# The Boxer

**Author:** Kathleen Karr
**Grade range:** Grades 4–9
**First published:** 2004
**Page count:** 176
**Genre:** Children's
**ISBN-13:** `9780374408862`
**ISBN-10:** `0374408866`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-boxer
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Hard-hitting historical fiction Ever since his father ran off two years before, fifteen-year-old Johnny Woods has struggled to help support his ma and five siblings, sacrificing his own schooling in the process. Still, there's been hardly enough money each month to make the rent, and Johnny's dream of a house in Brooklyn, away from the tenement slums, is out of reach. Then Johnny discovers boxing. He is a natural-born fighter, with street smarts, determination, and an explosive uppercut. Although boxing is illegal in 1885 New York, Johnny powers his way through every obstacle, believing he has found the means to raise himself and his family out of poverty. But as he moves closer to his biggest fight yet, Johnny must reconcile his need to help his loved ones with a sharpening desire to achi

## Where this book is assigned

### Golden Kite Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2001 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2001 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2001 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2001 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2001 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 9th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2001 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)

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