Redhanded

by Michael Cadnum

Since he cannot depend on his father, Stephen feels as though his only chance to make it to the big boxing tournament is to go along with the dangerous plan of a local tough guy to whom he has been introduced by a thrill-seeking friend.

135 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2000

About the author

Michael Cadnum has had a number of jobs over the course of his life, including pick-and-shoveler for the York Archaeological Trust, in York, England, and substitute teacher in Oakland, California, but his true calling is writing. He is the author of thirty-five books, including the National Book Award finalist The Book of the Lion. His Calling Home and Breaking the Fall were both nominated for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award. He is a former Creative Writing Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts. Also a poet, he has received several awards, including Poetry Northwest's Helen Bullis Prize and the Owl Creek Book Award. Michael lives in Albany, California, with his wife Sherina.

Reviews

[Christian Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Cadnum is the author to the book Redhanded. This book is about an amateur boxer whose name is Steven.Steven foreshadows and over thinks too much about his situations at hand. His mom and dad are “Temporarily” separated and his friend Raymond starts hanging out with a kid named Chad that is nothing but trouble.To make everything worse than it already is for him he loses his job as a dishwasher at a downtown restaurant and the only thing left for him to rely on is his ability to box but in order for him to box he needs money. Steven gets a chance to go enter in a Golden Glove West Coast tournament in San Diego and (Steven needs $600 to travel and enter the tournament) he lets Raymond and Chad lead him into trouble.They decide to go rob a liquor store and the plan goes down hill and Steven is in a fight for his life. This book is a very good book to read and i really enjoyed reading it.My favorite part about this book was when the story twisted and the end i didnt see it coming and it was a excellent way to end a book. I didn't like the fact that he let his friends get him into some trouble when he was about to do something great with his life , he didn’t have to let his friends dictate his thoughts. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes boxing and anyone that likes a twist towards the end of a book.

[Derek Sprunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Cadnum is a great author. The book Redhanded had lots of suspense, but I thought it could have used a little bit more action. Steven, is a boxer, who has a chance to go to San Diego, and even make it to the Olympics. Boxing isn't easy for Steven, especially when he has to face tough opponents like Del Toro, Stacy Martell, and many others. His mom and dad are split apart and has a really tough time with his job. His friend Raymond knows a guy who is really tough, one who has trouble with the law. When Steven doesn't have enough money to go to San Diego, Raymond's friend, Chad, knows a way to get some, even breaking the law to do it. Steven has only one decision to make; either go with his friends or not go with them. If he does will he steal the money and get away with it, or will he be caught Redhanded. I really like Redhanded and really hope there is going to be a second book coming out. So if you like boxing, then you will love this book. You will be on the ropes reading this book because Michael Cadnum pulls no punches telling this story.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is that Stephan that has divorced parents is in a boxing competition and the first time he boxed he was getting the cheap knocked out of him. He had to practice a lot before his next match so he could win it and keep boxing. When his next match came around at first he was losing then he came back for the win when the competitor did some illegal move to him. Stephan didn't realize that he did get disqualified so he was mad until somebody told him that he won. After he won they went driving around trying to find something to rob or at least kidnap somebody. After they kidnaped a person one of Stephan's friends was getting mad at her so he tried to shoot her when Stephan suddenly punched him and there his friend was knocked out on the ground. That is what I like about this book.

[Jason Kurtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read, at 135 pages, but Cadnum is a master craftsman. I zipped through this book about hard, real choices. The characters were believable, and interesting. I wish there was about thirty more pages to wrap up the narrative better, but it is powerful as it stands. Cadnum is kind of like an Elmore Leonard for teens.

[Kyle Owens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would probably give the start of this book 4 stars. But I would give the end 1/4th of a star. I wanted this book to continue with the boxing, I want it to continue about his relationship a girl he worked with, but they ended with a robbery, and didn't even elaborate on what happened with that. This book could have used an extra thirty pages.

[Ricardo Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty good