THE BOXER AND THE SPY
Robert B. Parker
Puffin/Penguin Young Readers Group
Mystery
Hardcover: 9780399247750
Paperback: 9780142414392
224 pages

Fifteen-year-old Terry Novak has two hobbies: learning to box with former fighter George and trying to talk his best friend Abby into kissing him --- and maybe more. A new pastime comes his way when local teen Jason Green washes up on the tide near their small town. Jason was quiet and unassuming, yet his death is blamed on suicide caused by steroid usage. Terry can’t believe that is what happened; he thinks Jason had help dying and is determined to prove it.

Terry’s father lost his life at his job in an electrical plant a few years ago, and Jason’s dad passed away some time earlier. Terry remembers that Jason is the only one who offered him words of comfort, and though they did not have much to do with each other since then, he can’t let go of this mystery.

Abby is smart and a great confidant, not to mention beautiful --- at least in Terry’s eyes. Terry begins to ask around school and town about the side-effects of steroids. He doesn’t think it can cause people to go crazy enough that they would want to kill themselves. Abby keeps track of all the research and comments they collect. Then Terry is told by the school principal to stop nosing around in things that aren’t his business. He is also warned by Kip, a top athlete and bully. Abby steps up her game to become an official spy who runs a spy network. The teens in the town begin to watch the principal, as well as Kip. A new home built by high school design students and some local officials also seem to be involved. The kids know something is going on, and as the reports around town come in about the activities of the two people, pieces start coming together.

Frequent workouts with George become frustrating. How will he know what to do in a real fight? When will he know he’s ready? Terry even brings Abby in to a practice session, and she’s surprised by this side of him she has not seen before. Who is he becoming?

The warnings to stop asking about Jason and steroids don’t let up. Terry is threatened with suspension, and Abby is cornered by Kip. He does not intend to let a threat to her go unanswered. Soon this fight pulls in everything Terry knows about boxing, fighting and control. He’s aware that, when it’s important, you have to fight for what is right.

Robert B. Parker is the author of the Spenser series for adults, and this is his second teen mystery (following EDENVILLE OWLS). While it is easy to tell who some of the villains are in this story, the hows and whys will keep readers wondering until the end. What really makes the book such a page turner is the way that Terry grows and steps up to the ring to make this terrible situation right. His romantic tension with Abby is fun and quite realistic, as the two friends struggle with the line of when to become something more. Parker is sure to find new young adult fans with THE BOXER AND THE SPY.

    --- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

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