Tap Out

Jun 09, 2012 Greg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-for-kids, face-to-fist-sports, fiction

"TapouT: an expression of combat known worldwide"

Gosh this is a sort of disturbing book. And it's being marketed for teens. I like to pepper my reviews with fucks, shits, douche bags, assholes and assorted other words but the language in this book really set me back a bit. The first page along has at least 7 cuss words, one of them being in the first sentence. I'm not against cursing, in fact I think it's a wonderful thing but there was sort of an overabundance of it here, or maybe I'm only noti...more "TapouT: an expression of combat known worldwide"

Gosh this is a sort of disturbing book. And it's being marketed for teens. I like to pepper my reviews with fucks, shits, douche bags, assholes and assorted other words but the language in this book really set me back a bit. The first page along has at least 7 cuss words, one of them being in the first sentence. I'm not against cursing, in fact I think it's a wonderful thing but there was sort of an overabundance of it here, or maybe I'm only noticing it because the book is being marketed for fourteen year olds and up.

If this book gets any sort of popularity upon it being released you can almost say hello banned book.

The book is about this seventeen year old kid, Tony, who lives in a trailer park with his mom. His mom is something of a human punching bag for a string of degenerate losers. Tony generally hides in his room while his mom gets the shit beat out of her by whomever is her current love interest. Tony's best friend Rob also lives in this trailer park from hell (with apparently just a few other families, it sounds fairly small, there is a weird lack of flushing out the world the characters inhabit going on in this book) but he's been training in MMA and wants to get Tony in to it, for his own good. I agree with Tony's friend Rob, fighting class is a great way to build character. Their trailer park existence has other plans for them then being future Bellator figher stories*, mainly by the presence of a ridiculously named meth slinging biker gang, Agnostic Front (really?), who sort of blackmail Tony into slinging some drugs for them.

The book has the same flawed fatalism of Monster, maybe fatalism isn't the right word, but the same feeling that the author is trying to get you to sympathize with a character who is really not that great of a person. He's sort of a normal teenager in that respect, he makes stupid decisions and all of that, but he also does quite a few things that are sort of questionable. And as the book goes on a general theme is that he needs to break free of the life he's been living that is trying to swallow him whole, but he generally doesn't do that much to try to ever escape that life. We are told that he is actually super-smart, but there is rarely ever any display of that. It's kind of a weird thing going on in the book about how smart he is supposed to be, and it almost feels like it got added into the story as a good idea about a hundred pages into the novel without the first bit of the novel re-written to be about someone with a fairly above average IQ.

Besides the cussing, it was some of the moral decisions that left me feeling uncomfortable about this book. Kind of uneasy. LIke I was cheering Tony on to have a better life, to stick with MMA, to not deal drugs or whatever but then I'd catch myself thinking why should I care about this person?

I'm not exactly making myself clear, and I will probably pay for this a year or two down the line when someone trolls the review to tell me how I'm wrong and then I'll have to try to comb through my feeble memory to remember anything about this book.

I think if this book wasn't about white trash trailer park kids and MMA fighting I would have disliked it. But since it's about two of my favorite preoccupations it kept me interested! I had a couple of problems with the fighting stuff though. One, Tony is apparently what MMA commentators call, a phenome (maybe it's phenom as Karen points out, either way my spell-checker is telling me it's not a real word). He's just naturally awesome at it. Ok, I'll accept this, except that he fights sort of terribly in the real world, but maybe he just needs to be shown something in the gym and he's like a sponge who can do it. Ok, I'll buy it. But if he's as good as they say, the real course would be to train him and not his good, but has to work at it friend Rob, to become a fighter. If he's as good as they say then get him ready for the octagon. I had a hard time believing he was as good as he was supposed to be, especially since not much time passes in the novel. My second complaint is a bit more serious. YOU DON'T KICK WITH YOUR FOOT!!!! Yes, when you soccer kick someone on the ground you use your foot, but if you're executing a perfect leg kick on a girl in a high school hallway it's not done with your foot. It takes approximately one kick at some practice pads to realize that kicking with your foot is really stupid and really hurts. It takes a bunch more kicks to correct what you're doing with what you now you should be doing, but if you are said to be kicking correctly you're going to be making contact with your shin (unless you are soccer kicking or doing a push kick or something like an axe kick, but the general rule is you kick with your shin). This doesn't sound like a big deal, but it really is. It kills some of the realism of the MMA scenes in the book.

I guess I liked the book, I toyed with giving it four stars mostly because as I said I like reading about degenerate white trash and I like reading about fighting. But when I stripped those two parts from the story I wasn't really that in love with what was left. And it does have a shit load of disturbing things that I don't think are necessarily appropriate for a fourteen year old, but I'm probably just a prude and torture-rape and only getting off with a girl by physically abusing her are the kinds of things that kids today don't even bat an eye at.

*For non-MMA watching people out there, before every Bellator fight there is a little video of the each fighter, these videos are almost always about how hard their life had been, abuse, neglect, maybe drugs, prison before they got their shit together by getting into MMA. As a side note, these videos are also hysterically dubbed with vaguely racist stereotypical voices for any fighter who doesn't speak English, or doesn't speak English well. The fighter videos are pretty awful on the whole for Bellator but the fights are almost always really good, so the show balances out. (less)

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Sep 28, 2012 Bethany Crandell rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a seventeen year-old, the only thing I was worried about surviving was the embarrassment of a pimple in my senior picture, or my mom crashing my first keg party. Tony Antioch's world is very different. Survival for him is the true definition of the word: Get out alive.

From the opening pages, we are transported into a world of poverty, abuse, and disappointment that most of us, thankfully, have never known first-hand. My connection with Tony was immediate. My heart ached for his situation and...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Amelia Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

I've been struggling with writing this review. As a librarian I have one view of the book and as a reader I have another, and they don't match up and I don't know how I should review the book. I finally decided to just write this review as a reader, because when I think about the library and our readers, I don't think this book would fit in with what our YA readers are interested in reading.

This book was full of things that shocked me, especially since I was reading a YA book. Even with those s...more

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May 17, 2013 Cheshire Public Library added it

Shelves: featured-on-cheshire-library-blog

Tap Out by Eric Devine is a book for young adults and adults about how hard reality can be for some young people, and how finding a way out might seem like an impossible dream. This is realistic fiction, and might be just the read some young adults, new adults, and jaded adult readers might be looking for.

Tony Antioch is seventeen, and lives in a trailer park called Pleasant Meadows. Tony dreams of standing up and rescuing his mother from her own drug habits and constant stream of abusive boyfri...more Tap Out by Eric Devine is a book for young adults and adults about how hard reality can be for some young people, and how finding a way out might seem like an impossible dream. This is realistic fiction, and might be just the read some young adults, new adults, and jaded adult readers might be looking for.

Tony Antioch is seventeen, and lives in a trailer park called Pleasant Meadows. Tony dreams of standing up and rescuing his mother from her own drug habits and constant stream of abusive boyfriends. Tony’s friends each have their own troubles to face, and after Rob and school situations bring Tony to a local gym to learn mixed martial arts, Tony thinks he might have found a talent and a way to help him escape from the troubled path that seems set for his future. However, Tony will have to solve some problems of his own before he can help his mother, any of his friends, or himself escape the paths they are on. With everyone around him stuck on a dead end track, can Tony find a way to stay true to himself and face the consequences of the choices he makes along the way?

Tap Out is a hard book to read, because the problems faced by the characters are very real, and very troubling. There are people trapped by their situations with no apparent way out. Tony, Rob, and the people around them feel very real, and I found myself with a racing heart and sweaty palms as the characters faced problems far beyond anything I have ever faced. The book is very gritty, and completely unapologetic in revealing parts of our society that often get overlooked or swept under the rug. I think that is wonderful. I could have done with a few less f-bombs being tossed around, although they were used realistically, but after awhile I did find it a little distracting.

Tap Out is a book I would recommend to older teens and adults. It deals with serious issues, and shows a very harsh reality. It is not an easy read, it is not fun or quick going. In fact there were a few moments in which I had to set it aside for a moment, but then immediately picked it back up because I needed to know what would happen next. Adults who work with teens, regardless of whether or not you think of the teens as at risk for abuse or of getting involved in dangerous situations, would do well to read the book in order to help understand, anticipate, and help teens they encounter deal with some serious issues.

- Reviewed by Sharon http://cheshirelibraryblog.wordpress....(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Sarah ♥Loves Dimitri Belikov♥ marked it as dnf

Guys, I just couldn't bring myself to finish this one. it takes a lot to make me actually not finish a book and I couldn't get through this. Since I didn't finish I will not be rating this book. Who knows, it may have gotten better later on but I will never know.

My first major issue with this book is the amount of swearing. Yes I know teenagers swear. That is not a knew concept. When there is a curse word in most of the sentences, it really turns me off. It seemed almost like the author was tryi...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Sharon Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tap Out by Eric Devine is a book for young adults and adults about how hard reality can be for some young people, and how finding a way out might seem like an impossible dream. Tony Antioch is seventeen, and lives in a trailer park called Pleasant Meadows. No one here asks questions, because everyone already thinks they know the answers. Tony dreams of standing up and rescuing his mother from her own drug habits and constant stream of abusive boyfriends. Tony's friends each have their own troubl...more Tap Out by Eric Devine is a book for young adults and adults about how hard reality can be for some young people, and how finding a way out might seem like an impossible dream. Tony Antioch is seventeen, and lives in a trailer park called Pleasant Meadows. No one here asks questions, because everyone already thinks they know the answers. Tony dreams of standing up and rescuing his mother from her own drug habits and constant stream of abusive boyfriends. Tony's friends each have their own troubles to face, and after Rob and school situations bring Tony to a local gym to learn mixed martial arts, Tony thinks he might have found a talent and a way to help him escape the path that seems set for his future. However, Tony quickly finds that life is dealing him a complicated set of problems he will have to solve for himself before he can help his mother, any of his friends, or himself escape the paths they are on. Everyone around him seems stuck on a dead end track, can Tony find a way to stay true to himself and face the consequences of the choices he makes along the way?

Tap Out is a hard book to read, because the problems faced by the characters are very real, and very troubling. There are people trapped by their situations with no apparent way out. Tony, Rob, and the people around them feel very real, and I found myself with a racing heart and sweaty palms as the characters faced problems far beyond anything I have ever faced. I was glad to see adults portrayed as trying to help, and how the different approaches were actually seen or felt by the teens.

The book is very gritty, and completely unapologetic in revealing parts of our society that often get overlooked or swept under the rug. I think that is wonderful, because the youth in these situations are often forgotten or just seen as trouble because of situations they want no part of. I could have done with a few less f bombs being tossed around, although I am certain that they were used to impart the hard lives and reality of how real people in similar situations might speak, but after awhile I did find it a little distracting.

Tap Out is a book I would recommend to older teens and adults. It deals with serious issues, and shows a very harsh reality.It is not an easy read, it is not fun or quick going. In face there were a few moments in which I had to set it aside for a moment, but then immediately picked it back up because I needed to know what would happen next. I think readers in situations that seem hopeless, or greater than they can overcome, would relate to the characters and might be able to see that there are choices they can make and others have it even harder than they do. Adults that work with teens, regardless of if your think of the teens as at risk for abuse or getting involved in dangerous situations, would do well to read the book in order to understand were some teens they encounter could be coming from and to help them recognize who needs their help and inspire them to go an extra mile to help however possible.(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 BookHookup rated it 2 of 5 stars

The original review for this book can be found here on The Book Hookup blog.

**Note** An uncorrected eGalley of this title was provided by the publishers via Net Galley. However, that did not influence this review in any way.

Christina's Review:

There could be a few SPOILER-ISH THINGS! below depending on how carried away I get with this review. You have been warned.

The Lowdown: Told in the point of view of seventeen-year-old Tony Antioch, Tap Out is the disturbingly graphic tale of a young man’s...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

It would be impossible to say that I liked this book. I can say, though, that it was very effective in achieving it's goal. White trailer trash. That's how Tony describes himself and the others who live in the trailer court. His mother goes from being the punching bag of one man to another and she's using again. His best friend has big problems but he introduces Tony to a Mixed Martial Arts class where some things look like they might turn around. There are adults who notice the potential in Ton...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Yoonmee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fiction

I'm surprised at all the negative and mediocre reviews, but it seems like a lot of people gave this book a lower rating b/c of the foul language and graphic violence. I say, for far too many teenagers, foul language, graphic violence, and tough decisions are a way of life and maybe all they know. Tony, the protagonist, isn't perfect by any means, but he's real and he's honest.

This is a great book for male teens, any teen interested in MMA. I can see this book starting some really thought provoki...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book for Devine, who for us is a local teacher and author.

I really enjoyed reading the story of Tony Antioch who lives in a single parent home in a trailer park. He lives with his mother who can't get her love life or her professional life in order because she is more interested in bringing men into her life that beat her and keep her high on drugs. Tony doesn't have the confidence to stand up to these loser boyfriends until he begins attending a local fight club where he lea...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Cheri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: diversity-books, friendship, identity-searching, teen-disaster-porn, supposedly-boy-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really loved this book until the last two chapters. I was taken on a journey through this kid's life, felt his desperation, hoped for him, and cussed with him. And then suddenly, I was shoved into a shallow, disaster-porn ending that left me feeling sick. So many of the nasty things that happened at the end were treated disrespectfully of the characters--everything leading up to it made you feel depressed at how bad life was, but it was respectful. The characters were real and you just wanted...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book for Devine, who for us is a local teacher and author.

I really enjoyed reading the story of Tony Antioch who lives in a single parent home in a trailer park. He lives with his mother who can't get her love life or her professional life in order because she is more interested in bringing men into her life that beat her and keep her high on drugs. Tony doesn't have the confidence to stand up to these loser boyfriends until he begins attending a local fight club where he lear...more

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May 20, 2012 Lord Nouda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, reviewed

Disclaimer: I got this book to review from Netgalley. However the fact that I got it from the publishers has had no influence on my review. This review is 100% honest and comes straight from my heart (lol).

_________________________________________

When I first saw the title of this book, I was expecting something akin to the movie Never Back Down with epic fight scenes and an ending where everyone comes out happy. Tap Out proved that not everything MMA related is awesome.

In this review I'll be a...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was AMAZING. The exact opposite of a light happy read, though. It's a highly realistic interpretation of the life that too many teenagers live today. It's gut wrenching, blood curdling, and absolutely sickening at times. I actually had to put it down for a few days because it was so horrifying. But what's even more horrifying is that the stuff Devine writes about actually happens, and that is why I love this book. It made such a huge impact on me I can't even begin to describe it. I'm...more

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Sep 29, 2012 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book has some of the heaviest realism that I have ever read. I feel that the reader has a complete view of Tony's motivations and emotions, and in light of what he faces, they are extremely realistic. I have read some mixed reviews about his personality and actions, but I think that for someone who feels so trapped in his very difficult life, everything in the book works. The language and the bitter outlook on life are things I would expect to see from someone who has been through the thing...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Mei Lin Zheng rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: eighth-grade

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 27, 2012 Shay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Please don't dismiss this book based on the average Goodreads rating, which is low- 3 stars. Part of me thinks that this is due to the language, sex, and violence that permeates this book. One reviewer even said that he thought that this book may end up getting banned- and I think it very well may. Now, I was a teacher, and banning books like this never ceases to amaze me. Why? Well, I was taking classes for my Master's and one of my classmates was a high school gym teacher and former police off...more Please don't dismiss this book based on the average Goodreads rating, which is low- 3 stars. Part of me thinks that this is due to the language, sex, and violence that permeates this book. One reviewer even said that he thought that this book may end up getting banned- and I think it very well may. Now, I was a teacher, and banning books like this never ceases to amaze me. Why? Well, I was taking classes for my Master's and one of my classmates was a high school gym teacher and former police officer. He came to class visibly stricken and told us this story...It was the gym period right after lunch. A teenage girl who was visibly pregnant- 6 to 8 months pregnant- came up to him and said she wasn't feeling well. He could smell the alcohol fumes coming off her as she threw up Kool-Aid and vodka on his shoes. Now, if you wrote a novel about how she got to that point, with graphic details, some people would object and maybe even want to ban the book. And it never seems to occur to the people who want to ban books like this that what's really objectionable is the fact that children are really living these lives. Which brings us back to "Tap Out".

Like many, I found this a tough read. Yes, the language, the sex, the violence. But mostly because I taught middle school for years and "Tap Out" seems to tell the continuation of some of my students' stories. It was tough because it was realistic and didn't flinch from telling painful truths about the lives that some/many children lead. It did not flinch from telling the central truth about children who live in poverty- that in most cases all it takes is one mistake, choosing the wrong path once and that's it for their potential. Any hope of a bright future is gone. As the author, Eric Devine, is a high school teacher I feel pretty sure that this was not written to be sensational or exploitative. That Mr. Devine wanted us to be able to have a glimpse into the lives of the "have-nots" and come to at least understanding and compassion for them. Because most of us teachers have come home and cried at least once over one of our students. And the main character, Tony Antioch, is definitely the kind of kid who would have made you cry.

So, do I recommend this book? I do, and I think that this book will appeal to teenage boys. I also think that a parent should read it first and then with their teenager. However, if you have a strong objection to this kind of content, I just want to say that it's not gratuitous sex and violence. That it all has a purpose and is not without consequences. It is a difficult and sometimes painful read, but that just shows that the author did a good job of capturing the life some children lead.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Genre Rating: 4 high school lockers(less)

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Jul 02, 2012 Jeanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, ya, ok-for-boys

This book almost ended up being put on my shelf labeled "Started reading but didn't finish". Something kept me going and I believe that I will always remember it, although I don't know if it is in a good way.

The first page had more cuss words on it than many books have in the entire book. I thought, "Well, maybe the author is telling us about the character." Then, while continuing to read the book, I realized that the book was also extremely violent, especially against women.

The main character...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Ali rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, i-own

Prosecution:
Ugh. Tony... I hate whiny characters. And this guy is WHINY! He's sitting there degrading himself the whole time, he's locked in this little internal battle with himself. Rob wasn't very well developed. He was just kind of this interchangeable Bro for Tony. Chaz...what do I even say? Who does that!?

Defense:
I loved the MMA aspect of this story. The incorporated fight scenes are pretty great. But..that was really the only thing I liked about the book..

To read my verdict, be a doll a...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Shari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gritty -- the f-bombs were over the top. The same sentiment could have been expressed with easily 1/4th of the profanity. A few typo issues: "hydrocodone", not "hydrocodene", another spelling mistake later in the book (I can't remember where though, I'll have to revisit and update my review).

I struggled with whether this was 3 or 4 stars, and I'd probably go 3.5 stars. Tony was not a likable protagonist. I also struggle with this being targeted at the YA market, as it's incredibly dark, gritty,...more

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May 09, 2013 Teacherhuman rated it 5 of 5 stars

I fell in love with this book before I read it -- because my reluctant, sometimes truculent readers in an urban high school picked it up and READ it. They read it and were quiet and interested and did not want to put it down to go to their next classes. These young folks do not WANT to read anything. Then I read it. Devine has created believable characters that readers begin to love and root for almost immediately. The book starts on the first page and grabs young readers' attention immediately....more

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Aug 22, 2012 Della rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Tap Out is about life in a trailer park. It’s heartbreakingly realistic, from the foul language and drug use to the unreported rapes and whore houses. It’s the story of a young man named Tony and his life of trouble. Tony’s mom is an alcoholic and recovering drug addict who loves all the wrong men. Her latest is a real piece of cake, beating and eventually putting her into the hospital. When Tony tries to stand up to the scum bag, he ends up being beat almost senseless himself. Tony is very smar...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

Tony lives in a trailer park with his mother. She does too much drugs, drinks too much alcohol, and consistently picks guys who beat her up. Tony's a smart kid but has no money, no parental support, and not many options. He's lucky in that he's attracted the attention of a school administrator who wants to help him; he's unlucky in that he's getting pulled into selling drugs by his community.

This is not an easy read. The subject matter is brutal and the language and descriptions are harsh. Mean...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-books, advance-reader-copy

Tap Out follows 17-year-old Tony Antioch who lives with his addict mother and her abusive boyfriend in a trailer park in Pleasant Meadows. Despite Tony’s intelligence and desire to make more of himself, his rough life and dangerous environment means that he finds himself in trouble more often than not. When Tony’s best friend and high school principal turn him on to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes, he sees the gym as way out of the madness and can envision a better life for himself. But when th...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Rachael Woohoo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley, 2012-favorites, book, 2012, ebook, review-copy, reviewed, all-time-favorites, to-buy-or-not-to-buy

If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

Let me first share what the first line of the ARC version of Tap Out is:

I am a pussy.

Tap Out is by no means a book for everybody. It has a lot of swearing, violence, and mature content. If you’re the type of reader that is offended by these types of things, like the line above, I would suggest reading another book.

That being said, I thought that this book was brilliant. It definitely showed the struggles of all the char...more If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

Let me first share what the first line of the ARC version of Tap Out is:

I am a pussy.

Tap Out is by no means a book for everybody. It has a lot of swearing, violence, and mature content. If you’re the type of reader that is offended by these types of things, like the line above, I would suggest reading another book.

That being said, I thought that this book was brilliant. It definitely showed the struggles of all the characters, as well as a lot of emotion and an intense plot. There was a ton of action and lots of character building, as well as a realistic view of a more unfortunate and violent life.

Tony is the type of character that you might avoid at school - he might scowl at you, look angry, and would probably be wearing his signature hoodie. It was pretty interesting to get into his head and look at his thoughts. His character development was extraordinary - you definitely see him grow from someone who’s afraid to fight, to someone that may be to eager to, and finally to someone that might have a chance. He’s the character that you root for, the one that you want to win.

The side characters were also well portrayed. I especially felt for Rob, and I could understand his position. At times in the story, I just wanted to give both the characters mental hugs. His relationship with Tony is also strong, and it’s not just told, it’s shown. They definitely shared the type of brotherly relationship that I feel should be more common between male characters.

The plot was in a word, intense. Sure, there was a lot of violence, but there are events that are filled with suspense! It moved along relatively quickly, but definitely was graphic - there are lots of scenes with lots of blood. Again, this book is filled with a lot of violence and swearing, so if that’s not the type of book for you, you may want to skip this book.

My only complaint is that the ending seemed a little rushed. It’s not that big of a factor, but I’d still like to mention it. It also ended pretty happily and with lots of bittersweet hope (:

Overall, Tap Out is a gritty and realistic read, full of emotion, but also graphic violence & swearing. I recommend this book to mature teens or readers looking for a book that’s realistic but dark (but also worth their time!)

*Thank you to Running Press Kids for providing me an eARC of this book*(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Christina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, netgalley, 2012-publication

The original review for this book can be found here on The Book Hookup.

**Note** An uncorrected eGalley of this title was provided by the publishers via Net Galley. However, that did not influence this review in any way.

There could be a few SPOILER-ISH THINGS! below depending on how carried away I get with this review. You have been warned.

The Lowdown: Told in the point of view of seventeen-year-old Tony Antioch, Tap Out is the disturbingly graphic tale of a young man’s struggle in life when th...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Starr Griggs rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received a digital galley, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
This originally caught my attention through the BEA Book Buzz I received from Netgalley. When I saw that it was about mixed martial arts, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. When I read about Tony’s first time at the gym I had to laugh. That was me the first time that I walked into a mma gym, and I was only there to watch! Later, I tried to figure out why they clapped for me when I could barely block the punches that were...more I received a digital galley, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
This originally caught my attention through the BEA Book Buzz I received from Netgalley. When I saw that it was about mixed martial arts, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. When I read about Tony’s first time at the gym I had to laugh. That was me the first time that I walked into a mma gym, and I was only there to watch! Later, I tried to figure out why they clapped for me when I could barely block the punches that were flying at my face. My biggest strength in the beginning was making the guys work their butts off trying to pin me. I was (am) stronger than I look. This is probably true for everyone who dances in the cage. Sometimes while reading I had flashbacks of guys that I sparred with. Tap Out does an amazing job of mirroring real life.
With some stories you have to get grimy with it. It’s that point past dark and surreal that takes to the ugly side of reality. Devine got real grimy with Tap Out and I think it makes this story stand out even more. Unfortunately, Tony’s story is one that too many teens will be able to relate to. The great thing about it is that it gives these same teens a voice in a language that is their own.
This review has been written at different points throughout the reading of this book. I only mention this because I’ve had to stop reading for a bit. I had to stop because I couldn’t breathe. There are so many emotions coiled up inside of me that they are beginning to suffocate me. Anger at Tony’s situation forcing him into the monster he didn’t want to become. Sadness because he doesn’t see/understand that he always has a choice. Frustration because I know that understanding that he has a choice is almost impossible because of his situation and environment. Fear because as an outsider I can see where the path he’s on will lead him. Desperate because Tony’s face is replace by the faces of youth that I’ve worked with in the past who can relate to Tony’s tory, if not lived out their own version. Anger because this story – even down to the MMA crew – is drenched in way too much accuracy to be comfortable. Hope – a shred is left – that Devine has given Tony an out. Dammit! There are too many that don’t have an out and I really need Tony to have one.
At this point, I finished the book and I’ve reminded myself that this is just a story. There was blood, death, hope and a small sense of fear at the end. But, the only word I can say to sum up what I think about Tap Out is Wow!!! I love this book for so many reasons that I will do my best not to bore you. First, I have to say that Devine has accomplished a monumental thing. He has written a book that is relevant to teenage boys and one that they will read. Tap Out is Tony’s story. Tony is a flawed character who has been dealt a shitty hand and lives in an impossible situation. His story removes the veil that people have allowed to cover their eyes. People want to survive no matter where they come from or what it looks like to outsiders. Surviving and thriving looks differently to people depending on their situation. I’m not saying this to make excuses, only to ask that people reserve judgment. Some people have it harder than others. Another reason I loved this book was because the characters were well-developed and they came to life. Though it wasn’t pretty, it felt real.
MMA is a world of its own. If you’ve never been on the mat you wouldn’t understand it. The guys who punch you, kick you ad roll with you really do become family. I didn’t know this when I started. Being the only female didn’t matter. I had their backs and they had mine – on the mat and off. Your MMA crew will lift you up and carry you when you don’t have the strength to walk. They will stand with you and help you face whatever, and they do it with strength and honor. They don’t leave you, they make you stronger.
There were plenty of opportunities for Devine to fail, but he did not. Thank you, Mr. Devine! I hope that Tap Out finds its way into the hands of anyone who needs the hope to keep fighting even what they get caught in an arm bar or clinch, or some other uncomfortable and slightly painful position in life. I hope that they understand that there’s power in not tapping out.
Recommendation: Everyone needs to check this book out! But most especially those who work with teen boys who may be written off and not encouraged to live up to their potential.
What’s Next? I can’t wait to see what Devine’s going to write next!!!!
5 GRIMY STARS *****
I FOUND ANOTHER 2012 FAVORITE!(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Brian rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book can be read as a game. You can play how many times does the author use the F bomb on a page. The average is at least once. This book is riddled with awful language to the point that it seems like the author was trying waaaaaay too hard to be gritty with his characters but it was a failure in my eyes. The main character does poorly in school. His mom is a druggie who is dating an abusive guy. So he takes up fighting. I did not care for these characters.

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Jan 12, 2013 Tina rated it 2 of 5 stars

I downloaded this kindle book from juvenile fiction at our library for my son because it mentioned mixed martial arts and he is a black belt. Wow was that a mistake! This book should not be in juvenile. It is a very graphic, disturbing story of a 17yo boy living in hell. I ended up reading the book but I can tell you I wouldn't have wanted my son to read this even if he were 17yo. The content is adult.

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Oct 03, 2012 Lynn(e) Schmidt rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book took me two days to.figure out what to rate it. If it was based on the strength of writing, I would have given it a 5. I all LOVED how often the f bomb was used (NOT kidding).

I loved the entire first 75% of the novel. I was in Tony's corner for most of the book. But there are things I can forgive characters for, and sadly, he crossed a few lines for me.

It was a good book, but I was so pissed at the end I had to rate it a 3.5.

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