A Memoir from a Champ
By Jesselyn Silva, as told to Brin Stevens
My Corner of the Ring is a memoir about Jesselyn Silva–a young girl who wants to box in the 2024 Olympics. When Jesselyn was 7 years old, she decided that she wanted to box. She had seen her father and others box at the gym. Her first match was really tough. Jesselyn fights against a 10 year-old-boy and although she doesn’t win, readers discover that Jesselyn is willing to fight and not give up–even when the rounds don’t go her way.
This is an engaging sports memoir that inspires readers to set goals and work to achieve them. Jesselyn creates a dream calendar where she writes down the things she wants to accomplish and she pushes herself to become a strong fighter and a good person. To achieve her dreams, though, she has to fight other boxers and people’s perceptions about girls who box. A lot of people think girls shouldn’t pursue boxing–and Jesselyn wants to show that girls have has as much right to be in a boxing ring as boys do.
Reviewed by Laurie Blake, Media Clerk, Roosevelt Elementary
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-8
My Corner of the Ring: A Memoir from a Champ
By Jesselyn Silva, as told to Brin Stevens
G.P. Putnam’s Sons
241 pages
Release Date: June 4, 2019
ISBN: 9780525518402
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
