Episode 252 with Byron Graves: Author of Rez Ball and Master of the Hyperspecific and Universal Through Synpathetic and Dynamic Characters

Notes and Links to Byron Graves’ Work

 

   For Episode 252, Pete welcomes Byron Graves, and the two discuss, among other topics, his early experiences with Ojibwe and English and bilingualism, formative and transformative writers and writing (X-Men!), both past and present, representation of multidimensional indigenous characters, Byron’s basketball career and its influence on his writing and world view, and salient themes and issues in his work like grief and traumas, personal and collective triumphs, family bonds, community, inevitable change, and biculturalism.

 

   Byron Graves is Ojibwe and was born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, where he played high school basketball. When he isn't writing, he can be found playing retro video games, spending time with his family, or cheering on his beloved Minnesota Timberwolves. Rez Ball is his debut novel. 

 

Buy Rez Ball

 

1999 Article with Journalist Covering Byron’s High School Basketball Season

 

Review by Amanda MacGregor for Teen Librarian Toolbox

 

Byron's Website with Harper Collins

 

At about 1:25, Byron lays out his quandary regarding two NBA teams

At about 2:55, Byron talks about his language great grandparents and the fluency of family members in the Ojibwe language, and the ways in which language preservation has been done in his family and on his reservation

At about 5:15, Byron characterizes the Ojibwe language and shares an evocative favorite phrase

At about 6:20, Byron describes his childhood loves of comic books (particularly X-Men), video games, and more

At about 9:15, Byron expands on writers and writing that ignited his love for reading, including Lord Byron and a special family memento involving Lord Byron

At about 12:00, Byron talks about how representation has evolved and changed, particularly with regards to indigenous writers-a “beautiful renaissance”

At about 15:05, Byron responds to Pete’s questions about usage of different terminologies describing “indigenous” peoples

At about 17:05, Byron talks about the 1992 US Basketball “Dream Team” and the team sparking his interest in basketball

At about 20:00, Byron describes his game with a personal “scouting report”

At about 21:55, Byron talks about how lessons learned on the basketball have informed so much of his later life

At about 23:15, Byron talks how Frank Clancy’ 1999 news stories affected Byron’s own desire to write a book

At about 29:30, a high-tension basketball game that begins the book is discussed, as well as the staggering loss of narrator’s brother, Jaxon 

At about 31:00, Byron discusses his rationale in including deep loss in the book, involving Tre’s brother Jaxon 

At about 34:05, The two fanboy over “Batman: The Animated Series”

At about 34:30,  Byron expands upon the “beautiful chaos” of “rez ball” 

At about 38:15, Pete gives some background on main characters in the book, as well as the documentation of Tre’s season

At about 39:40, Byron traces the idea of the basketball player as celebrity, and the ways this has changed since he was playing high school basketball in the late 90s

At about 42:20, the ways in which Tre feels pressure/pride in representing his brother’s legacy are explored

At about 43:10, Khiana and Tre’s friendship as a way of allowing Tre to be himself is included

At about 45:20, the ways in which Tre’s parents and Tre’s teammates treat him after Jaxon’s death, and how peer pressure comes into play for Tre going to parties and considering drinking are discussed

At about 48:10, Pete and Byron recount some of the social and basketball-related growing pains that come in to play as Jaxon starts excelling on the basketball court, and sees his time consumed by basketball

At about 51:50, Byron describes the “amalgamations” that inform the way he wrote conflicts between small town and city basketball teams, and about racism and ugly histories

At about 55:00, Pete compliments a “heavy” and “profound scene” involving police misconduct and racism 

At about 55:40, Byron responds to Pete’s question about what drew Slam Magazine to interview and follow around Tre and his team

At about 57:55, Pete “flags” (hehe) Cooper Flagg and Chet Holmgren as archetypes in the book

At about 58:30, Byron reflects on a wistful statement made by Tre’s teammate as Pete inquires about sympathies felt toward a character 

At about 1:02:55, Byron talks about exciting future projects

At about 1:04:10, Byron gives out contact and social media info 

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    Please tune in for Episode 253 with Akshaj Mehta, who has been writing since he was 4 years old. He is a former student of mine, and he is currently studying political science at UCLA as a second year student. Akshaj is an author with five published books, the most recent titled The Butterfly Effect, which was created in collaboration with the non-profit KidsFirst Roseville. He has also written for the N Magazine and Sacramento School Beat.

The episode will go live on September 10. 

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