Warrior Angel - Softcover

Grade 9 Up-Sonny Bear, the youngest fighter ever to win a heavyweight boxing crown, is in trouble. Despite barely winning his last bout, his promoter immediately announces that he will defend his title against a formidable opponent. Clearly, the champ is not physically or emotionally ready for the match. Sonny always seems to be running away, from the reservation and his Native American heritage, from the people who want to control his life, and from his true friends. Starkey, a self-described Warrior Angel, is convinced he is the only person who can help Sonny. Unfortunately, Starkey is in a group home for emotionally disturbed youth, and needs to find a way to get to "The Tomahawk Kid" before it's too late. This thought-provoking, suspenseful, psychological sports thriller makes readers feel as though they are inside the minds of the protagonists. However, some teens may be initially confused when the chapters switch from Sonny's viewpoint to Starkey's, and may have even more difficulty when Starkey begins hearing voices in his head. Many characters from The Contender (1967), The Brave (1993), and The Chief (1995, all HarperCollins) make appearances in this novel and readers who have read at least one of those books will have an easier time sorting out the supporting cast. Lipsyte effectively keeps the action flowing through Sonny's boxing sequences and Starkey's fights with his demons and struggle to complete his Mission in time. The author pulls no punches with the raw, real-life language. This book, along with the earlier titles, will be an easy sell to many teens, especially those enamored with the sports world.
Michael McCullough, Byron-Bergen Middle School, Bergen, NY
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