Rez Ball

De: Byron Graves

Narrado por: Jesse Nobess

This compelling debut novel by new talent Byron Graves tells the relatable, high-stakes story of a young athlete determined to play like the hero his Ojibwe community needs him to be.

These days, Tre Brun is happiest when he is playing basketball on the Red Lake Reservation high school team—even though he can’t help but be constantly gut-punched with memories of his big brother, Jaxon, who died in an accident.

When Jaxon's former teammates on the varsity team offer to take Tre under their wing, he sees this as his shot to represent his Ojibwe rez all the way to their first state championship. This is the first step toward his dream of playing in the NBA, no matter how much the odds are stacked against him.

But stepping into his brother’s shoes as a star player means that Tre can’t mess up. Not on the court, not at school, and not with his new friend, gamer Khiana, who he is definitely not falling in love with.

After decades of rez teams almost making it, Tre needs to take his team to state. Because if he can live up to Jaxon's dreams, their story isn’t over yet.

This book is published by Heartdrum, an imprint that publishes high-quality, contemporary stories about Indigenous young people in the United States and Canada.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Great read

Tre will bring you through a rollercoaster ride. I loved the characters. I will definitely listen to this book again.

Good shit

Definitely one of the best basketball books I’ve ever read in my entire life. I learned a lot from this book and important things I can take in for high school.

An inspirational story for all

It was fantastic to listen to a story told from the perspective of youth on the res.
The narrator Jesse Nobess was able to perfectly capture the excitement as well as the tender moments in the book..
Hope to see more stories like this one!

Great story on multiple levels

I’m not even a basketball fan but found myself cheering on this team as if I were in the stands. So many layers of storytelling in this book … coming of age, courage, dreaming big and working through grief. Loved it!

Relatable

Rez Ball is a book that many young Native Americans can deeply relate to. I was especially struck by the main character and the way he demonstrates inspiration, resilience, and the courage to do the right thing. He grows into someone who is truly a role model. The story also highlights the strong emphasis many tribes place on sports, particularly basketball, and how it connects communities. At the same time, the book explores social pressures, the importance of family support, and healthy relationships with parents. Overall, it offers an authentic look at Native youth experiences while delivering a powerful and inspiring message.