Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Off Color: The Ring

The Ring by Bobbie Pyron 2009

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours." Poster in boxing ring, pg. 193


Mardie is starting to develop a record, she's been at a party with drinking involved that was crashed by the police and she shoplifts. Her father and step mom don't trust her, and all they seem to care about is Mardie's perfect older brother, Michael. But Michael is hiding a big secret. Also, Mardie wants to know more about her mother, but all her dad will tell her is that they are both screw-ups. What is he hiding? Her "boyfriend" Ben, is only interested in one thing, but he keeps Mardie popular and entertained. Then Mardie discovers boxing. She can let all her anger out and oddly enough these girls seem to accept her. Now all she needs to learn is control, how to use a strategy and think before she fights.


I really liked how The Ring emphasizes that boxing is not all about brawn, it's brains over brawn. Sure you have to work hard physically, but you also need to be quick witted. It also really hones in on the point that fighting should be a last resort. Readers will get a glimpse into the world of amateur female boxing, it's not scrutinized but you learn the gist of the rules and what it takes to be a boxer. I admire all female boxers because it takes a lot of work and they don't just beat each other down, they are awarded points based on finesse.


Mardie's story takes place in a small town world in Colorado. The people are often closed minded and everyone's business spreads around fast. Mardie herself is prejudiced without even realizing it, she's scared of the Latino students at her school. I liked that since all people have prejudices whether they know it or not and it makes Mardie a more realistic character. She's also angry and hurt and she needs to learn to open up and let it all out and let it go. All the characters were realistic, although some could be a bit one dimensional. We don't learn much about Kitty, Mardie's trainer, but the few things we do learn are interesting (middle class girl joins the Air Force then becomes a boxer) and I think her story could be a great prequel. Mardie's boyfriend, Ben is a jerk. He's very popular but he only wants Mardie to sleep with him and of course things don't go well when she doesn't want to put out right away. She still pines after him though because she misses going to parties with him and he was cute and lots of fun to be around. In the end we think he may be improving, but it's left open. Mardie's best friend, Alexis doesn't seem like that great of a friend and I think Mardie is a bit too forgiving of her actions. I really liked Mardie's new friends that she met at the boxing ring, Destiny and Shireen. They each taught her lessons in their own way, lessons that Mardie may not have been open to at first, but she needs them later on. I do think part of Michael's secret was obvious, but that's just me.


I applaud the author for highlighting the often ignored world of female boxing. The plot isn't that fast moving, but it's not totally predictable either. The romance is predictable, but some of Mardie's other choices, both good and bad are not so predictable and keep the reader interested.

High school and up.

Disclosure: Received from the author. Thanks Bobbie!

5 comments:

  1. I'm so interested in this book because there aren't a ton of books about women and sport. Great review, thanks for sharing.

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  2. Seeing this review, for a minute I thought I was over at The Happy Nappy Bookseller's blog! :--)

    Happy Holidays!!!!!!!

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  3. Oh I first heard of this from TheHappyNappyBookseller's blog. =D I loooooove the quote she picks out for it and it's great to see more positive responses for this book. There is hardly any female athlete novels out there and I am quite curious about this novel. =D Must check it out.

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  4. Ari, glad you enjoyed it. I really liked Mardie.

    I also appreciated that this wasn't an all White cast, being set in Colorado it could've easily been. The poc also had some back story.

    Ari, I know that the challenge that dear not speak its name, doesn't start until Jan. but this novel was nominated for the American Library Association's Rainbow Project.

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  5. @Jodie- That was my first attraction to the book, it being about a girl playing a sport, specifically boxing which sounded awesome.

    @rhapsody-Thanks for the lovely Christmas card and happy holidays to you as well! I first heard of The Ring at theHappyNappy Bookseller's blog :)

    @Ah yuan-It's a good read and a welcome addition to the female athlete genre =)

    @Doret-I really liked Mardie too, but Kitty and Shireen were my favorites. I agree I liked the back story of the other boxers, but would have liked to learn more about Kitty! Thanks for telling me about the novel being nominated for ALA Rainbow Project. That's very cool and I congratulate the author! This book doesn't apply to the challenge but I'm glad I read it :D

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I love to hear from you!! Thank you for sharing :) And don't be Anon, I try to always reply back and I like to know who I'm replying to ;)