First published 2024
Eight teenage girls arrive in Reno, Nevada, each carrying her own burden. One witnessed a pool tragedy that changed everything. Another fights under her family's crushing demand for victory. Each boxer has sacrificed something to reach this national competition. They step into the ring seeking control, seeking to prove they excel at something that matters. Rita Bullwinkel follows these competitors through brutal face-offs that reveal their histories and futures. Between punches, moments of humor and tenderness emerge. The fights are raw and intense. Each girl summons emotion, imagination, and willpower to win. They battle not just opponents but their own desire, envy, and need for perfection. The physical pleasure of combat drives them forward, even when spectators are few. This is the story of young women who choose to fight.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, action
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Setting: Reno, Nevada
Period: 21st-century
224 pages · Hardcover · Viking