The Boxing Gloves

By Kirk Reeve

East Los Angeles is where Mateo Martinez lives with Mom, Abuela, and sister Marta. He recently turned twelve, and is dumbfounded by a belated gift from Dad, who is divorced from Mom and lives in Mexico. The gift, a pair of shiny red boxing gloves, is neither wanted nor appreciated. Mateo's interests are more academic than athletic, and he assumes that the gloves are dad's way of telling him to "toughen up, kid, and I might like you." His self-esteem is further pricked when he and his best friends Arturo and Pepito allow gangbanger Gus and his homeboys to take over their schoolyard basketball court without a fuss. Searching for another court takes them to a neighborhood park where they see boxing going on in its gym's activity room. The Obregon Park Youth Boxing Club had recently moved in.Pepito wants to join the club, and talks Arturo into joining , too, just to work out. Mateo is not interested, but reluctantly goes along with them. All three are soon caught up in learning boxing skills . . . and liking it! What this leads to will surprise Mateo . . . and you, also!

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1980646910
• ISBN13: 9781980646914
• Release Date: April 2018
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"