Medicine Wheels

 

Rating: 4 out of 5 | Indigenous representation in literature and a prime example of failing upward.

My Thoughts: 

If you are looking for a "sports" read for young men, especially of the reluctant reader variety, like Graves' other book Rez Ball, this one will capture reluctant readers. It is a fairly easy read with all the right ingredients to keep readers interested. 

Bryce is abandoned by his mother and kicked out of the motel without his things when his mother violates her probation. Still, his relationship with his paternal grandparents is strong and they greet him with open arms. His grandfather, really his only father figure since his father died, is in home hospice, but is still raising him with his quiet wisdom and love. 

Being back on the rez is healing for Bryce and fills in all the emptiness that he was feeling, but it does not take away the pain of having an incarcerated mother and a dying grandfather. What holds this story together is his father's skateboard. 

The Wolf Creek reservation is another character in this book because it brings with it familiar "characters" in Bryce's life that he can rely on. It also brings the Ojibwe culture, language and rituals back into Bryce's life -- all healing players in his story. Finally, on the cover is a mantra that really exemplifies this Indigenous feel good book: "ride, crash, rise." This is a characteristic of a feel good Indigenous book when not everything is unicorns and rainbows, but despite the trauma, the characters still get a good ending when they lean into their cultural values. If readers want more like this, the publisher, Heartdrum, an imprint of  Harper Children's Books for Indigenous stories, is a great start. Cynthia Leitich Smith is the author-curator for the imprint, so checking her blog is also a good start. 

From the Publisher:

The American Indian Youth Literature and Morris Award-winning author of Rez Ball returns with the unforgettable story of a gifted young Ojibwe athlete learning to ride in his father’s footsteps while practicing for a skateboarding championship.

When Bryce’s mom walks out on her abusive boyfriend and back into jail for breaking her probation, he’s left facing the summer of his junior year with no parents, no phone, and only the clothes on his back.

With nowhere to call home, Bryce crashes at his grandparents’ house on Wolf Creek reservation. Wolf Creek is full of memories and old friends—including Robbie and Mikayla, who hang out at the local skate park.

Skateboarding reminds Bryce of his late dad: carefree, riding like he could fly. If Bryce could learn to ride like that, he’d take his crew to the top of the skateboarding championship at the end of the summer, and finally prove he’s not a loser, especially to the online-famous, captivating Mikayla. Summer is looking up, even as he’s falling on his face.

But when a fresh loss takes Bryce down, he’ll need to learn to lean on his Ojibwe community to get back on the board. Only then can he discover his father’s real legacy—and the true meaning of unconditional love.

Publication Information:

• Author: Byron Graves
• Publication Date: June 2, 2026
• Print Length: 344 pages
• Ages: 13 and up