The novel is told in ten chapters, each opening with a round-by-round description of Sunny’s first fight, a showdown against Keir. As in Shukla’s other work, food, and the preparation of it, is used as a healing and calming presence with great effect. Family, too, is central to the novel: “all that is left when everything is done”. There are many Bristol locations that readers will recognise and the book abounds with a moving sense of humanity. In The Boxer Shukla lays bare the reality of racism in what is a significant addition to his ongoing chronicle of 21st Century Britain. Whether it’s identity, race, politics, our digital addictions, historical trauma, gentrification, family, the precarious future for young people – the Bristol-based writer is establishing a library of work that is essential reading if we are to understand why we are where we are now. year-old Sunil (known as Sunny) moved to Bristol from London 3 months ago with his mum and dad. His dad has a heart condition and the family moved so he could get more specialised help but his dad’s condition has worsened and now he’s in a hospice while his mum works several low-paid jobs trying to keep things together in the flat that they rent. Quiet and reserved, his only friend is Madhu (the first person he met when he started his new college and the only other non-white person who goes there) and all he wants to do is focus on his studies to get into university, like his dad wants. Featuring friendship dynamics, family relationships, racial slurs, far-right radicalisation, and the power to fight for what you feel is right and what truly matters in life, this YA story set over ten rounds of boxing is an interesting, powerful and motivational read for all ages. Although there is some violence and racial abuse, everything is handled with diplomacy but still manages to convey the genuine feelings of teenagers living in an ethnic society and how relationships suffer due to peer pressure and attitudes. I got this from my library as part of a 'Blind Date with a Book' challenge and I did not expect to like it as much as i did!

The Boxer by Nikesh Shukla | Goodreads The Boxer by Nikesh Shukla | Goodreads

When racial tensions rise in the city and a Far Right march turns violent, Sunny is forced to make the hardest choice of all.Like in The Boxer, racists are feeling more confident and less afraid to spew their garbage in public places. Ultimately there’s a lot that’s good in this book and I think that it’s worth a few hours of your time but the central theme of racism and white extremism didn’t come together for me and that is a disappointment.

The Boxer | WEBTOON The Boxer | WEBTOON

However, this book does redeem itself in the fact I personally really enjoyed it towards the end. I know next to nothing about boxing, nor have any interest in it but I still found it entertaining. Sunny's character arc is fairly good. I would suggest this as a book to read when you have no others you desperately want to. it's okay, but not *that* okay. Nikesh Shukla’s latest novel, The Boxer , is out now. For more information, visit https://www.hachettechildrens.co.uk/titles/nikesh-shukla-3/the-boxer/9781444940695/ In March of 2019 It was reported by The Independent that “Racially and religiously aggravated offences recorded by police in England and Wales reached a record high of more than 57,600 in the 12 months to September, after jumping by 7 per cent in a year.”

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Free The Boxer Worksheets and Literature Unit for Teachers - activities, vocabulary, and quizzes | edHelper.com The Boxer, while it is a about a novice boxer, could have more accurately been titled The Anti-Racist.

Boxer - Characters - CCEA - GCSE English Literature - BBC Boxer - Characters - CCEA - GCSE English Literature - BBC

But at the same time, The Boxer is also an optimistic work. Sunny finds a supportive community which feels like a new family, and Shukla’s masterstroke is showing these extremes side by side – the hideous racism and Sunny’s new extended family – the latter enabling Sunny to “feel like myself” and be “no longer afraid”. This is a compelling and important new read by a much-loved author. Much as I love books about London, I appreciate that Nikesh Shukla explores a different city in this book, as we don’t see enough of the rest of Britain in YA. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments Nikesh Shukla writes nuanced books with realistic characters, and always provides heartstopping moments. - Sarah ShaffiBuy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks. Home > It’s where he also befriends Keir, rising star at the gym, and Sunny’s mentor. As the two become closer, Sunny is confronted with the escalating racism in Keir’s family, as it destroys their bond. It’s not just religion or the colour of your skin that can make you a target in the UK. According to The Guardian,“Homophobic and transphobic hate crimes, including stalking, harassment and violent assault, have more than doubled in England and Wales over five years, a Guardian analysis has shown.”