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A moving and triumphant middle grade contemporary debut from award-winning author Matt Wallace about a heroic young girl--who dreams of becoming a pro wrestler--learning to find courage and fight for what she loves. Perfect for fans of Kelly Yang, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds' Track series! MJ knows what it means to hurt. Bruises from gymnastics heal, but big hurts--like her dad not being around anymore--don't go away. Now her mom needs to work two jobs, and MJ doesn't have friends at school to lean on. There is only one thing MJ loves: the world of professional wrestling. She especially idolizes the luchadores and the stories they tell in the ring. When MJ learns that her neighbor, Mr. Arellano, runs a wrestling school, she has a new mission in life: join the school, train hard, and become a wrestler. But trouble lies ahead. After wrestling in a showcase event, MJ attracts the attention of Mr. Arellano's enemy at the State Athletic Commission. There are threats to shut the school down, putting MJ's new home--and the community that welcomed her--at risk. What can MJ do to save her new family?
Reviews with the most likes.
This book was really fun but I was taken aback by how one little child recommended another a fetish anime that exists in real life. Children do watch this stuff, I don't think its unrealistic for one to go “just ignore the huge boobs it's cool” but that doesn't mean it's okay to just put that in a book aimed at kids. Similiarly, in another case one tells the other they “need to get disney+”....just a strange choice in an otherwise really good book.
Luchadora! Wallace was a professional for years, and I think that gives authenticity to the training stuff. Very cool. And who doesn't love an underdog?