This is good, very good. I did not give this one as high of a score as Finding Otipemisiwak but it is a toss up as to which one I like better. More on that later.

I took a number of notes:

My first note: Could we have a hockey book as a contender. The answer is Yes. But, it’s not really a hockey book, hockey is just a sub plot.

Right from the start I was on the edge of my seat. The language is so vivid. It was like I was in the dressing room with them, and when the game started I was in the stands, feeling the highs and lows.

There are so many Indigenous issues in this book, and many stereotypes highlighted.
Introducing the families, it touches upon alcoholism and their motherless community at the same time
One of the few players on the team that had a mother was called a mama’s boy. But that mother had her struggles:
”She started missing games last season, or showing up late, with the smell on her breath that scared you at first. She’d slur and swerve all over the road and sing out the window and call me her boy.”

Drugs
Kelvin just getting out of jail. He and his friends are trying to recruit new blood into their world, Clinton, the younger brother.
“X wants us recruiting, new blood makes the difference. He keeps talking expansion, go after the young ones.”

The connection to hockey is a good, as hockey is important to Indigenous communities.
The school reporter when interviewing Clinton:
Q: What does hockey mean to St. Croix
A: I never knew a native person that didn’t try hockey. It gives us something to do. Keeps us out of trouble.
This section explains how hockey is something they can look forward to and something they can do instead of drugs and alcohol.

One concern was the number of characters and keeping them all straight.

I found this book had so much information and learning, given in more unique ways. EG. Sam talking to her brother about education in Canada and how students will not hear the correct history. She outlines the correct history for her brother….but really, it was for the reader.

There was one scene that had me drawing a connection to From The Rez To The Runway.
Sam was working with the Indigenous Student Association. At U of M, she had a good impression of a club with lots of active members, lots of support for students. This is similar to the Indigenous S.A I worked with at York U.

Another interesting story with the Rhodes Scholarship. I learned something I didn’t know:
Apparently, Cecil Rhodes really pushed a white agenda. Again another stereotype here when one of the judges for the award condescendingly assumes that Sam didn’t want a drink because she knows that drinking is such a problem in her culture. What was great in highlighting the many stereotypes was how the author portrayed Sam. Sam is a very strong woman who was able to deflect and control the conversation despite the uncomfortable moment.
Further in this conversation, Sam was asked a very difficult question about Indigenous funding and accountability. Her answers were awesome but they weren’t what the she wanted to hear. I highly doubt other candidates has to answer a question so controversial.

Yet another stereotype as the league is hoping the final game will show how dirty Indigenous teams are.
Unfortunately, the team was pushed to some actions that supported the claim.

I want to say more, but like Enid, I don’t want to give away the end. But, it is not all wrapped up in a neat bow.