She's A Knockout
Annie Armani is a high school student in Philadelphia who is thrown into the limelight when she unexpectedly wins her first ever MMA title fight with a knockout punch. She has mixed emotions about the victory, partly because she thinks the winning punch was a fluke but also because her older brother and fellow fighter Marc has only recently died in a motorcycle crash.
On the back of this win, Annie is invited to take part another high-profile fight and to be filmed for a TV documentary which will follow both opponents as they prepare for the clash. Despite her misgivings, Annie accepts so she can earn some money to help her mother and younger sister.
When she finds out that Jake Duff is going to be her sparring partner, her feelings get even more complicated because of a previous conflict between Jake and Marc. Under the gaze of the film crew and social media, the pressure mounts on both Annie and Jake as their relationship develops and the day of the big fight approaches.
This is a fast-paced page turner with very believable characters. Annie’s struggles with confidence and self-image will be very familiar to many readers, as will her attempts to explore the origins of her insecurities. The pressure and unrealistic expectations created by pervasive social media are also skilfully handled here. The book is a celebration of sport, friendship, love, and grit. While not avoiding some difficult themes, it is ultimately a joyful and uplifting read.
