fair

Things I loved about this book:
the shortness of the book does not detract from the power of the message -- the intense alienation that Jake feels in his new boarding school, despite the welcoming message from the majority of the students -- how weird it feels to be valued for what he views as an indigenous skill in a sacred game (Lacrosse) when the meaning of the game is warped by an outside culture. Jake's thoughtful response to violence, and his willingness to explain the deeper meaning of the game to the school when he offers it as a healing ceremony. The harsh realities that many kids from impoverished communities face -- their family lives broken up by the need for their talented parents to bring back honor and resources to the community. Many of Bruchac's contemporary characters are impacted by that scenario, and he never glosses over how high that cost is. ( )

The thing that stood out to me in this book is that people are vastly different,yet so much the same. ( )

This book was a pleasant surprise to read. It combined multicultural awareness with sports and the experience of transitioning to a new school. The character development helped reader’s have a window into the main character, Jake, and how he handled moving to a new school and integrating himself with a completely different culture. This book would appeal to anyone in a similar situation in which they are experiencing the culture shock of moving and having to attend a new school. The author also streamlines different symbols and themes throughout the text that help the readers understand the values of tradition, humility, and friendship. For example, one morning Jake is discovered doing his morning rituals by his roommate, who is from West Africa. Kofi comforts Jake by saying “This pouch contains things that protect me when I am far from home. Every now and then, when no one else can see, I hold it up so it, too, can bathe in the light of the African sun… So, Jake, it seems that we are brothers” This connection made by two roommates translates into a much deeper friendship as readers see the mutual respect Jake and Kofi have for one another and the appreciation of the other as if it were their own traditions. This theme is also furthered at the end of the book when Jake’s lacrosse team plays a game in honor of their coach who had been shot. Their entire school came together in unison to honor a great leader and contributor to their school and nothing mattered except supporting each other. Through these connections Jake makes at his new school, he learns that home is always in the heart and not necessarily where you were born. The main messages of this book are to embrace diversity, inclusion, and to always be true to your background. ( )

When Jake Forrest leaves his Iroquois reservation to live with his lawyer mother in Maryland, he finds himself enrolled at an exclusive Washington D.C.-area prep school where lacrosse is the obsession. Considered sacred by his people, Jake is dismayed at some of his teacher's misrepresentations of the game's history, and of his people's culture in general. When that teacher, who is also the coach, is injured, Jake sees his opportunity to teach his teammates, and his entire school, what the game is really all about...

Warriors is yet another Joseph Bruchac title that succeeds on a number of different levels. An engaging sports novel for middle-grade readers, featuring a likable protagonist whose basic storyline - kid moves to new town, has to make friends and try to fit in at new school - should appeal to a broad readership, it also offers en enlightening glimpse of a people and culture with which many young Americans may be unfamiliar. Although I generally don't read a great deal of sports fiction (for children or adults), I found that I enjoyed this brief novel, and was moved by Bruchac's portrayal of the spiritual aspects of lacrosse. ( )