Eagle Blue: A Team, a Tribe, and a High School Basketball Team in Arctic Alaska

Eagle Blue provided great insight into the game of basketball within the small towns of Alaska,specifically among native american communities. The author did an outstanding job of combining culture, hoops, and history within the story. This book also included some interesting political questions regarding government subsidies,drilling for oil, and information on the state and people of Alaska. As a whole I loved the first half of the book but was somewhat disappointed in the sportswriting done by D'Orso. His basketball descriptions left a great deal to be desired. As an example the author uses players numbers to describe the action, for instance; #12 comes back with a three, or #13 with a floater. On a personal note I also have a problem when an adult writer spends time with high school students who are engaging in illegal activities, drinking /smoking. Much like my similiar feelings with the author of Fall Rivers Dream. However, that being said a good read with many wonderful insights.

This book gave a very good feel for the state of Alaska and the diverse issues facing native people in remote villages while being very appealing to the sports enthusiast. Mike D'Orso made me feel like I was an active participant and I could feel the visceral energy of the whole cast as the Fort Yukon Eagles fought their way to the finish of the basketball season.

Two books led up to my getting this book. Nick Jans "The Last Light Breaking" which introduced me to the phenomenon of Alaska's Native or bush basketball, and Velma Wallis' Raising ourselves which introduced me to Fort Yukon in an intimate way. When I found that there was a book that brought both of these together, I knew I needed to get a copy. I couldn't have been happier with the result. This book is a great piece of writing. Anyone who loves prep sports, Alaska, or humanity in general should read this book. D'Orso has captured and shared a fascinating and hidden story. It is a gripping piece of sports writing as well as a coming of age book for the boys on the team. You will have problems putting this book down.

What a season. I started this book on first day of vacation and read it before going to sleep at night and got up early to read before my family awoke. My family is from the Blackfeet Reservation and I couldn't help but think I was reading about some of my own relations ~{;0 Before I read this book, I didn't know much about this tribe, area or concerns (such as ANWAR). Now that I have, I have taken an interest in what matters to them. For instance, there was a show on public television about the Gwi'ichan and how (ANWAR would affect them) that was on during the same time as the NBA playoffs this last weekend. I surfed to that show during commercial break and never went back to the game. I hope to invest more time and energy in the ANWAR issue because of this book. The author did a great job of making the story about the boys and the people and not about him. Roger

Every man or woman who has been privileged to bounce a basketball in earnest, and every person who has been privileged to cheer their efforts, should appreciate this vivid and edgy tale of what a love of sport can mean -- especially to players whose moments away from the court are so steeped in peril. D'Orso has defined the razor's edge where humanity's playing fields and emotional fields intersect. And he's offering a front-row seat. Grab a ticket, you won't regret it.