Book Description: Hockey fans will love this action-packed middle grade novel about teamwork, overcoming adversity, and being proud of who you are and where you come from. Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex Robinson. After his father accepts a new job, Alex and his family move from their community to the city. For the first time in his life, he doesn’t fit in. His fellow students don’t understand Indigenous culture. Even a simple show of respect to his teacher gets him in trouble. Things begin to look up after Alex tries out for a local hockey team. Playing for the Kodiaks, Alex proves himself as one of the best, but he becomes a target because he’s Indigenous. Can Alex trust his teammates and stand up to the jerks on other teams? Can he find a way to fit in and still be who he’s meant to be?

Prolific, award-winning Canadian author David A. Robertson brings middle grade readers a fast-paced and deeply thoughtful sports-centred novel with The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage. When eleven year old Alex Robinson and his mom and dad move from Norway Cree House Nation to the city of Winnipeg, momentous changes and surprises await. Not only does Alex have to say goodbye to his Indigenous community and very best friend- and fellow hockey teammate George- he also has to say goodbye to his hockey team, the championship-winning North Stars.

“You think I’ll be the only Native kid trying out?” Alex asked, suddenly feeling anxious. He could hear his dad’s voice: Some people are going to think they know you, even if they’ve never met you before. Had it really been a warning? What would everyone be thinking about him? How could a stick protect him against that?”

When Alex and his parents start their new lives in Winnipeg, Alex- a driven and talented young hockey player- tries out for and makes his way onto new hockey team called the Kodiaks. While a few players are immediately friendly toward Alex and excited to welcome a new teammate, there are horrible moments of racism and unexpected on-ice thrashings at the very beginning. Alex continues to navigate his way through multiple new things: his relationships with his new hockey teammates; roller coaster games wins and losses; bringing up issues with his well-meaning but misinformed new coach; and a possible friendship with a cool classmate named Jenny. All the while, Alex finds himself questioning peoples’ biases, historical racism against Indigenous persons, and outright racism from kids and adults alike at hockey games.

“Alex’s experience of being Cree in the city had its up and downs, too. Alex liked who he was, but it was hard not to get upset when other people didn’t like him. And for no reason- only because he was Native. During one game, a kid on the other team called Alex a “savage” after he took a penalty for slashing…/…When remarks like that came racing at him, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated by some kids’ racist attitudes.”

As ever, Robertson is a superb writer, weaving thrilling passages of on-ice hockey action, championship-level showdowns, and middle grade emotions with that of reflective and critical conversations and explorations of what belonging means, what genuine friendships entail, and what it means- in this case, from Alex’s perspective- to be an Indigenous person in contemporary Canada. Readers eager for strongly written sports-centred stories as well as readers who enjoy the work of David A. Robertson in general may especially adore Alex’s story. (Hockey fans in particular may appreciate The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage as the rev up to the Stanley Cup showdown- starring the Edmonton Oilers!- begins!). The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage looks to be part of a planned series called The Breakout Chronicles, so readers clamouring for more will hopefully have future terrific sports adventures to look forward to!

Bonus: Teacher Guide for The Kodiaks , written by educator Jerica Fraser, is available via Portage & Main Press’s website.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Zg Stories and Highwater Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own. Title has been published and is currently available.

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