First Impression

With a dark background and atmospheric feel, the cover of Knockout Girl certainly got me excited to read a novel related to boxing.

Criticism

Knockout Girl was a good story in many regards but there were a few aspects of the work that I felt could have been stronger. The characters themselves were a bit on the simpler side in certain ways, missing that extra level of development needed to make them feel truly concrete. Though there were a few unexpected developments that really enhanced the work and its meaning, I also found myself wishing for a lesser degree of predictability in some areas. For example, the “jock vs. nerd” dynamic felt a bit cliché and seemed to clash with some of the really great original ideas that Eby was developing within Knockout Girl.

Though Knockout Girl deals with boxing, the actual sport is not the focus of the novel. Depending on your reading preferences, this may or may not be a negative. I actually didn’t mind the lesser emphasis on the athletic aspects of this novel, but it was admittedly not what I originally expected. 

Appreciation

Throughout Knockout Girl, there was such a strong, pervasive spirit of resilience. I found it quite enjoyable (and inspirational) to watch this cast of characters confront a variety of obstacles related to the sport of boxing and their personal lives. Eby did a wonderful job creating a work that was about so much more than just a boxing tournament by incorporating important topics into the work in a way that felt age appropriate. In the end, Knockout Girl left me with a bright spirit of hope and optimism that I quite appreciated.

I also learned some fun facts and boxing jargon, which is definitely a plus.

The last word

A sweet story with an ending that definitely left me wanting more.

A story of growth and hope…