When Gravity Delgado walks into Cops ’n Kids, a no-frills Brooklyn boxing gym, and starts working with the legendary Coach Thomas, she joins a true melting pot of fighters. There’s the flirtatious Lefty (a southpaw), hard-to-beat D-Minus (“They call me D-Minus ’cause I’m all you need”), artistic Kimani “Monster” Browne, and a host of others. At the gym, Gravity finds the unexpected: the father she’s never had in her coach, not one but two romantic prospects, and, most importantly, a love and skill for boxing. If she can stay focused, despite her troubled home life, she might just have a shot at the Olympics.
With each blow, each jab, and each punch, Sarah Deming draws her readers into the gritty and inspiring world of Gravity Delgado, a Jewish Dominican teenager growing up in Brooklyn and aspiring for greatness.
Topics Boxing. Determination. Family problems. Olympic athletes. Conduct of life. Dating. Racially mixed people. Brooklyn, New York. Sports and recreation.
Lexile 850L
Trim Size 8 1/4" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Winter
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2019-11-11
JLG Release Date Jan 2020
Minimum grade 9
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Sports and Recreation High (Grades 9 & Up)
Sports and Recreation High
Sports and Recreation High (Grades 9 & Up)
For Grades 9 & Up
This collection includes exciting books focused on athlete experiences, competition, and the broader culture of sports and recreation. Featuring a mix of fiction and nonfiction, selections explore sports through personal stories, real-world perspectives, and a range of activities that reflect the different ways teens engage with sports. Some selections are written for adults but are thoughtfully chosen for their relevance and appeal to teen readers.