Headshot

'Headshot' is surely a one-of-a-kind book. The story follows a boxing competition in Reno, Nevada, where eight teenage girls compete to be the best in the country. Each chapter centers around one of the seven fights, interlaced with the background story of each fighter. This makes the book unique in so many ways. First of all, it reads as though you are watching a boxing match, but the author somehow manages to not bore you with the technicalities of boxing, so even the matches are interesting to read. Secondly, the book gets you to root for every one of the girls (some more than others, though). They all have their own compelling backstories and motivations for winning the competition, and I always found myself feeling with each of the girls when they lost their fight. Moreover, the book doesn't try to be shocking, or unexpected, or have a revolutionary deeper meaning. It's just girls fighting, one wins, and that's it. I really liked it.