The Knockout

November 30, 2020
For the past nine years, Indian American 17-year-old Kareena Thakkar has practiced Muay Thai, her parents supporting her right to participate in a “violent” sport traditionally “left for boys.” Muay Thai allows Kareena a distraction from day-to-day concerns in Texas: her father’s renal disease, the family’s mounting bills, and the recent implosion of close friendships that has left her feeling adrift. When Kareena’s coach announces that she qualifies for a national-level competition, a path to international recognition abruptly opens up; success would enable her to trial for the world championships, with the possibility of participating in the first Olympic team. But after Kareena starts falling for her “perfect Indian boy” classmate Amit Patel, she must confront societal disapproval reserved for girls, and “Indian girls especially,” who do not conform to the norm. Patel (The Trouble with Hating You, for adults) showcases the fascinating world of female martial arts in her YA debut, as seen through the eyes of a protagonist from a desi background. Though the rushed romance feels lukewarm, and an overreliance on cultural stereotypes dates the novel, Kareena’s brashly confident inner voice produces a fairly engaging read. Ages 14–up. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary.

September 18, 2020

Gr 8 Up-A female athlete in a small Texas town will prove to her conservative Indian community that strong, beautiful women come in all shapes and sizes. Seventeen-year-old Kareena Thakkar feels disconnected from her Indian heritage after years of being shamed for playing a sport deemed not ladylike: Muay Thai. With her mom working two jobs and her dad having serious health issues, Kareena's family struggles to support itself. Going to the U.S. Open for Muay Thai will prove nearly impossible with the Thakkars' financial woes. Kareena must balance her training, grades, bullies, broken friendships, and now tutoring mysterious Indian poster child Amit Patel while trying to excel at everything. If she works hard enough, can she win the Open and use the cash prize to help her family? This novel moves along well and has an interesting main character: a girl who despite being ostracized by her community is determined to chase after her dreams. She is surrounded by other strong female characters, some kinder than others. Kareena feels conflicted between wanting to be a good athlete and the pressure to look feminine, and readers will empathize with her worries. Her love interest Amit shows remarkable and refreshing maturity for a teenage boy, but the best part of this book is the support and encouragement Kareena finds in other women. VERDICT A good purchase for libraries where female-led sports books circulate well.-Carol Youssif, Taipei American Sch., Taiwan

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2020
Muay thai champion Kareena Thakkar is presented with the opportunity to participate in the prestigious U.S. Muay Thai Open, potentially leading to the Olympics. Seventeen-year-old Indian American Kareena has a full plate: Not only is she an athlete with an intense workout schedule and a hardworking student, but since her terminally ill father is in and out of the hospital and her overworked mother struggles to make ends meet, Kareena is in charge of running the household as well. When she is offered a chance to compete at the USMTO, Kareena is thrilled but isn't sure she can afford to go. Further, Kareena's attraction to Amit Patel, a model Indian boy, complicates her sense of belonging. She feels conflicted about her relationship with the Indian American community, as muay thai is considered to be neither Indian nor feminine. Patel paints a badass female athlete who is stubborn and proud but yearns to be accepted by a community she isn't sure she identifies with. In many ways this novel offers readers a respite from the tired tropes of Indian American realistic fiction, but it falls flat, as the writing is clunky, the ending clich�d and predictable, and the dialogues often torrential outpourings spewed by characters standing on metaphorical soapboxes. The supporting characters, while wonderfully diverse and offering a supportive female circle, are unrealistically perfect and mostly exist only to support Kareena. An exciting premise lacking punch and precision. (Fiction. 14-18)

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Starred review from November 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Thanks in part to her dedicated study of Muay Thai, 17-year-old Kareena and her family feel ostracized by their local Indian community, leading her to question her own identity and cultural validity. As Kareena pursues "passion over practicality," she keeps her Muay Thai commitment secret; when her ill father's relapse coincides with an important competition, she must make a difficult choice--complicated by her growing feelings for "model" Indian Amit--with $50,000, international recognition, and a chance at the Olympics on the line. This compelling #OwnVoices young-adult debut challenges gender roles and racial stereotypes through a hardworking-athlete protagonist crafted with such nuance that readers will wholeheartedly cheer for her, through trivial stressors like AP Comp-Sci II to deeper conflicts like teenage heartbreak. As Patel explores what it means to pursue your dreams against the judgment, criticism, and bullying of those intimidated by your success, the Pan-Asian representation make this work relatable to readers of immigrant parents or any marginalized community, addressing what it means to be part of different communities--cultural, religious, athletic--and to struggle with reconciling one's identities. The beauty and power of being a high-school girl, an Indian woman, and a female athlete are all showcased in this triumphant novel.

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