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Red Kicks
Caley’s new home is much different than the disciplined but comfortable life he was used to. As a rising martial arts champion whose adoptive father produces martial arts movies, Caley’s danger comes in the form of formal competitions not the daily fear of gang violence.
But the change also brings new opportunities. For the first time, Caley has a real friend, Quinn, and he is attending school instead of his usual on-set tutoring. As their friendship grows, Quinn guides Caley through the maze of gang wars and rivalries while trying to discover his own place in his world.
Among the people that Caley befriends, six year old Nicky strikes a chord in Caley that he can’t explain. He feels like he needs to protect the child from the brutality of his life. Nicky’s sudden disappearance brings Caley full circle to confront his own forgotten past as Quinn learns the real meaning of loyalty and friendship.
jerjonji’s new novel exposes the realities of gang life without stereotyping characters. The characterization of gang leaders and street people as well as doctors and film producers is rich and vibrant. Praised as her best novel yet, Red Kicks is a well told tale that will appeal to both teens and adults alike.
But the change also brings new opportunities. For the first time, Caley has a real friend, Quinn, and he is attending school instead of his usual on-set tutoring. As their friendship grows, Quinn guides Caley through the maze of gang wars and rivalries while trying to discover his own place in his world.
Among the people that Caley befriends, six year old Nicky strikes a chord in Caley that he can’t explain. He feels like he needs to protect the child from the brutality of his life. Nicky’s sudden disappearance brings Caley full circle to confront his own forgotten past as Quinn learns the real meaning of loyalty and friendship.
jerjonji’s new novel exposes the realities of gang life without stereotyping characters. The characterization of gang leaders and street people as well as doctors and film producers is rich and vibrant. Praised as her best novel yet, Red Kicks is a well told tale that will appeal to both teens and adults alike.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2013
232 people want to read
About the author
Jerjonji
4 books17 followersWhen I was three years old I lugged around a scruffy leather briefcase filled with pads of yellow lined paper and well-chewed pencils. They claim if you asked me what was in it, I'd say my book.
Panda Girl is not my first book. It is actually my 5th book, just the first one published. Book #2, Four Winds, is under contract currently as well.
Instead of an old briefcase, yellow legal pads, and chewed pencils, I have a keyboard with worn keys. But I am still write... that's what writers do! ;)
Oh the works I've not written yet... can't wait for you to read them and let me know what you think!
Panda Girl is not my first book. It is actually my 5th book, just the first one published. Book #2, Four Winds, is under contract currently as well.
Instead of an old briefcase, yellow legal pads, and chewed pencils, I have a keyboard with worn keys. But I am still write... that's what writers do! ;)
Oh the works I've not written yet... can't wait for you to read them and let me know what you think!
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 25, 2014
This book was received as a giveaway from Goodreads.
This novel was engaging from the start. The main characters were developed well through out the book. The interweaving of complex social issues with the young teenager"s responses in such grave situations was handled brilliantly by the author. It was a heart wrenching read in many places.
However the novel needed to be edited more closely for punctuation errors and changes of font throughout. For an Australian audience the title was confusing as we have no understanding of what "kicks" are. I could not relate the title to the story unless you saw it only as a reference to martial arts which I am assuming it is not. Having said this, for Australian readers it will be an eye-opener into how gangs operate as the majority of us in rural Australia have no idea. This background setting to the story made it even more poignant.
This novel was engaging from the start. The main characters were developed well through out the book. The interweaving of complex social issues with the young teenager"s responses in such grave situations was handled brilliantly by the author. It was a heart wrenching read in many places.
However the novel needed to be edited more closely for punctuation errors and changes of font throughout. For an Australian audience the title was confusing as we have no understanding of what "kicks" are. I could not relate the title to the story unless you saw it only as a reference to martial arts which I am assuming it is not. Having said this, for Australian readers it will be an eye-opener into how gangs operate as the majority of us in rural Australia have no idea. This background setting to the story made it even more poignant.
April 24, 2014
A good book all in all. Some things I had a hard time wrapping my head around and my eyes kind of glazed on.
But the story of a bond of a friendship and the power it has is a powerful and inspiring line of this book.
But the story of a bond of a friendship and the power it has is a powerful and inspiring line of this book.
March 25, 2015
POWERFUL! Everybody no matter what age should read this book. If nothing else the lessons that you take away from this will help so much in time. Jerijongi hit a home run in the book!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews