Blood Sport

Starred review from January 1, 2020

Gr 7 Up-Jason, a trans foster kid, already feels like the world is against him when his sister is murdered. In her belongings, he finds a hidden collection of evidence leading to a shady boxing gym where young women are disappearing. Is this why his sister was killed? Jason decides to pose as a rookie boxer to infiltrate the gym, but can he hide his true purpose there, as well as his trans identity? This book checks all the boxes of a hi-lo text. It has an exciting hook, a modern teen worldview, and is at a lower reading level. Although the length requirements for a book in the "Orca Soundings" series means that some plot points feel rushed, the book is a fun read. Jason's trans identity is handled respectfully and realistically, which is expected from an #OwnVoices author like McAdam. Furthermore, this book is about a trans character but is not a coming out story, it is a murder mystery. This is both something the LGBT+ community has been asking for and will draw the interest of young people who would not usually pick up an LGBT+ book. VERDICT A must-buy for libraries looking for diverse and compelling hi-lo books.-Jeri Murphy, C.F. Simmons Middle School, Aurora, IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2019
A teen takes on the fight to uncover the truth about the sudden death of his sister. The police say that an overdose killed white, transgender boy Jason's older sister, Becca, but Jason knows better. Two boxes of belongings are all Becca left behind, but among them Jason finds a mysterious photograph and more than two years of newspaper reports about missing girls from Downtown Eastside, the same neighborhood in Vancouver as Jason's group foster home. His sister was all he had, his plan for the future. With nothing to lose and no one on his side, Jason immerses himself in a dangerous investigation to bring justice to Becca. This contemporary thriller offers suspense, intense sports competition, and a fast-paced plot leading to a resolution that emphasizes chosen family and inner-community support. The investigation sends Jason to a boxing gym, where he meets new friends who accept him without faltering when they learn he's transgender, something Jason is used to keeping private for his safety. Unfortunately, the language choices are not always affirming. Jason's close, third-person narration labels testosterone as "male hormones." Additionally, the white protagonist uses African American Vernacular English in referring to Downtown Eastside as his "'hood." While full of heat and high stakes, this plot-oriented adventure is not a knockout for inclusion. A gripping mystery for reluctant readers that loses some appeal for invalidating language. (Mystery. 14-18)

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