Release: January 22, 2023
Format: Ebook
Publisher: North Star Editions
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, B & N
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What’s more terrifying than being forced into a coed combat wrestling martial art by your own mother? Sixth grade.
Angie Larson hates Jiu-Jitsu. Like many twelve-year-old girls, she fails to find the glamour in a martial art that embraces zero personal space and choking as an end goal. Seriously, people choke her, drip sweat on her face, and even wrap their legs around her neck. It’s the worst. Instead, she idolizes the seemingly perfect kids at her school who do “normal” activities like dance or soccer. But just when it seems like Angie is about to be accepted by them, her mom enrolls her in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament and begins a relationship with the sweatiest coach on the planet. And to make things more complicated, Angie develops a close friendship with a boy who is definitely not part of the “cool” crowd.
Angie must decide who she is while making some painful decisions both on and off the mat. Is she a dance girl, a soccer girl, a nothing girl . . . or a Jiu-Jitsu girl?
About the Author:
Jennifer Dutton is an author of middle grade fiction, a teacher, and a ninja. At the ripe old age of seven she started selling original manuscripts in lieu of lemonade at a neighborhood stand. This tendency progressed to a career writing in the finance industry. In need of a dramatic career change, Jennifer earned a master’s degree in education and has since worked in a variety of elementary and middle grade classrooms where she has the privilege of being a keen observer of the life experience. Her writing reflects the diversity and resilience she witnesses firsthand. After wrestling with kids during the day, she spars with adults at night. She is a black belt in taekwondo and a practitioner of mixed martial arts.
Jiu-jitsu Girl Review:
I really enjoyed Angie’s character as the lead in the story. She’s a relatable girl who wants to fit in and be popular. Still, she ends up taking jiu-jitsu classes because her mom wants her to be able to protect herself. The author does a great job of portraying Angie’s feelings with her friends and family, and the most exciting part of the story is how she handles the drama that unfolds around her.
One of the things I loved about the book was Angie’s friendship with Mina and Carter. Carter, in particular, is this nerdy science enthusiast, and you can’t help but feel for him. My favorite part of the story is when Angie visits his house to work on a science project and spends time with Milly. Similarly, Jade and Mina contribute to Angie’s circle, and their solid and self-confident personalities make Angie a stronger person. I also appreciated Angie’s connection with her mother. No matter what trouble Angie finds herself in, like the hair incident, her mom is always there to support her and help fix the problem.
The author did an excellent job of incorporating the theme of jiu-jitsu into the story. They realistically depicted how brutal it can be, but at the same time, made it sound really cool. Even as an adult, I felt enthusiastic about trying out such a sport after reading about it.
The author also portrayed Olivia, the antagonist, in a way that makes you despise her for bullying Angie. Every good story needs a strong villain, and Olivia fits the mean girl role perfectly. The incidents at Olivia’s party were another standout moment in the book.
In summary, “Jiu-Jitsu Girl” is a delightful middle-grade contemporary novel that’s definitely worth a read.
