Wagamese, a skilled writer, tells the story of Saul Indian Horse. Taken by force from his family and placed in a residential school he knows only abuse until he discovers the game of hockey. The sport creates a time of magic, an escape from the horrors of residential life, and it is through the game that Saul eventually reconnects with his culture. A powerful and compassionate rendering.

I heard about this book on CBC and I was intrigued by its subject matter. The book details Saul Indian Horse's experience in the residential school system and his love of hockey. And, I was not disappointed. I was riveted by Saul's story and could not put the book down. It is a story of tragedy, survival and hope, elegantly told. I have passed the book on to my 15 year old son, a hockey player, in hopes that he too will be as moved by Richard Wagamese's wonderful writing as I was.

Indian Horse is one story of Saul Indian Horse who is in rehab and needs to tell of his story in order to know who he is and where he came from. He grew up on the land in Northern Ontario/Manitoba with his family and was later taken to residential school; whereby he got to know about hockey and other First Nations kids in these schools. You see Saul as a fighter even though smaller than the others and trying hard to overcome challenges within, but focused on bettering himself to allow freedom on the ice. An opportunity gives him a home and a team to play hockey, his freedom. But as life has it, it throws him a couple curveballs that has him winded and is dealing with anger of things of his past that he finally lets himself process. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this story!

Wagamese manages to skillfully and poetically frame the sins committed by the Canadian Residential School system around the game this country loves. Saul Indian Horse finds escape from the harsh and unforgiving brutality of his residential school in the game of hockey. While the game appears to save him and he is looking at a promising NHL career, the abuse suffered at the school and the further abuse visited upon him as an Indian playing what is considered a white man's game are enough to destroy the dream and send him spiralling into the dead end world of the alcoholic. The game becomes a metaphor for life and reminds us of the importance of family, friendship and community in giving us reason for going on with life each day.Wagamese does not point any fingers but presents the awful abuse visited upon our aboriginal children and the scars they carry to this day. Their perceived shame is our shame and only our acknowledgement of this tragically sinful past will allow some future grace and hope to somehow redeem our future. Indian Horse has a more than credible chance of winning "Canada Reads."