Side Control

The Dojo #2

by Patrick Jones

Jackson James wants three to succeed in MMA, to join the military like his father, and to protect his little brother from ending up in trouble like he did. But it's a challenge to stay in control of his life at school, at home, and at the dojo―especially with the distraction of Tyresha Harris, one of the new female fighters. When faced with tough choices, can Jackson learn to make the right ones inside the cage and out?

124 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Patrick Jones is the author of five realistic teen novels, most recently Stolen Car((Walker / Bloomsbury, 2008). His first young adult novel Things Change (Walker & Company, 2004) was named by the Young Adult Library Services Association as a best book for reluctant readers, and was runner-up in the Teen Buckeye Book Award selected by Ohio teens. His second novel Nailed was published by Walker / Bloomsbury in spring 2006 and was a runner-up for the Great Lake Book Award. His 2007 novel, Chasing Tail Lights, is nominated for the Minnesota Books Awards. His most recent (and last) professional publication is Connecting with Reluctant Readers (Neal-Schuman, 2006). In 2006, he won lifetime achievement awards from both the Catholic Library Association, and the American Library Association. Jones is a frequent speaker at library conferences, having visited all fifty states, as well as in Canada, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Jones grew up in Flint, Michigan, but now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read more at his web page www.connectingya.com, including FAQs about Things Change and Nailed (perfect for book reports!). NOTE: After a bruising experience with another author, he's limited his reviews on Good Reads to only raves as not to disturb the "fellowship" of YA writers.

Reviews

[Jimmy Clifford]

Side control is a book about a boy who is joining the military. His father was also in the military so that is what inspired him. The book mostly talks about his experience in training for the military and his relationship with friends and family. I personally did not enjoy this book because I think it was boring. There was not many entertaining parts of the story and I often drifted off while reading.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jackson James is still trying to stay on the straight and narrow path after briefly getting off track. He uses the discipline he learns at the dojo to strengthen himself mentally and physically through mixed martial arts. But he has several issues that kept distracting him: his younger brother's involvement with illegal activities, his school work, his growing attraction to a girl at the dojo, and his own volatile temper. While he tries to make the right choices, Jackson also wants to live up to the expectations his own father had for him before he died. Teen readers will be caught up into Jackson's story and the very real dilemmas he faces.