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Fight Song
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26A talented yet cynical Indigenous teen hockey player escapes a dangerous situation in the foster care system in this powerful and timely YA novel.
It's not easy to miss Nokes Lasley, especially when she's on the ice. Towering over the competition at over six feet tall, she routinely dominates on the right wing — and her no-nonsense approach and fiery temper have helped to solidify her reputation as a hockey superstar. Despite her tenuous situation at home, she dreams of hitting the Olympics one day and proving that she can compete in the big leagues.
But suddenly, Nokes's life is turned upside-down when her father is arrested for murder and she's forced to enter the foster care system. Nokes bounces from home to home, from one dangerous setting to the next . . . until she decides to escape across the border to Minnesota, where the promise of a family friend with professional hockey connections far outweighs the abuse she's experiencing in her home province of Ontario.
Through careful lies, and with the help of Aidan, an attractive new friend, Nokes is able to start a new life in a new country — and, most importantly, keep playing hockey. But the past has a nasty way of catching up to her, and soon Nokes has to make a terrible choice: keep running or face her past head-on . . . and maybe even come to terms with her Indigenous heritage.
It's not easy to miss Nokes Lasley, especially when she's on the ice. Towering over the competition at over six feet tall, she routinely dominates on the right wing — and her no-nonsense approach and fiery temper have helped to solidify her reputation as a hockey superstar. Despite her tenuous situation at home, she dreams of hitting the Olympics one day and proving that she can compete in the big leagues.
But suddenly, Nokes's life is turned upside-down when her father is arrested for murder and she's forced to enter the foster care system. Nokes bounces from home to home, from one dangerous setting to the next . . . until she decides to escape across the border to Minnesota, where the promise of a family friend with professional hockey connections far outweighs the abuse she's experiencing in her home province of Ontario.
Through careful lies, and with the help of Aidan, an attractive new friend, Nokes is able to start a new life in a new country — and, most importantly, keep playing hockey. But the past has a nasty way of catching up to her, and soon Nokes has to make a terrible choice: keep running or face her past head-on . . . and maybe even come to terms with her Indigenous heritage.
- GenresYoung AdultContemporary
344 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fight Song by Kirk Van Brunt this amazing YA novel is a must read for everyone!
This novel follows Nokes Lasley, a Indigenous Teen hockey player who was dealt a shitty hand in life. Nokes dreams of playing in the Olympics one day and proving she can compete in the big leagues.
When her father is arrested for murder, Nokes is forced into the Foster care system. After bouncing from one bad placement to the next, she decides to stay with a family friend in Minnesota.
The promise of a new life with a hockey connection is enough to have Nokes fleeing her home province of Ontario.
It's in Minnesota where she meets Aiden, is able to start a new life, and continue playing hockey. But when the past catches up to her, Nokes has to make the choice to keep running or face her past.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kirk Van Brunt for this arc. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I was honestly blown away by how real and poinent this book was. It explores harsh real topics, in a way that draws you in and keeps those pages turning. I think it's a must read!
This book is expected Sept 15th 2026
This novel follows Nokes Lasley, a Indigenous Teen hockey player who was dealt a shitty hand in life. Nokes dreams of playing in the Olympics one day and proving she can compete in the big leagues.
When her father is arrested for murder, Nokes is forced into the Foster care system. After bouncing from one bad placement to the next, she decides to stay with a family friend in Minnesota.
The promise of a new life with a hockey connection is enough to have Nokes fleeing her home province of Ontario.
It's in Minnesota where she meets Aiden, is able to start a new life, and continue playing hockey. But when the past catches up to her, Nokes has to make the choice to keep running or face her past.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kirk Van Brunt for this arc. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I was honestly blown away by how real and poinent this book was. It explores harsh real topics, in a way that draws you in and keeps those pages turning. I think it's a must read!
This book is expected Sept 15th 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nokes knows that her presence can't be ignored both in the world of hockey and the world in general. Beaten down by life's circumstances, she's just trying to get by with hopes of playing Olympic hockey. But when running from life catches up with her, Nokes will have to make the toughest decisions of her life yet.
This YA novel was a solid read in so many ways. Heavy on hockey, which is a sport that we have very few titles about. I'm hopeful that there will be boys who are willing to pick it up even with a female main character. I loved the incorporation of an Indigenous character, even if that character wasn't living on a reservation. Important topics of the foster care system and how easy it is for children in the system to be exploited. Discussion of exploitation is not super descriptive, but trigger warning may be warranted as it's not the primary focus of the book.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
This YA novel was a solid read in so many ways. Heavy on hockey, which is a sport that we have very few titles about. I'm hopeful that there will be boys who are willing to pick it up even with a female main character. I loved the incorporation of an Indigenous character, even if that character wasn't living on a reservation. Important topics of the foster care system and how easy it is for children in the system to be exploited. Discussion of exploitation is not super descriptive, but trigger warning may be warranted as it's not the primary focus of the book.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Noke’s goal is to make the Canadian women’s Olympic hockey team, but when her dad is arrested Noke ends up in foster care. Aunt Connie wants custody but Noke takes off and heads to Minnesota where her uncle Luke lives. When she gets there she meets Aiden, Luke’s son, who tells her Luke died. Aiden works it out where she can stay at his house but his mom, a hockey coach, doesn’t know she’s there. Aiden helps her enroll in school ,and she begins playing hockey for his mom’s team. Nora, her guardian, keeps in touch and tells Noke that she needs to come back to Canada to testify about an incident that happened that made Noke run away. Noke finds out a secret her dad kept from her about her mom. What is it? Will Noke end up going to Canada to testify?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
Thanks to Booktrovert for the e-copy of the book.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I was moderately invested in this story of a hockey-playing young woman in a horrible living situation. The main character was pretty unlikable, and the few times she acted nicely, it felt wrong. Nonetheless, I appreciated the inclusion of hockey as part of the story. The main character's background as Native/Indigenous played a much smaller role in the story that I thought it would.
I think this is being marketed to the YA market -- there will certainly be an audience, and I enjoyed it.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I was moderately invested in this story of a hockey-playing young woman in a horrible living situation. The main character was pretty unlikable, and the few times she acted nicely, it felt wrong. Nonetheless, I appreciated the inclusion of hockey as part of the story. The main character's background as Native/Indigenous played a much smaller role in the story that I thought it would.
I think this is being marketed to the YA market -- there will certainly be an audience, and I enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A harder-edged than usual YA novel. There are F-bombs, but aside from that, a fine story about a teen girl in Sudbury (the daughter of an Indigenous mother and French father) who excels at hockey and has dreams of playing in the Olympics one day. But after her father is arrested and jailed for manslaughter, she is alone and finds herself a Ward of the Province. Angry, and shunted from foster home to foster home, things are not good for her. Can hockey be the way out of her situation?
(Thus review was based on an Advance Reading Copy supplied by the publisher)
(Thus review was based on an Advance Reading Copy supplied by the publisher)
July 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This was a really good YA book! I don’t usually read books like this, but I enjoyed it. I loved the wholesome relationships and friendships that are shown throughout this book. Aidan was a great friend and was always there for her no matter what. I also really loved the indigenous aspect that the author decided to add, and how she struggled with it for a while.
Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me early access to Fight Song!
This was a really good YA book! I don’t usually read books like this, but I enjoyed it. I loved the wholesome relationships and friendships that are shown throughout this book. Aidan was a great friend and was always there for her no matter what. I also really loved the indigenous aspect that the author decided to add, and how she struggled with it for a while.
Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me early access to Fight Song!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews