Many of the characters are one-dimensional, and I would have especially liked to see more of Amit, beyond him serving Kareena. While I enjoyed the concept of this book, there are a few elements that fell flat for me. I loved how Kareena continues to do what she loves regardless of judgment from others, and it is easy to feel her passion for Muay Thai. She doesn’t feel “Indian enough,” and feels alienated from the community, partially because of her involvement in Muay Thai. Further, Kareena’s character sparks discussions of cultural identity. However, she never complains about this or uses it as an excuse. She is a talented Muay Thai fighter who is also dealing with her father’s illness. Kareena herself is an incredibly strong main character, both physically and mentally. I am also a big fan of books featuring women in sports and women in STEM, and the feminist messages in this one are strong since Kareena falls under both categories. I have never read a book about Muay Thai before, and learning about the sport was interesting to me. At the same time, she finds herself getting closer with a boy she tutors in computer science at her school. This book follows Kareena, a Muay Thai fighter who gets the opportunity to compete in the US Muay Thai Open and overcomes many obstacles to get there. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Kareena’s bid for the Olympics could very well make history–if she has the courage to go for it. Admitting her feelings for Amit will cost Kareena more than just her pride–she’ll have to face his parents’ disapproval, battle her own insecurities, and remain focused for the big fight. Which is inconvenient, since she’s starting to fall for Amit Patel, who just might be the world’s most perfect Indian.

Despite pleasing her parents, exceling at school, and making plans to get her family out of debt, Kareena’s never felt quite Indian enough, and her training is only making it worse. If only her sport wasn’t seen as something too rough for girls, something she’s afraid to share with anyone outside of her family. She’s landed the chance of a lifetime, an invitation to the US Muay Thai Open, which could lead to a spot on the first-ever Olympic team. If seventeen-year-old Kareena Thakkar is going to alienate herself from the entire Indian community, she might as well do it gloriously. A rising star in Muay Thai figures out what (and who) is worth fighting for in this #ownvoices YA debut full of heart.

The Knockout by Sajni Patel