Caged Warrior
by Alan Sitomer
When a teacher takes a special interest in McCutcheon, offering him a future that isn't determined by his fists, he is given a choice for the first time in his life, but it's one that incurs the wrath of both his father and the Priests, the Mafia-like crew that runs Detroit's organized crime and the fighting circuit. For them, McCutcheon is simply a tool to make them money. And when that cash flow is threatened, his father hits McCutcheon where it hurts most -- he hides Gemma and threatens his own son that he'll never see his beloved sister again if he doesn't play by the Priests' rules.
REVIEWS...
"[McCutcheon's] gritty, vernacular narration goes beyond typical teen angst and captures the true spirit of the lowest class, a downtrodden world long left behind by the rest of American culture [...] explosive and engaging." --Kirkus Reviews
"Cringe-worthy scenes abound [...] fast-paced, engrossing, and intense." --School Library Journal
"Sitomer pulls no punches in this novel where fights and life alike are merciless and characterized by grit, blood, endurance, and smarts." --Booklist
"Detailed fight scenes are unsettling [...] while raw depictions of McCutcheon's poverty will have readers feeling his fear and pain. Sitomer examines the repercussions of unflinching dedication to a violent sport, while acknowledging the difficulties inherent in making a change that requires stepping into the unknown." --Publisher's Weekly
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