Book Review: Knock Out

I have no idea how I have never read a K.A. Holt book!  I love books in verse and for some reason I was never exposed to Holt's books.  At another of the many book workshops I attended last year, Knock Out by K.A. Holt was mentioned as a great book for those hesitant 5th - 8th graders.  Not just because it is a book told in verse, but because of things like this:

And this:

Levi was "medically fragile" when he was born and for most of his life, he was treated as such.  Now a 7th grader and virtually cleared of all symptoms from his disease, Levi is ready to take on the world with his best friend, Tam.  But his family and friends fail to see the new and improved Levi.  His brother, Timothy, continues to be overprotective of him and Tam's friend circle expands, leaving Levi feeling like the odd one out.

When Levi's dad encourages him to take up a sport, Levi isn't sure what to choose.  And there's a catch: Levi has to keep his new sport a secret from his mom and Timothy.  Dad suggests boxing and Levi decides to give it a try.  What Levi didn't expect was how much he would love it!  All of the problems he has with his mom, with Timothy, with Tam, with himself... disappear when he's in the ring.

Life gets even better for Levi when he finds out about Xaviers, a school with a competitive boxing team.  And the prospect of creating a new friend group where no one will think of Levi as fragile is tempting.  How will Levi come clean about his new found sport and convince his mom and brother that this school is the place for him?  How can he prove to everyone that he isn't as fragile as they think he is?

Knock Out is a companion novel to House Arrest, which I didn't read before KO.  In my opinion it isn't necessary to read them in order either.  I just fell in love with everything about Knock Out!  The writing, the characters, the word art!  Levi is perennially a positive thinker and although he makes many iffy decisions, you find yourself rooting for this kid the whole way.  I really like how honest Levi is with his emotions, which will make middle school kids relate to his character and his quest for independence.  Knock Out is fast paced and should appeal to 4th - 8th graders or 8 - 12 year old readers.