The Kodiaks - (Breakout Chronicles) by David A Robertson (Paperback)

About the Book

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. Join Alex as he navigates a new school, deals with new friends and bullies alike, and proves that on the ice, only the colour of your jersey matters.

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

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?

Review Quotes

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

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.

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.

Timely and important, The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage is a must-read. Highly Recommended

About the Author

David A. Robertson (he/him/his) is the 2021 recipient of the Writer's Union of Canada's Freedom to Read Award. He is the author of more than 25 books for young readers including When We Were Alone, which won a Governor General's Literary Award and was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. David's most recent works include the graphic novel Breakdown (The Reckoner Rises, Vol. 1), middle grade novel The Barren Grounds, children's book On the Trapline, and memoir Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory. He is also the writer and host of the podcast Kíwew, which won the 2021 RTDNA Prairie Region Award for Best Podcast.

A sought-after speaker and educator, David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation. He lives in Winnipeg.