation community is mourning. Rez Ball opens at a regional championship game, a game where Jaxon’s loss is felt deeply.

Tre finds himself not only still grieving his brother, with whom he had a close relationship, but also struggling with still living in Jaxon’s shadow. Everywhere Tre goes, everyone sees him as Jaxon’s younger brother. Half the rez won’t even talk about Jaxon for fear of making Tre sad, the other half still compares the brothers. Tre feels stuck in the middle, lost, and wants to live up to Jaxon’s memory and honor it by making the varsity basketball team and helping their team, Jaxon’s team, win the state championship.

Rez Ball is both action-packed and full of emotional resonance. Basketball practice and games are shared in riveting detail through Tre’s eyes. The moment by moment, play by play games had me on the edge of my seat.

Basketball is a key element of the plot—it’s in the title—yet Tre’s journey through the year after his brother’s death is the real focus. Tre uses basketball as a way to feel closer to his deceased brother, to grieve that loss, and to heal. First-person narration offers insight into Tre’s thoughts in the game without veering into sports-announcer territory. 

Readers who are really into basketball will enthralled by this book. Readers who aren’t as into basketball will still be delighted, as this book is about more than basketball. And readers who don’t know hardly anything about basketball? (Ahem, me, as a reader, not knowing very much about basketball) They will still be hooked from page one, and might even learn a thing or two along the way.

Themes of grief, friendship, family, love, and community shine through Graves’s strong storytelling. A love interest, friend troubles, pressure to fit in, dealing with prejudice– all these topics are addressed, adding to the realistic plot with thoroughly relatable characters.

From the gossip network to how the community supports their team, the setting is distinct and well described. The Red Lake reservation and surrounding area are places that have their own distinct characteristics, and are explored in all their positive and negative aspects. Readers really get to see Tre’s world through Tre’s eyes.

Rez Ball takes readers through an intense year in one up and coming basketball player’s life, offering readers fresh insights into teen boy life. This cast really shows how varied teen boys are through incredible character development.

This is a book I can’t be impartial about. I’m going to be biased toward liking it, because as a Cherokee mom to two Cherokee boys, there isn’t a lot of Indigenous representation for boys out there. I’m grateful that Rez Ball is available for my kids to read when they’re teenagers, that complex Native boys with big feelings are represented on the page, on the shelf. Some of Tre’s problems are the consequences of his own choices. But he grows through them, just like real kids and teens. My closeness to this definitely affected my reading– there were certainly times I was reading Tre’s actions as a mom, being terrified for Tre’s parents. But moms aren’t the target audience of this book. Teens are. And teens are going to get so much from this book. I’m grateful this book is out there. Wado, Byron Graves. Aliheliga.

The Ojibwe language inclusion made my heart happy. I love seeing Indigenous language on the page, showing our young readers that their language belongs, that they belong. It holds space for them.


Rez Ball is available now. Thank you to the author, Heartdrum, and NetGalley for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.

Have you been looking for an indigenous own voices story about basketball players? Well don't look any further.

I was hooked as quickly as I started reading this. However, I will say there were some very heavy basketball moments and if you're not a fan of sports ball or not familiar with details of it, you could skim and be able to get away the general info.

HOWEVER, the basketball isn't the most important piece of this story. Graves executed the difficulty of being brown or any minority in a prejudice area perfectly. My heart rate rose when things were getting tense, or I felt like someone was going to mess something up. More importantly, I was in awe how Graves handled the stereotypes that most people have regarding indigenous persons. Those issues are beautifully woven throughout and as a reader it makes you question the things that we are still doing as a society and how change can come in the future.

I also loved that while I thought there was going to be romance there wasn't. Yeah I was mad at first I wanted our guy to get the girl. That wasn't the story that needed told. It was about him finding himself and moving through the journey, and because of that I was glad the romance wasn't as strong as I initially thought.

I absolutely encourage anyone who likes sports, the underdog, or own voices novels to give this one a shot.

Following one season of basketball at a reservation high school in Minnesota, Graves shows us the heart, humor, and grit of "Rez Ball." The basketball scenes jump off the page with action while the narrator's friendships add emotional weight to the story.