The Boxer

by Kathleen Karr

Book Overview

Hard-hitting historical fiction Ever since his father ran off two years before, fifteen-year-old Johnny Woods has struggled to help support his ma and five siblings, sacrificing his own schooling in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374408866
• ISBN13: 9780374408862
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 12 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 7 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

A wonderful work of historical fiction

This is the story of a young man living in the slums of New York in the 1880's. John Aloysius Xavier Woods, or Johnny, has had a hard life. Having several siblings, a mother, and no father, Johnny has to work in a sweatshop all day for a disgustingly small amount of money. However, one day he decides to take a chance at illegal boxing, for the winner receives a good sum of money. Instead, he gets arrested during his first try and sent to jail for six months. It is there that he meets Michael O'Shaunnessey, a professional boxer. O'Shaunnessey sees lots of potential in Johnny, and Johnny agrees to let himself be trained. The rich O'Shaunnessey meanwhile sends money to Johnny's family to support them. After leaving jail, Johnny manages to use his newfound skills legally in a boxing club. Soon, Johnny manages to become the lightweight champion under the guidance of O'Shaunnessey. I think that this is a really good book, it is exciting and has a continuing plotline without boring lulls. It illustrates the image of life in the poorer sections of the America a century ago very well. I think that this story was an excellent illustration of how the times shape the individual. Johnny was working for a miniscule amount of money in the sweatshops. However, because he wanted more for himself in life, he decided to attempt boxing. Johnny would receive 5 dollars a day for every 4 rounds of boxing he won, which was much more than he made usually. Later on, after he gets out of prison, Johnny makes the decision that he will not return to the sweatshops. He strives to become a better boxer, which will then earn him more money to finally buy a better life in Brooklyn. The times for Johnny, which are poor and desolate times, force him to find a means of improving him and his family's conditions. The environment that Johnny lives in shapes him into a different individual than he would've been if he had lived in different circumstances.

Wow.

Usually i do not like reading books. Being in 10th grade i guess that applies to everyone. Well, i found this book, and i read it in one day. It was that good. Mrs. Karr is able to keep the story very interesting with many turningpoints. Johnny ends up going from a sweatshop worker eating cabbage every day, to being a lightwieght boxing champion, and having steak and other great foods almost everyday. If you are like me, where you usually do not like reading books, this book would be great for you.

High in suspense! A real page turner!

"You can't handle it you weren't meant to be in the ring." Thats what the Professor said to Johnny during a boxing match then Johnny knocked the other boxer out and won the match.If you are a real sports person this is the book for you! Frist I thought it was boring and i just wanted to get through the book but after the frist chapter i didn't want to stop. This book was about a poor kid named Johnny and how he wanted to be a boxer. Frist match he had and he was caught boxing illegla. So he got shipped off to prison. Later on in the book going to prison was probly the best thing in his life that happened to him. He met a guy named Professor O'Shaunnessey. He was a middle weight champion. He saw Johnny punch a guy and offered to help Johnny with boxing. Johnny had training every morning warm up excrises. Then Johnny six months in jail was up and the Professor said that he would meet up with Johnny when he got out of jail. While Johnny was waiting to here from the Professor he went back to school and began to box again. When O'Shaunnessy meets up with Johnny again more page turners start all over again.

This book's a champ.

This is an exceptionally good book, particularly for boys. The nineteenth-century hero, Johnny Woods, lives in a crowded tenement and makes a meager living in a sweatshop ironing shirts. He escapes a dead-end life by becoming a boxer. He's young hero who's not afraid to fight, but also caring enough to take on responsibility for the whole brood of younger children that his father has abandoned. There aren't many stories where boy heroes are both agressive, determined winners and also nurturing, and responsible--seeking a good life not only for themselves, but for family and neighbors. The fight scenes are exciting and varied, but don't glorify violence or overlook the damage boxing can do to fighters who stay in the ring too long. For its values, its setting, and its invaluable but understated lessons, this book is a winner.One last virtue to note: the young boxer is small--a bantam weight--, a David against a merciliess Goliath-- Gilded Age New York City. He wins through his spirit and his brains as much as his muscle. This is a particularly comforting book for boys who aren't destined to be six foot eight basketball stars, and who'll discover in THE BOXER that manhood and respect depend on maturity and intelligence, not size.

The Boxer

The book the boxer is a great book and relates to the time period the author wrote it in, like the money was worth more to them than today. This book also has so many different emotions, which keep the reader from stop reading in the middle. To rate this book I will give it two thumbs up out of two thumbs, for keeping the reader interested.