Review Detail

The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage was a quick read full of important messages!

Children between the ages of 10 & 13 will be drawn to the hockey, the friendship, and the conflict found in this book, especially if they play the sport themselves. Robertson does a fantastic job of pulling the reader in and having them feel the same highs and lows of the characters. In this case, 11-year old Alex whom is an indigenous child that has moved to Winnipeg from his reserve in northern Manitoba and must face the racism directed towards him.

Having a young hockey player in the same age group, I loved the focus on the sport and friendships. Alex's family is loving and hardworking, they are also very supportive of Alex. I think they could have handled the racism and bullying another way.
I liked Alex taking the initiative and educating his coach. However, the adults in Alex's life should have been better, they should have stepped up upon seeing/hearing racist accusations.

There is so much hockey speak in this book! If my son wasn't in a youth hockey league, I probably would have had to look much of it up. I suggest a rudimentary understanding of the sport, or you could get lost.

The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage is a great book for independent reading and perfect for young hockey fans!