Knockout

Title:

Knockout

Author:

Summary:

Told in assonant free verse, Levi was once a premature baby who suffered from respiratory problems; he recovered, and now in seventh grade, he struggles to demonstrate to his divorced mother and overprotective brother that he is okay--so when his father suggests he take up boxing he falls in love with the sport, but he still must find a way to convince his family to set him free to follow his dream.

Physical Description:

339 pages ; 22 cm

Genre:

Novels in verse.

Subject Term:

Boxing -- Juvenile fiction.

Divorce -- Juvenile fiction.

Mothers and sons -- Juvenile fiction.

Fathers and sons -- Juvenile fiction.

Brothers -- Juvenile fiction.

Self-actualization (Psychology) -- Juvenile fiction.

Publisher:

Chronicle Books,

Publication Date:

2018

ISBN:

9781452163581

Publication Information:

San Francisco : Chronicle Books, [2018]

Call Number:

M HOLT

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003366575	Middle Fiction	HOLT	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Levi just wants to be treated like a typical kid. As a baby, he had a serious disease that caused him respiratory issues. He's fine now, but his mom and overprotective brother still think of him as damaged, and his schoolmates see him as the same class clown he's always been. He feels stuck. So when his dad--divorced from his mom--suggests he take up boxing, he falls in love with the sport. And when he finds out about a school with a killer boxing team and a free-study curriculum, it feels like he's found a ticket to a new Levi. But how can he tell his mom about boxing? And how can he convince his family to set him free?

Author Notes

K. A. Holt is the author of Rhyme Schemer and House Arrest , along with several other books for young people. She lives in Austin, Texas, and is active within the vibrant Texas writing community.

Reviews (1)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-A companion piece to Holt's well-received House Arrest, this compelling novel-in-verse reintroduces readers to the same characters some 11 years later. Levi, who was a sickly infant with a life-endangering condition, is now a cocky, energetic tween with a story of his own to tell: "Who am I?/I am Levi./I am small/but fast/I am smart/but dumb./If you move the letters/of my name around/you get live." He is chafing at the overprotectiveness of Timothy, his big brother, who grew up playing a role beyond his years as Levi's caretaker, and his mother, who once struggled to keep him alive while trying to make ends meet. Levi is tired of being wrapped in cotton wool. He wants to run, play, climb trees, and assert his independence. And he wants, more than anything, to box: "When I hit the bag/BAM BAM BAM/it stopped all my thoughts/and I'm just.in the moment.../arms/fists/feet/moving/moving/an animal/not a boy/a beast/a different/me." How these three characters bob and weave and ultimately grow together into a greater understanding makes for an accessible story that will not only resonate with middle graders who are living under the shadow of a life-threatening illness, but for all tweens who are eager to establish their independence. Levi isn't always likable as he pushes to assert himself but he is always relatable. Well-placed concrete verse adds visual interest and further adds to the kid appeal. VERDICT This character-driven narrative should be an easy sell, especially where House Arrest was popular; fans of thoughtful sports novels-in-verse (e.g. Kwame Alexander's The Crossover) will likely enjoy this as well.-Eileen Makoff, P.S. 90 Edna Cohen School, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.