Fight Game

Fight Game #1

by Kate Wild

A fast-reading thriller with an extrasensory twist, told by a rebellious gypsy boy who lives by his wits--and his fists.

When rogue gypsy boy Freedom Smith runs into trouble with the law, he strikes a deal with the Instead of going to prison for a crime he didn't commit, he'll go undercover -- and underground -- using his incredible strength and boxing skills to infiltrate a nefarious, high-tech fight club known as The Bear Pit. His to save other street children from the terrible fate the Pit has in store for them. Freedom thinks he can trust Java, his newfound friend, with his secret life. If only he knew that this high-spirited, upper-class girl has a secret of her own....

Genres: Young Adult, Adventure, Crime, Teen

279 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sheralyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very promising premise, and although the author appears to understand gypsies, she clearly has never been in any of the fights she's trying to describe-- and considering this book is all about fighting, that's a problem.

Freedom is supposed to be the most gentically gifted fighter possibly existing on the planet. He comes by through his ancestry--each generation seemingly becoming stronger than the one before. But the action the author uses to prove this a) nearly always shows the Freedom losing to completely mediocre/inept opponents and b) was lame. I'm biased, however, since I'm a former ring fighter. The plot elements were clearly over-simplified, too, but maybe kids wouldn't notice that. The character Java is great, but unrealistically resourceful in her ability to track the hyper-aware Freedom's every move without him noticing.

All that said, I'd probably read the sequel.

[Easton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johny would always try to get into fights and he didn't care how much bigger the other person is he would still try to start and pick a fight.

[Hermione Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

Da dimenticare



Non mi stupisco nel constatare che questa scrittrice è caduta nell'oblio. Ma come fa una donna adulta a cercare di impersonare un ragazzino nomade? Non ci riesce e infatti, a meno che non sei un grande scrittore, il risultato è una schifezza come questa. Patetico, uno stile di scrittura insopportabile. Scritto in una improbabile prima persona, non fa altro che dire che pensa come un rettile e lo ripete fino allo sfinimento. Come intercalare in italiano c’è "Caz," ma come si fa? È una difficile lettura. Insopportabile.

L’età del target di lettura è molto bassa, questo libro va bene solo per chi non ne ha mai letto uno, mentre per tutti gli altri risulterà ridicolo e a volte anche imbarazzante. Non solo per come è scritto ma anche per la trama stessa.

La scrittura è piatta, senza passione. Sulla copertina c’è scritto che questa donna (difficile chiamarla una scrittrice) prima si occupava di fare documentari ed è rimasta affascinata da un documentario sui nomadi. Si vede che non c’entra niente con questa popolazione e che ha fatto finta di esserne parte solo per sentito dire. Raccapricciante.

Ma come le è venuto in mente di fingersi un nomade teenager? Forse voleva fare loro un omaggio, ma è risultato patetico.

Questa donna resta sconosciuta sul web, se ne sono perse le tracce e pochissimi hanno letto questo libro. Sembra che faccia parte di una saga; probabilmente l’editore le aveva proposto un contratto, poi è finita nel dimenticatoio per fortuna.

La trama è priva di logica, sembra copiata da qualcosa che ha sentito e poi ha cercato di metterci un tocco personale, creando un mix di cliché e luoghi comuni, spunti copiati in malo modo. Come se non bastasse, non c’è niente di credibile. Non ha creato un mondo fantasy, ma ha cercato di rimanere nella realtà introducendo combattimenti tra ragazzini nel sottosuolo per opera di un cattivissimo che ovviamente è contrastato da un’organizzazione super segreta chiamata "La Fenice." Persino il nome manca di originalità.

È una di quelle classiche storie in cui i ragazzini capiscono tutto, sanno fare tutto, aiutano gli adulti che altrimenti non saprebbero come risolvere problemi gravissimi mondiali e dimostrano che loro avevano sempre ragione e gli adulti non hanno mai capito niente. Questa è una trama che andava bene per chi faceva le elementari di vent’anni fa, perché ormai credo che anche i bambini delle elementari riderebbero di un romanzo così. Inoltre, il libro è scritto in modo piuttosto denso e credo che questa donna non abbia proprio capito cosa voleva fare. Ha pensato di scrivere un libro come se fosse semplice, ma purtroppo non ha la passione giusta, non ha messo se stessa in nessun personaggio, forse perché non c’è niente di lei che ha reputato abbastanza interessante da poter alimentare un buon personaggio. Scrittori si diventa e lei non ha mai coltivato questa passione, è palese.

Un libro che ho preso a caso in biblioteca, uno di quei libri che i bibliotecari trovano abbandonati e impolveratinegli scaffali e mettono sul tavolo per invogliare i lettori. Comunque, è interessante capire che razza di storie hanno la possibilità di essere pubblicate, è sempre una sorpresa.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild, Kate Fight Game, 304 p. Scholastic -

Freedom Smith's small Gypsy family has been trying to find a place where they can settle for a time, to let the little ones grow up in peace, but the townfolk around them have other plans. Defending his family, Johnny is now in major trouble with the law, but he is offered a deal. Use the fight skills he inherited from his famous many-greats-grandfather and infiltrate the seedy, dangerous world of an underground fight that has been going on non-top for decades. What Johnny doesn't know is that those weird dreams he has are really flashbacks - and something sinister, with his own genetic makeup, is waiting to challenge him.

Definitely a book for the harder edged kids. I really like the fact that though the book is extremely gritty and dangerous, the author doesn't not use swear words as a crutch and the violence is just what is needed to make the point, without become excessive and voyeuristic. Note: This post corrects my website that listed the main character's name incorrectly. You can visit Kate Wild's site at www.fightgame.co.uk.

MS-ESSENTIAL

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the story, but it was executed poorly. The same analogies were used over and over again and sometimes I was confused as to where the characters were as descriptors were poor. The "romance" part was just sort of thrown in as an after thought and Java seemed like a small child at some times and a grown woman at others.

[Ryne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not very deep. It is very fun. I liked the narrative voice of the protagonist and the fact that he was a Traveler (aka Gypsy).

[xXEdgy OutsiderXx · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the fights an story of dna testing

[Secret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant thrilling story well worth reading. Seeing both sides of gang and government fighting to get Freedom on their side.

[JesseMiramontes]

It is an amazing book and I would highly suggest it. Just the way he was able to think at a fast pace and fight for the right reasons amazed me. It had me a little confused about what he was gonna do but he made the book interesting. I loved it and is one of the very few books that I would actually enjoy reading again.

[Jonathan]

Fight Game by Kate Wild is a thrill ride and a page turner.As soon as I.picked the book up i couldn't take my eyes off of the exciting pages.Fight Game is about a Gypsy boy named Freedom Smith who has a great gen pool,his Great Grandfather Hercules was a great fighter, now young Freedom has all of his great grandfathers traits from his fighting ability to his keen senses.

But one night as Freedom, his sister Crystal,and there family are in their campers for the night some local skin heads come and start trouble for Freedom and his family by setting fire to their camp sit.

By being the fighter Freedom is and the protective person he is he strings into action, but in the heat of the fight one of the skin heads gets chased into the street and hit by a speeding car, and all blame is pointed on poor Freedom who in his life was never a poster child for good behavior or being a big fan of the cops.

As he is being questioned by an officer they decide to place Freedom under arrested for attempted murder,but low and behold there are higher powers who call for Freedoms help.So he is called upon my a secret agency called Phoenix to help them infiltrate an underground fighting club ran by a man named Darius Knight,at first Freedom is against working for Phoenix because as he put is Gypsies don't work for the police because they are nothing but trouble, But Wren the agent assigned to watch over Freedom and help brief him on the case helps him change his mind real quick. By telling Freedom if he helped to bring down Darius and his fight club he would be cleared of all charges against him, but if not he would be charged for murder.


So Freedom sets out to make everything right in his life to make everyone see that he isn't the bad and troublesome boy everyone thinks him to be,Freedom wants to only protect his family and make sure they live the life they deserve,in this novel we see what happens when you fight for what you believe in and fight for the ones you love and what is right Kate Wild does a great job detailing Freedoms search for redemption in this fantastic novel.

[Nick Honor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have just finished reading Fight Game by Kate Wild. This book was very intense and intriguing, it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. Wild describes lots of the scenes that take place and is very graphic about what happens. The main character, Freedom Smith, is accused of pushing his friend in front of a bus which eventually ran the kid over. To drop the charges, Freedom has to go undercover as an agent and try to figure out how this never ending fighting game is going on. Freedom is a very skilled fighter but seems to get himself in trouble at the wrong time.

"Have you anything on you that could harm me or yourself?" (Wild 27). This quote is at the exact moment that Freedom Smith was getting arrested by the cop for his suspicion of throwing his friend in front of the bus. At first, Freedom decided not to listen to the cops because his reptile ego go to him, he believes that reptiles don't listen to anyone. This books suspense keeps on going from here.

Freedom remains true and authentic by questioning the cops and wondering if they will actually arrest him. Freedom is known for his fathers past street fighting but the cops noticed something different about him, maybe his attitude or the way he handles tough situations? This is how we forms his own identity in a world telling us what we should be.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about action and suspense. Fight Game goes through a series of events leading up to the surprising ending. This book really makes you wonder what will happen next, that's why once you read it, it is very hard to put it down.

[Austin Moody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fight Game by Kate Wild is about a boy named Freedom Smith who is a bare knuckle fighter. He has a gene that was passed down from his triple great grandfather. This gene allows him to do amazing things like climb and jump far. However many people are after this gene. Including Darcus Knight, a man that runs an illegal underground fight club.

Freedom has a sense I guess you could say. Kate Wild describes it as a reptile sense. It helps him sense danger. This sense really helps after Freedom accidentally pushes a boy in front of a bus. The police are all over him even though the boy was going to light his families trailer on fire. All because he has no proof about the boy about to light the fire.

Kate Wild puts this book in almost third person but not quite. She is amazing at describing what happens. It's almost as if your there right next to Freedom.

This is when Wren shows up. Wren says he works for Phoenix, a top secret agency that studies myths. This is when Wren asks (no demands) Freedom to go undercover so Phoenix can stop the illegal fight club. Freedom joins the fight club but first meets Java Sparrows. Her brother Johnny has gone missing. Freedom thinks that Darcus has taken Johnny (who ran away from home same as Java) to fight in the illegal fight club. So Freedom decides to help Java find her brother.

You will not want to put the book down until your finished with the last sentence it is so exciting. There is much more in this book. If you want to find out what happens read Fight Game by Kate Wild.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Fight Game by Kate Wild is a great, fun read. In this book, the main character's name is Freedom Smith and he is a special sort of mutant. He and his many forefathers have inherited a gene called the Hercules gene, coming from the original Smith, Hercules Smith. He has enhanced fighting technique and skill and he also has reflexes like a reptile. Freedom always seems to get into some sort of trouble with either the police or just gets into trouble with the neighborhood kids. This causes him and his family to always be and trouble and to constantly move. After one of his many moves Freedom has a slight incident that brings him in contact with the police. The police offer to clear up his name if he joins in on their side to stop a very strong, secret organization and to infiltrate their headquarters. He'll have to overcome many challenges in order to get in and get out alive. I liked this book because it was a lot like some other action-packed books that I have read before like Alex Rider and Conspiracy 365. Also, this book portrays the main character as an underdog who has to work his way to overcome challenges and books like that keep me hooked. If anyone wants to read a good, action-packed fiction book than this is the book for you.

[Jonathan Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book "Fight Game" I rated four stars because it had me hooked from the beginning but at the same time it took a while to get really interesting. I can't say I can relate to this book much because he's growing up fighting for his life underground to make money. While I get things handed down to me as a teenager. Technically we have completely different life styles. The book was really good I highly recommend people to read it. If you like action books. The summary of the story is about a boy Freedom Smith who got passed down a gene from his triple great grandaddy that gave him the gift to fight. He was a homeless boy who lived on the street and roofs of city buildings. He was an orphan. He didn't know much about his parents at all. He used his great gift of fighting to earn easy money to live off of for food and shelter. He needed all the help he could get. His triple great grandaddy was a fighting legend. It all came to them naturally. They could fight so good. It gave them huge advantages in battles or in the ring. I loved this book I definitely think they should make a movie about this book. It would be great. I would for sure go to watch it. I hope to read the second book for the 3rd nine weeks if I can find it. He had it hard as a kid, he grew up fighting from 15 when he found out he had a secret talent. Which is his unbelievable fighting.

[Luisa Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one last fall but just found my notes on it! In Fight Game by Wild Freedom Hercules Smith was named after his great great grandfather Hercules who had been an incredible fighter. There’s something odd in their Gypsy blood that allows Freedom to slip into reptile mode when doing things like running from police or fighting. After almost killing a would-be arsonist who had attempted to burn his sister’s trailer with her family inside, a man in a black BMW offers him a proposition: “'We need a young boy, one who can fight. One who doesn't exist. . . . You're unique, Smith. We want you,'” (p 33). What he wants Freedom for is to uncover a bizarre underground (literally and figuratively) fight club. He explains that Phoenix, a group that investigates the incredible and unbelievable is trying to bust Darcus Knight and the longest-running fight in the world. Then he meets Java Sparrow, a rich girl looking for her brother who disappeared. Throw in some creepy gene-splicing and you’ve got a crazy, twisted, violent book. Just my style!

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was brought to my attention by an 8th grade boy who never read much, but could not get enough of this series. That’s a winner of a recommendation for me, so I knew I had to find out what it was about. Whatever you do, do NOT listen to the audiobook! It just ruined the whole thing for me and I could barely get through it without laughing. The male narrator does an admirable job on Freedom, but everything else is hideous (Java, Ant, Darkus – awful). I started this book in July 2012 and just kept stopping my listening because it irritated me so much.

I think kids could probably get over the silliness of some of the details in order to enjoy the story. I would have appreciated it more if it was only about Freedom and the fight club. I think Darkus could have been a menacing figure without bringing in all the gene-splicing, altar worshipping, zombie brainwashing. The dark side of human nature works just fine in fiction without the extra fantastical stuff.

[gunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a blast! This one's a page turner, as addictive as the fights it illustrates. If you've read the Fearless series by Francine Pascal, or the Alex Rider books, this one's something of a spawn of the two. There's undercover work by a fight recruit called Freedom Smith, who's gifted with his great great great (lost count how many) grandfather's rogue DNA makeup - the Hercules gene. It's nothing to do with Greek or Roman mythology. I'm not a fighter myself, but whatever Kate writes, Kate's being very convincing. I enjoyed this book. It's not the most memorable nor the best written, but it was a good read. The whole premise isn't original, but it's a good spawn of the original, like Freedom Smith.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read. There were some redeeming qualities, but for the most part, it was a tad on the ridiculous side. I sort of dig on the idea of a kid who has the ability to fight and destroy and not feel a thing in the process. The only aspect I'm not really into is the whole concept of the fight. I can handle some violent concepts, but for adolescents, well, it was a little over the top. I like the idea of not fighting to fight, which is one thing that Freedom Smith, the protagonist, does. So, when it comes down to it, I approve. I am excited for the next one. I do hope that Wild continues to keep Freedom the type of fighter who chooses not to fight to fight. Good stuff.

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freedom Smith, a gypsy kid, has a knack of getting into fights and suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of the law. He gets a second chance at redemption, by leaving his family and going undercover to break up an illegal exclusive fight club. Kids are plucked from the streets, brainwashed into fighting the never-ending fight which can lead to a brutal fate. Can Freedom right the wrong in his life, save the kids who have been damned, without being lost forever? A real action packed thriller!

[Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

fight game is a good book and Fight Game is, no doubt, intended for the action readers, so for me fight game has been the most interesting book so far and i like it because it talks about the streets and how freedom smith has to survive and how he is running from the police so i find it mysterious book too, because they don't share much information about freedom smith and why he has a reptile side, a beast in him so its a mysterious and has alot of action so read it and don't read it if you are not into action books so again read it..

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book mainly because I love lots of action. What really hooked me was the intro and it was quite fascianating. The story is about a boy Freedom Smith, he is assigned by an undercover cop to go and investigate this fight club. Freedom is a strong teenager with super strength, endurance, and speed. He is born to fight. My favorite quote is "He is bringing a world of hurt". The author really brings the story to life with all the words. I would reccomend this to people who love fast paced adventuer.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gypsy boy Freedom gets caught up in a bad situation and must work for the police to infiltrate an illegal fighting match and break it up. Along the way he also decides to help a girl find her missing brother, whom they suspect is also involved with the fight. Better read than it sounds, very believable and poignant interaction between Freedom and Java (the love interest).

[Zach Hawthorne]

awesome book...especially liked it because I was able to know where Freedom was coming from and knew what he was going through.

I would recommend this book to people enjoy fighting and it is a supence so it will keep you on your feet. The author of this book uses really good voice so it will seem like you are in the story.

overal good book and definatly recommended.

[VAle · Rating 1 out of 5]

preso in biblioteca

Letto perchè segnalato in una bibliografia, ho fatto una gran fatica a non piantarlo dopo le prime 20 pagine e ho continuato a faticare fino alla fine.
La trama è debole, la narrazione proprio non ne vuol sapere di decollare. Linguaggio pulito, scene di lotta edulcoratissime... Più che un libro per giovani adulti, un libro per ragazzini, e nemmeno dei migliori.

[Lakedaemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars is what I'm really leaning toward.

A few moments I couldn't suspend disbelief, but a pretty good, fast paced and original story.

I gave this to my 18-year-old brother who does not read very much. He had this finished in a week and really enjoyed it.

[Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out with promise. I liked the characters, the moral dilema and the developing premise, but as the story line continued it went from a bit hard to believe, to pretty implausible to simply ridiculous.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because it was a beehive award nominee and I really did like it. It is about a gypsy boy who makes a bad decision and to clear his name he 'works' with the police to infiltrate an underground fighting ring.

[Benjamin Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I am going to like this series . . . A boy with incredible strength who chooses to do the right thing(most of the time.) Plus, a organization that investigates supernatural events. . . I have to go deeper into the books, though.

[Scott Kondraschow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting YA read, focusing on performance enhancing drugs, and if you're a fan of the movie "Snatch" it has some similar insights into gypsie lifestyle/traditions & bareknuckle boxing. Not the most exciting of reads, but it was a decent book to pick up and get through for a summer read.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would like this book but after a few chapters I was hooked. Looks of action for the boys.