Eight Times Up

by John Corr

Ever since his mom left, Riley has been a mess. He feels nervous all the time. His heart pounds, his neck is tight, and he can't seem to turn off his brain. His dad signs him up for aikido, hoping it will help.

In the dojo, Riley meets boys who are much rougher than he is and a girl who is tougher than all the rest of them put together. For Wafaa, aikido is not her first choice. She was disqualified from competing in judo for wearing a hijab. From the first time she steps on the mat, it's clear she is far more skilled than anyone expected.

Through the teachings of their sensei, Riley and his classmates come to understand that aikido is not about winning or losing or about being perfect. Sensei shows them how to tap into their inner strength and find their place in the universe.

Genres: Young Adult, Canada

224 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2019

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion, and all of the words below are my own.

This book is so good. I wish I had read more books like this when I was still at the middle grad reading level. It's a bit simple for me now, but still has a super important message and unique characters!

I don't know anything about aikido so this was a cool way to learn about it but also a great way to teach younger people about not resorting to violence on the face of anger and anxiety. The writing style was smooth and easy to follow (somewhat surprising for a debut), perfect for the intended age range.

I would highly suggest this even if you, like me, are not still in the 8-12 age range of reading levels! It's rare and refreshing to read about a hijabi character, and I look forward to seeing more from this author.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this as a arc book from a site that I am a member of called library thing. It was a good book. It is made for middle school readers but it has a good story to it. It is my first book by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

[Janice Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast read about ten year old Riley whose father is looking to help him deal with his anxiety and gives Riley a choice between aikido and yoga. Riley chooses aikido and the story details his experiences going to the dojo, meeting the four other students in his class, and eventually becoming more confident in handling the "surge"; the overwhelming flood of anxiety that complicates his ability to feel normal. I have a friend whose son suffers from anxiety and I feel that Corr represents the anxiety very realistically.
I enjoyed the story but would have liked the characters to be fleshed out a bit more. We learn enough about Wafaa to be satisfied since her back story gets revealed, but I'd have liked to have known more about Zack, Dion and Joe and what led them to aikido as well. I'd also like to have had some insight into whether Riley's aikido experience was making his school life any more bearable and whether he even told anyone he was going to classes.
I chose to buy this book because the author lives close by, and the former school librarian in me likes supporting local children's authors in their debuts. I would definitely read something else written by Corr and will be adding this book to the latest box of book I booktalk and then donate to one of my previous schools.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful story for middle grade readers. It follows Riley who is coping with anxiety after his mom left him and his dad. Riley’s dad signs him up for Aikido classes because he read somewhere that Aikido will help “easy a troubled young mind.” Riley is hesitant at first but starts to enjoy taking the classes. What seems like a simple story actually deals with some pretty complex life issues. First, Riley is dealing with his mom leaving. He’s also coping with anxiety. At Aikido he has to learn to work with new friends and there’s also an important thread in the story about one of the girls in his Aikido group named Wafaa who wears a hijab. We later learn she’s been bullied in the past for wearing the hijab during sports and there’s an important lesson in the end about diversity, tolerance and sticking up for your friends.

As a librarian I’m a fan of Orca books for their hi/low appeal and they are great for reluctant readers. This book is no different. It’s a great story for any middle grade reader and will appeal to many kids giving them a launching point to talk about some important life issues.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riley’s mom left a letter for him and his dad saying that she’d be back once she felt better but she didn’t say when, or even if she’d return, and now Riley’s anxiety feels like it’s getting out of hand too. Sweaty, angry, and heart racing, he feels the same overwhelming surges of emotion that seemed to have driven his mom away.

As if things aren’t bad enough, Riley’s dad tells him that he recently read that exercise might be the perfect way to help him calm down and ease his anxiety so now Riley’s got to choose between yoga or Aikido, and if he won’t choose then his dad will. Looks like Aikido it is.

Sensei Rick says Aikido is all about being prepared for the unexpected and as Riley soon discovers that it doesn’t take long for him to start noticing the changes in himself. He feels stronger, less angry, and doesn’t seem to be having “the surge” as often anymore. That he’s learning more about himself and making friends too is a bonus that he had never anticipated.

Author John Corr explores the issue of anxiety in children in a sensitive way and with a young, likeable character who is dealing with issues that many middle years children can relate to.

I am pleased to have been selected as a December LibraryThing book winner.

[Jarrett Mazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

In John Corr's debut novel, the author captures the heart and spirit of martial arts, while including a thoughtful, heartfelt coming-of-age story about a boy trying to conquer his loneliness after his mother leaves him and his dad.

John Corr nails the childhood interaction among the characters, with Riley, Zack, and Dion really embodying adolescence, keeping the dialogue cool, and sharp, not to mention dropping a few quips along the way, it was truly a treasure to see how the kids interact.

In addition to this, John also includes a strong message, with a character, Wafaa, a Muslim who was forced to leave Judo because of rules and regulations regarding her hijab. This presents another layer of storytelling and another conflict as well. However, John handles it with grace, using the art Aikido to show another contrast, not only pertaining to Wafaa, and Riley, but also to Aikido and other martial arts: victory over oneself is the most difficult victory to attain.

Being a practitioner of art myself, I can wholeheartedly state that this book is a wonderful read. It is beautifully written, quick-witted, funny, intelligent, with a powerful message about community, loyalty, and friendship. Go out and buy yourself a copy! You won't regret it.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a journalist, and when I was in Hamilton, I often interviewed this wonderful man named Dennis. He was a scientist who operated a mobile unit that measured air quality, so he could speak knowledgeably about air quality in a southern Ontario industrial city. You can see why he was fascinating to talk to.

One day, he brought in a book he said was written by his son. When you're a journalist, people are constantly trying to pitch their books to you. Writing a book is hard, getting it published is harder, and SELLING a book...well, it can feel impossible. But it was Dennis, who said it was actually really, really good, and he wasn't just saying that because his son had written it.

We didn't read it or cover it. In journalism, you don't get to a lot of things people pitch. But I grabbed the book and just now read it. And John's dad is right. It's a wonderful book.

It's middle grade, pretty straightforward. A boy who needs to find his confidence and place in the world finds it through teamwork and sport. A solid message I would recommend for anyone age appropriate - especially boys, who need things like this to read.

[Sylvia McNicoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who practised judo and also enrolled my three kids, this story brought back great memories of the philosophy as well as some of the Japanese behind Martial Arts. We can all still count in Japanese. Judo does incorporate some aikido in its practise. Eight Times Up demonstrates Aikido.

This is a good story to introduce or support martial arts practise for kids. Standing up for your friends, standing up to bullies and even a harsh teacher, all of these practises are invoked and endorsed in Eight Times Up. Discipline and good morals help you get past some anxieties in your life—also a great story endorsement.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple narrative about a boy who takes up Akido because his father feels it will help with the anxiety attacks he has suffered since his mother left. Neither the anxiety nor the mother's absence takes up much room in the story and become unimportant, unexplored elements. The novel's focus is on Riley's interactions with the other kids, notably the Muslim girl whose hijab is a key plot element. Overall, an enjoyable read but unexciting.

Thank you to Orca Books who were kind enough to send me this copy for review.

[Christine Deeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! My son (8 yrs old) is reading it and I started reading it because he was so excited about it. Some great messages in there for any young person. Parents- get your child to read this book!

[Jackelyn]

Cute Story

[mspkgodsslave · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book, but it was for school. Contemporary books aren't really in my forte, but I was entertained. To my surprise it wasn't a bore.

[Hailey Tallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to my 8 year old stepson who is taking Aikido classes. We both laughed out loud several times and found the style it was written in so delightful, funny, relatable and natural. The characters felt just like real kids with real problems, hang ups, and quirks. There are many great lessons learned about friendship and how to treat others throughout the book. My stepson had already read it once with his dad but wanted to read it again with me and seemed to enjoy it just as much the second time!