A review by crizzle
Knockout by K.A. Holt
3.0
A sequel that also can be a stand-alone novel, but I think if I had read this without reading “House Arrest” I wouldn’t have been as interested.
It takes place with Levi as the same age as big brother Timothy was in the first book. He is figuring out his place in the world, as he feels he’s always been viewed as the sick baby he once was, and doesn’t want to be babied by his mom or brother anymore. Conversely, his father does the opposite and recklessly wants him to become a “man” and pick up a sport - the more dangerous, the better. I appreciated that we got to learn a little more about the dad and everything comes full circle when he starts distancing himself like he did a dozen years before. He is still the same immature, flighty father, but at least there was the tiniest shred of personal growth we get to see.
This one did not have me sobbing like House Arrest, but about evvvery scene with Timothy had me verklempt and watery-eyed. He is still the true hero, living so selflessly, having sacrificed his life for his brother. Levi’s coming-of-age story had an opposite twist - he is quite selfish and self-centered, which is realistic when you think of someone who has grown up being the center of the world to his mom and brother; everything they’ve done and worked for Levi’s entire life was for him and his survival. He’s been a bad friend and a bad brother and these things are very realistic for a 12 year old, but parts of his relationship with Tam I found were unrealistic.
Anyway, I’ve probably written more than anyone else has even thought about this book, but the first one affected me so that I need to process how everything turned out for this family! Even though it was not as moving as the first, I am so glad there was a sequel and that I get to see how bright their future is, when just a dozen years ago they were fighting to just survive.
It takes place with Levi as the same age as big brother Timothy was in the first book. He is figuring out his place in the world, as he feels he’s always been viewed as the sick baby he once was, and doesn’t want to be babied by his mom or brother anymore. Conversely, his father does the opposite and recklessly wants him to become a “man” and pick up a sport - the more dangerous, the better. I appreciated that we got to learn a little more about the dad and everything comes full circle when he starts distancing himself like he did a dozen years before. He is still the same immature, flighty father, but at least there was the tiniest shred of personal growth we get to see.
This one did not have me sobbing like House Arrest, but about evvvery scene with Timothy had me verklempt and watery-eyed. He is still the true hero, living so selflessly, having sacrificed his life for his brother. Levi’s coming-of-age story had an opposite twist - he is quite selfish and self-centered, which is realistic when you think of someone who has grown up being the center of the world to his mom and brother; everything they’ve done and worked for Levi’s entire life was for him and his survival. He’s been a bad friend and a bad brother and these things are very realistic for a 12 year old, but parts of his relationship with Tam I found were unrealistic.
Anyway, I’ve probably written more than anyone else has even thought about this book, but the first one affected me so that I need to process how everything turned out for this family! Even though it was not as moving as the first, I am so glad there was a sequel and that I get to see how bright their future is, when just a dozen years ago they were fighting to just survive.