I Read, Therefore I Blog

The Blurb On The Back:

When life knocks you down, can you learn to fight back?

Told over the course of the ten rounds of his first fight, this is the story of amateur boxer Sunny. A seventeen-year-old feeling isolated and disconnected in the city he’s just moved to, Sunny joins a boxing club to learn to protect himself after a racist attack. He finds the community he’s been desperately seeking at the club, and a mentor in trainer Shobu, who helps him find his place in the world.

But racial tensions are rising in the city, and when a Far Right march through Bristol turns violent, Sunny is faced with losing his new best friend to radicalisation.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Nikesh Shukla’s contemporary YA novel is an interesting look at racism and how boxing can give a person discipline, confidence and self-respect but while it’s interesting to have a book look at white extremist radicalisation, Keir’s character and motivation is underdeveloped, as is his friendship with Sunny and I never bought into why Sunny wanted to save him, which is a shame because there’s a lot that’s good about this book and it’s worth a look.

THE BOXER was released in the United Kingdom on 27th June 2019. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Community. In the end, you’ll always want to help one of your own.

Taran and her twin brother Hari never wanted to move to Firestone House. But when the rent was doubled overnight and Dad’s chemo meant he couldn’t work, they had to make this tower block their home. It’s good now though; they feel part of something here.

When they start noticing boarded-up flats and glossy fliers for expensive apartments, they don’t think much of it – until Hari is caught up in a tragedy, and they are forced to go on the run.

It’s up to these teenagers to uncover the sinister truth behind what’s going on in the block, before it blows their world apart.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Nikesh Shukla’s first YA novel features authentic YA voices and focuses on working class characters while making interesting points on gentrification and who really benefits from it but the thriller elements descend into a ludicrously overblown plot with unbelievable antagonists, and a soap-opera worthy conspiracy element while the 48 hour real-time hook is undermined by necessary flashbacks to provide exposition.

RUN, RIOT was released in the United Kingdom on 14th June 2018. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.