Rez Ball

Tre Brun is a young athlete determined to play like the hero his community needs him to be. His older brother, Jaxon, died in an accident, and Tre wants to live up to his brother’s dreams and represent his Ojibwe rez, Red Lake Nation, all the way to their first basketball state championship – no matter how much the odds are stacked against him, and them.

Themes:

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Season:

Cover of "Rez Ball": a young man with shaggy brown hair stands looking out at the viewer. He has a basketball under one arm and wears a red tank top. He stands in front of an orange tree losing its leaves and a pink and orange-clouded sky.
Rez Ball by Byron Graves

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About the Author and Honored Guest

Author and honored guest

Byron Graves

Byron Graves is Ojibwe and Lakota. They were born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, where they played high school basketball. When they aren’t writing, they can be found playing video games, watching horror movies, or skateboarding.

Byron Graves Website

Discussion Questions

  1. How is Jaxon honored throughout the story? What can you infer about his family and Ojibwe community?
  2. Belonging is a human need. Choose a character and locate evidence in the story of their attempt(s) to fill this need. How does “belonging” affect people and their decisions?
  3. One theme in Rez Ball is living up to your potential. How does Tre struggle to live up to his potential? How does he succeed?

Questions drawn from the Heartdrum Educator Guide, prepared by Andrea Page.

Learning Activities

  1. Tre’s friend Wes wants to film a documentary about Tre’s dream of making it to the NBA. He films interviews with Tre after important practices and games. Grab a friend and film an interview with them about their goals for the future – and yours!
  2. Tre’s dad gives him Jaxon’s basketball shoes to wear during games, as a good luck charm and a connection to his brother. Write the story of something that you have that connects you to another person. How did your item come to you? What does that item, and that relationship, mean to you?

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