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A review by alexandriaslibrary
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I love when major publishers take a chance on experimental literature! Headshot is a character study of 8 teenage girl boxers at their national competition in Reno, Nevada. Each chapter is framed as a bout between the girls and is an intense study of what has driven them to this level and how are they different than the girl on the other side of their gloves.
This book will probably not be for everyone, there is no traditional plot, no dialogue, no real physical interaction of the characters outside of sparse boxing lingo (the author is not a boxer and as someone who grew up watching boxing you could feel that). I think by the end of the 7 matches, I was a little tired and mainly motivated to finish out of curiosity for who won. I also think that it was a little difficult to keep track of all 8 boxers, except for the fact that each girl basically got two main personality traits that are repeated on every page (Artemis has sisters, Andi watched a boy drown as a lifeguard, Rachel wears a weird hat).
I really like Bullwinkel's voice and am excited for her future work.
This book will probably not be for everyone, there is no traditional plot, no dialogue, no real physical interaction of the characters outside of sparse boxing lingo (the author is not a boxer and as someone who grew up watching boxing you could feel that). I think by the end of the 7 matches, I was a little tired and mainly motivated to finish out of curiosity for who won. I also think that it was a little difficult to keep track of all 8 boxers, except for the fact that each girl basically got two main personality traits that are repeated on every page (Artemis has sisters, Andi watched a boy drown as a lifeguard, Rachel wears a weird hat).
I really like Bullwinkel's voice and am excited for her future work.