The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover, The title “In the Ring” is written in the centre, attached to its shadow to give the appearance of a box. The author’s name “Sierra Isley” is at the bottom of the cover in small white caps. The background is pink with the silhouettes of buildings in the lower half. Down the length of the centre, inside the box formed by the title, art of two people stood back to back. On the left, a man in a vest and shorts. A white crown has been drawn on his head. To the left, a girl, significantly shorter, also in a vest and shorts. A white ball of lightning has been drawn above her head. Vines are drawn between the two of them. Both of their hands are taped up in white tape. /end]

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Content Warning:

• Violence
• Suicide
• Sexual Assault
• Drug Use
• Alcohol
• Panic Attacks
• Forced Institutionalisation
• Death
• Death of A Parent

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Summary:

Rose Berman is losing her mind. At least, that’s what everyone at school seems to think.

Plagued by panic attacks that started after her mother’s suicide, Rose is the target of frequent teasing and rumors. The only people who understand her are her quirky therapist and her ex-girlfriend, now bestie, Gemma.

But when the star quarterback takes “teasing” too far, the school’s tattooed, cigarette-smoking time bomb ― Elliott King ― steps in and punches him in the face. Rose’s therapist recommends she try out a sport to manage her anxiety. She can’t help but think of Elliott―maybe if she could punch like him, she’d feel safer and stronger. She sticks out like a sore thumb at the boxing gym, but she soon finds power in the sport and a reprieve from her panic attacks. As their worlds intertwine, Rose and Elliott are forced to face their most daunting opponent outside the Ring: their growing feelings for each other.

But Midtown Ring isn’t just a gym. As Rose falls deeper into the world of boxing, she learns Midtown is a front for a late-night, underground fight club where Elliott King is the headliner. Surrounded by violence and destruction, Rose’s anxiety begins to spiral. She starts hallucinating, just like her mother did before her death, leaving her to wonder if everyone at school might be right. If her newfound physical strength can’t keep her grounded in reality, she may be doomed to walk the same path as her mom.

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Notes:

There is a kindle edition.

I think there is an audiobook.

This is Isley’s debut novel.

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Archivist Comments:

I’ve seen some comments for this saying that, whilst they enjoyed it, they wished that the boxing and fighting had been described a bit more. People also seem to agree that the anxiety rep was well done and respectfully written.

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