Knockout ~K.A. Holt
Riley is NOT about this rainy day, but I sure am because the temperature is finally below 90 degrees! I’m also happy as a clam because after FOUR trial and errors, I finally found another verse novel that I love and am excited to add to my classroom library. K. A. Holt did it again with Knockout, a novel that includes many of the same characters as House Arrest, but a totally different and stand-alone plot. Levi’s mom and older brother, Timothy, have sacrificed everything for Levi since birth, when it was unclear if Levi was going to survive his medical condition.
Now, as a seventh grader, Levi wants more freedom to explore and experience life, but he is consistently held back by his overprotective mom and brother.His best friend, Tam, and Levi’s dad, who he gets to visit every other weekend, are the only people who don’t act as though Levi is one second away from a hospital visit. When his dad encourages Levi to start boxing, and even promises to keep it a secret from his mom and Timothy, Levi jumps at the chance.Boxing makes Levi feel alive, strong, and powerful for once. But when his dad starts acting strange and pulling away, Tam finds a new friend, Karen, and Levi’s inhalers and lungs seem to be failing him, the happiness he was finally experiencing seems to slip away.
Maturity: 1/4
This novel is appropriate for students age 10+. Though the novel is sad at times, it does not have any mature content and is ultimately a story about perseverance and hope.
Pages: 339
Lexile: N/A - Often books written in verse do not have a lexile score because the lexile formula is based on standard prose writing. Lexile is a score that helps educators and parents match students with an appropriate text. A Lexile score is a measure of both a child’s reading ability and a text difficulty. However, Lexile does not take into account the content of a novel. So, pairing readers with a text is a complex process, and knowledge of a novel’s themes and plot is necessary to make a high-quality recommendation.If you are curious about the grade-level equivalent to Lexile scores, check out the conversion chart here!
♥ Kara & Riley