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Hockey fans will love this action-packed middle grade novel about teamwork and community from award-winning, bestselling author David A. Robertson.
Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex Robinson. After his father accepts a new job, Alex and his family must move from Norway House Cree Nation to the city of Winnipeg. For the first time in his life, Alex feels like he doesn’t belong. His new classmates don’t understand Indigenous culture, and even a simple show of traditional respect to his teacher gets him into trouble.
Things begin to look up after Alex tries out for a local sports team. Playing hockey for the Kodiaks, he quickly proves himself as one of the best on the ice. However, as an Indigenous youth in a new environment, he faces racism and discrimination. Encountering prejudice both on and off the ice, Alex must navigate a difficult new experience.
Can he find a way to trust his teammates, stand up to the jerks on opposing teams, and find his footing in the city?
This novel for readers age 9 to 12 is a perfect choice for classrooms and libraries focusing on:
- Diverse representation: Features an authentic Indigenous protagonist and celebrates pride in identity and heritage.
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Explores complex themes of overcoming adversity, building community, and navigating diversity and inclusivity.
- Teamwork and belonging: Illustrates how a shared passion for a game can help youth overcome barriers and fight back against discrimination.
Discover the first installment of The Breakout Chronicles, the must-read story of a young hockey player discovering the true meaning of home, culture, and team spirit.
David A. Robertson's latest novel, The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage, addresses racism in minor hockey through the story of an indigenous hockey player named Alex. The book emphasizes education, community support, and redefining masculinity to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity in sports. Through Alex's journey, readers see the value of empathy, kindness, and understanding as essential qualities for athletes.
I liked the fast pace of the novel and the messages about teamwork, bullying, prejudice, racism, and overcoming challenges and adversity. I think many young and teenage readers would enjoy this book, the messages, and the subject matter of hockey!
If you are reading the just-released middle grade novel The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage and are impressed by how real it all feels, there’s a reason for that—a lot of it is.
— Greg Oliver for SIHR’s Two Minutes for Reading so Good
Timely and important, The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage is a must-read. Highly Recommended
Lots of depth here as Alex navigates a new town/school, a new hockey team, and prejudice, racism, and microaggressions on and off the ice. Sports books always fly off the shelves, so this is a really nice addition to the field.
Good news for young people, Native or not, who love a high-quality series! We hope teachers and librarians will buy copies of [The Kodiaks] for their shelves, and keep their eyes open for the next Breakout Chronicles book. Highly recommended.
Nominated for the Forest of Reading 2025 Silver Birch Fiction award