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Tap Out
Seventeen-year-old Tony Antioch lives in Pleasant Meadows, a trailer park where questions aren't asked since everyone already knows the answers from their own experience. He dreams of rescuing his mother from her constant stream of abusive boyfriends but in reality can barely duck the punches that are aimed at himself.
When Tony is coerced into joining his friend Rob's Mixed Martial Arts class, he is surprised to find that he has a talent that he actually wants to develop. But with a meth-dealing biker gang that is hungry for recruits and a vicious cycle of poverty and violence that precedes him, Tony is going to need a lot more than blood and guts to find a way out.
Gritty, powerful, and unapologetic, Tap Out explores what it takes to stay true to oneself and the consequences of the choices made along the way in order to do so.
When Tony is coerced into joining his friend Rob's Mixed Martial Arts class, he is surprised to find that he has a talent that he actually wants to develop. But with a meth-dealing biker gang that is hungry for recruits and a vicious cycle of poverty and violence that precedes him, Tony is going to need a lot more than blood and guts to find a way out.
Gritty, powerful, and unapologetic, Tap Out explores what it takes to stay true to oneself and the consequences of the choices made along the way in order to do so.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2012
24 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Eric Devine
6 books175 followersAuthor of fearless fiction: One in Ten (4/21/20), Look Past, Press Play, Dare Me, Tap Out.
English teacher, husband, and father of two girls.
English teacher, husband, and father of two girls.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 9, 2012
"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.
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.
May 20, 2012
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 addressing three main issues:
i. Language
ii. Content
iii. Ending
Language
The language and prose used throughout this book is rather crude. There was rarely a page where profanity wasn't used. While it may have fit the setting and resultant characters used, to me it cheapened the experience of reading the book. The author was clearly looking to make it more badass and appealing to young male readers. The F-bombs and others like it in the author's vast arsenal has been dropped so frequently that you expect to see fallout on every page, and it makes you go back and double check when it doesn't happen.
Content
I can't really say much about the trailer-culture since we have no equivalent here. We're a lot more socialist than the US so the poor peeps are generally taken care of by the government and given cheap or free homes to reside in. Actual houses or flats rather than the trailers that some Americans live in. It was rather shocking to read about the conditions in trailer parks in the story and the generally moody teenagers who seem to dominate it.
While the later parts of my childhood was spent in middle-class conditions, my family wasn't always that lucky. We used to be among the hardcore poor (among Malaysians) despite my parents having had university degrees. We had this really small 2 bedroom home that we rented. My dad had a nearly two decade second hand car with a door that was nearly falling off, and actually did at one point (Thank you Proton). Life improved greatly after my dad decided to pursue his masters and subsequent PhD overseas and then got a cushy job in government teaching local graduates. But before that, we couldn't afford shit and had to ration groceries. I never got anything from my parents and our clothes were always secondhand. While we never actually starved due to cheap local food prices, white rice with egg and kicap masin was common fare back then. So I can somewhat relate to the poverty of the main characters in this story.
Now back to the book. This is one seriously disturbing read. There's all sorts of violent and degrading content in it. Violence towards women, extortion, rape, murder, drugs...you name it, this book has it. In fact, there's a disturbingly large amount of violence committed toward the various women in the story. Tap Out is hell of a lot darker than anything else I've read in the realistic YA genre. I wouldn't really recommend it as a casual or fun read. It's so dark that I actually got depressed at times when reading about the conditions they lived in in the story.
Ending
The ending is the biggest issue and was what made this read wholly unsatisfactory. A major character is carelessly bumped off and the main character's reaction (or lack of) makes you question the point of everything. I know the author is trying to stand out and make his book different from all the rest, but the resultant turn of events is just so ridiculous that's it becomes unbelievable. The is no moral to this story. Everything in the story is basically padding to increase the page count. It has no effect on the overall outcome. I get that he's trying to get out and make something out of his life, but contrary to the blurb, he never does break out of the endless cycle of violence. If anything he just makes it even worse.
Overall: 3.5/10 (2 Stars)
_________________________________________
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 addressing three main issues:
i. Language
ii. Content
iii. Ending
Language
The language and prose used throughout this book is rather crude. There was rarely a page where profanity wasn't used. While it may have fit the setting and resultant characters used, to me it cheapened the experience of reading the book. The author was clearly looking to make it more badass and appealing to young male readers. The F-bombs and others like it in the author's vast arsenal has been dropped so frequently that you expect to see fallout on every page, and it makes you go back and double check when it doesn't happen.
Content
I can't really say much about the trailer-culture since we have no equivalent here. We're a lot more socialist than the US so the poor peeps are generally taken care of by the government and given cheap or free homes to reside in. Actual houses or flats rather than the trailers that some Americans live in. It was rather shocking to read about the conditions in trailer parks in the story and the generally moody teenagers who seem to dominate it.
While the later parts of my childhood was spent in middle-class conditions, my family wasn't always that lucky. We used to be among the hardcore poor (among Malaysians) despite my parents having had university degrees. We had this really small 2 bedroom home that we rented. My dad had a nearly two decade second hand car with a door that was nearly falling off, and actually did at one point (Thank you Proton). Life improved greatly after my dad decided to pursue his masters and subsequent PhD overseas and then got a cushy job in government teaching local graduates. But before that, we couldn't afford shit and had to ration groceries. I never got anything from my parents and our clothes were always secondhand. While we never actually starved due to cheap local food prices, white rice with egg and kicap masin was common fare back then. So I can somewhat relate to the poverty of the main characters in this story.
Now back to the book. This is one seriously disturbing read. There's all sorts of violent and degrading content in it. Violence towards women, extortion, rape, murder, drugs...you name it, this book has it. In fact, there's a disturbingly large amount of violence committed toward the various women in the story. Tap Out is hell of a lot darker than anything else I've read in the realistic YA genre. I wouldn't really recommend it as a casual or fun read. It's so dark that I actually got depressed at times when reading about the conditions they lived in in the story.
Ending
The ending is the biggest issue and was what made this read wholly unsatisfactory. A major character is carelessly bumped off and the main character's reaction (or lack of) makes you question the point of everything. I know the author is trying to stand out and make his book different from all the rest, but the resultant turn of events is just so ridiculous that's it becomes unbelievable. The is no moral to this story. Everything in the story is basically padding to increase the page count. It has no effect on the overall outcome. I get that he's trying to get out and make something out of his life, but contrary to the blurb, he never does break out of the endless cycle of violence. If anything he just makes it even worse.
Overall: 3.5/10 (2 Stars)
July 27, 2012
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
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
September 28, 2012
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 the hopelessness that threatened to swallow him up. My stomach tensed at the painful choices he had to make, and my inner cheerleader rallied behind his slow and steady growth to a future outside of the trailer park and the limitations the world had cast upon him. By the close of the book, I was ready to leap through the pages and adopt him. He was every kid I saw at school, but was too afraid to get to know.
All that to say, this was a highly emotional ride that took me to places I'd like to pretend don't exist.
Yes, there is some hard language, and yes, the subject matter was, at times, unsettling. But that's the beauty of this story--it's as real and painful as life. Had Devine held back at all, the story would've suffered and Tony wouldn't have been the character I, as a reader, needed him to be. Thank you for writing a smart, gripping, HONEST book. We need more of these.
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 the hopelessness that threatened to swallow him up. My stomach tensed at the painful choices he had to make, and my inner cheerleader rallied behind his slow and steady growth to a future outside of the trailer park and the limitations the world had cast upon him. By the close of the book, I was ready to leap through the pages and adopt him. He was every kid I saw at school, but was too afraid to get to know.
All that to say, this was a highly emotional ride that took me to places I'd like to pretend don't exist.
Yes, there is some hard language, and yes, the subject matter was, at times, unsettling. But that's the beauty of this story--it's as real and painful as life. Had Devine held back at all, the story would've suffered and Tony wouldn't have been the character I, as a reader, needed him to be. Thank you for writing a smart, gripping, HONEST book. We need more of these.
April 6, 2022
For the first time in a long time, I am abandoning a book. The plot is gripping, but I can’t get past the sheer volume of foul language. I’m usually not deterred, but I found it very cumbersome. Yes, I know it is brutal reality for some people, but I think one of the most redeeming qualities of YA lit is that it rises above, or at least it should rise above the harsh realities enough to provide hope. An author can still address difficult, raw themes and emotions without sinking to a lower level. Themes here are still important, but the delivery let me down.
October 4, 2012
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.
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.
October 1, 2012
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*
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*
October 21, 2015
This book was about a seventeen year old kid named Tony Antioch with a hard to believe, difficult life. His father left him when Tony was too young to remember him and ever since then his mother would have boyfriend after boyfriend who would abuse her and take her for granite. Tony's has been living his life keeping his head down and his mouth shut. Tony's best friend Rob got him interested in martial arts which soon became an escape for him, a way to forget about everything that is going on in his life. A few wrong turns down the wrong road has Tony working for a meth-biker gang which really tuns his life upside down. What will Tony do? Will martial arts be the escape he has been looking for?
This was hands down my favorite book i've ever read. The author Eric Devine did an amazing job developing each of the characters through out this book. I rate this book five stars, ten out of ten high quality work. Eric Devine has a very unique style of writing that I've never read in any other book. Anybody who likes high suspense, realistic, keep you on the edge of your seat books should read this book. One thing that people might not like about this book is its profound language. That didn't bother me even the least bit but It might make other people uncomfortable. The one thing that set this book apart from others is how realistic it is, and its kind of scary to think that things in this book happen in real life.
This was hands down my favorite book i've ever read. The author Eric Devine did an amazing job developing each of the characters through out this book. I rate this book five stars, ten out of ten high quality work. Eric Devine has a very unique style of writing that I've never read in any other book. Anybody who likes high suspense, realistic, keep you on the edge of your seat books should read this book. One thing that people might not like about this book is its profound language. That didn't bother me even the least bit but It might make other people uncomfortable. The one thing that set this book apart from others is how realistic it is, and its kind of scary to think that things in this book happen in real life.
September 24, 2012
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 shocks I still really enjoyed reading this book even though it wasn't my normal genre to read. I couldn't put it down, I had to keep reading to find out what Tony would have to face next, and how his decisions would impact his life and those of his mother and friends.
Full review will be live on my blog on September 11.
This book was full of things that shocked me, especially since I was reading a YA book. Even with those shocks I still really enjoyed reading this book even though it wasn't my normal genre to read. I couldn't put it down, I had to keep reading to find out what Tony would have to face next, and how his decisions would impact his life and those of his mother and friends.
Full review will be live on my blog on September 11.
October 30, 2019
Every now and then I'll pick up a book that I probably have no business reading, and this is one such book. My curiosity with this novel started with the fact that it is marketed as YA, my guess is it's for reluctant male readers who are enamored with MMA (hence the title "Tap Out"). I'm always interested in how authors engage adolescents who hate to read, so I downloaded and read this book.
I'm sorry I did this. More on that later.
First, a quick summary. Tony is a high school student living a miserable existence in an unnamed town. He lives with his mother, a neglectful drug addict who's constantly being abused by a string of asshole boyfriends. His mom's latest beau, Cameron, is no different from any of the ones who have come before. He brutally beats his mother and provides her with drugs, in addition to terrorizing Tony and running with a local biker gang.
It doesn't end there. Tony's life in his trailer park is cray, surrounded by a who's who of utter abjection: Amy, a promiscuous girl surrounded by violence, Charity, who's dad is a member of the local biker gang and pimps her out, and Rob, Tony's close friend whose life is much like his and who turns him onto MMA with his coach at the gym. There's also Dave, a local low-life who constantly bullies Tony and forces him to go on drug runs. As the story goes on Tony develops a talent for MMA and his fate begins to change--sometimes for the better, but often for the worst.
I found the content of this book to be over the top, crossing a fine line into ridiculous. I understand that there are people in poverty who live in hopeless situations where taking on a violent/tough persona is, to put it mildly, the ONLY way out. But the unrelenting bleakness here is just...ugh. This book is just too much. There's rape, drug use, extortion...and it didn't go unnoticed that a disturbing amount of the violence was directed at women with some kind of sexual component involved. There's a shock value that I felt didn't need to be here, we get the point already.
And ohhh...the language. I'm by no means a prude, but the language here is just icky. There wasn't a page where "fuck" and "pussy" wasn't being used in some capacity. There's also one use of the n-word that I found completely objectionable. While I understand that it may 'fit' the characters, once again, the amount was just over the top. Less like realism and more like an author trying to be a bad ass to show how relatable he is to male readers. Whatever it is, it cheapens the book.
Honestly, I don't think this is YA. It is an adult novel with a teenage protagonist. I can see this for older adolescents or even adults, but no way would a kid have reason to have this book.
I gave this two stars for effort. I wouldn't read this again.
I'm sorry I did this. More on that later.
First, a quick summary. Tony is a high school student living a miserable existence in an unnamed town. He lives with his mother, a neglectful drug addict who's constantly being abused by a string of asshole boyfriends. His mom's latest beau, Cameron, is no different from any of the ones who have come before. He brutally beats his mother and provides her with drugs, in addition to terrorizing Tony and running with a local biker gang.
It doesn't end there. Tony's life in his trailer park is cray, surrounded by a who's who of utter abjection: Amy, a promiscuous girl surrounded by violence, Charity, who's dad is a member of the local biker gang and pimps her out, and Rob, Tony's close friend whose life is much like his and who turns him onto MMA with his coach at the gym. There's also Dave, a local low-life who constantly bullies Tony and forces him to go on drug runs. As the story goes on Tony develops a talent for MMA and his fate begins to change--sometimes for the better, but often for the worst.
I found the content of this book to be over the top, crossing a fine line into ridiculous. I understand that there are people in poverty who live in hopeless situations where taking on a violent/tough persona is, to put it mildly, the ONLY way out. But the unrelenting bleakness here is just...ugh. This book is just too much. There's rape, drug use, extortion...and it didn't go unnoticed that a disturbing amount of the violence was directed at women with some kind of sexual component involved. There's a shock value that I felt didn't need to be here, we get the point already.
And ohhh...the language. I'm by no means a prude, but the language here is just icky. There wasn't a page where "fuck" and "pussy" wasn't being used in some capacity. There's also one use of the n-word that I found completely objectionable. While I understand that it may 'fit' the characters, once again, the amount was just over the top. Less like realism and more like an author trying to be a bad ass to show how relatable he is to male readers. Whatever it is, it cheapens the book.
Honestly, I don't think this is YA. It is an adult novel with a teenage protagonist. I can see this for older adolescents or even adults, but no way would a kid have reason to have this book.
I gave this two stars for effort. I wouldn't read this again.
October 4, 2018
In this book Tap Out by Eric Devine the main character 17 year old tony antioch has a mother that has an abusive boyfriend that hits her while drunk or on drugs. Tony lives in a trailer park in the wrong side of town. Cameron his mother’s boyfriend has not been the only abusive boyfriend Tony has lost count of how many of them have beaten his mother up. Cameron has been the toughest boyfriend he keeps making it hard life for tony and his mom. Tony is trying to look for a way out so he decides to join his friend rob at a local gym. At school Cameron’s nephew is always picking on tony so the principal mr.O decides to help Tony, rob, and the votec auto mechanic class are the only things that help him carry the weight of his hands. Rob wants Tony to join the gym were they train for MMA, but the principal is threatening to take votec if he doesn’t go. Tony sees himself as trailer trash white no options or hope for a better life. Tony finds the gym’s fight world where toughness has to be the rule, place where he can have some happiness. At the gyms he finds some respect also finds guys he can trust and where he can have a chance. Tony stands up to Cameron when he was drunk because he had enough of him hitting his mother. Tony also stands up to him a second time but he is all sobered up. He takes his stance like he’s fighting at the gym but he get knocked to the ground. When he’s knocked to the ground he takes a final blow to his jugular. Cameron stands over Tony then spits on him and leaves. The next day he goes back to the gym and the coach asks him what happened but Tony says “nothing” which was really hard for him to say with his throat messed up. The coach said he at his gym there’s trust but Tony said “nothing happened” Tony knew he couldn’t tell him so he left. On the way back a dealer named Dave told him he had to do a delivery but tony said no. Dave didn’t let him go until he said yes if he wouldn’t have said yes he would gotten beaten up. So tony did the delivery and got $1000 to do it. But the money didn’t last long because when he came back he found his mother bleeding and paid for her medical bills. Now he has no money left to pay for other bills that need to be paid for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2018
The book Tap Out by Eric Devine is about a boy by the name of Tony Antioch lost his dad at a young age and is stuck with a step father that beats his mom and him. Tony was walking down main street and something catches his attention, a boxing gym. Tony always wanted to learn how to properly fight and he thought this would be perfect for him. later in the book tony does something wrong that makes his step father beat the crap out of his mom, tony was finally man enough to step up and defend his mom. Tony ends upbeating up his step father and his step father ends up moving out. later in the book tony gets in trouble with a "meth-dealing biker gang. In order for him to get out of the trouble Tony is gonna have to work harder than he ever has to get out of this one. What i found interesting about this book is that me personally, i have always loved boxing and i love reading about kids that over come their fears and do thing to do it. My favorite character is Tony because he never gave up in book. My favorite part in the book by far is when Tony stepped up to his step father and defended his mother. Something i did not like about the book is the step father, even though he was a main part in the book i did not like him. Over all i loved the book and highly recommend the book to other people that love boxing and action.
June 3, 2017
Through reading the book, Tap Out by Eric Devine, you go along a journey with seventeen year old Tony Antioch. He endures severe hardships consisting of a mother who is beaten by boyfriend after boyfriend, an extremely tough neighborhood and school filled with people without a future, but he uses mixed martial arts as an outlet in this crazy life. This story was a good read from cover to cover and some readers may be able to relate. "I grab the back of my head and bury my face into the crooks of my elbows. I want to block out the sound of him and forget what I just heard, but my mom's crying seeps through the paper thin walls." In this quote, you can clearly see the graphic moments Tony is forced to deal with. Another example of this would be, "I move my head and feel his spit slide across my scalp. I'm on the verge of tears but know that if I don't do what he says, this will get worse." In this example, the reader can observe the humiliation Tony goes through but pushes himself to come out on top. This novel is filled with extremely graphic scenes and language but is a story of triumph and defeating all odds. It's truly inspirational.
March 22, 2018
Tony goes to school and has a promising future of being one of the few to go to college in his town and he has some good friends at the fighting gym that he goes to. He doesn't give up easily and is learning to not let anyone get in the way of what he wants. Tony wants his moms boyfriend, who is a part of the local gangs, to stop abusing her and he wants the gangs to let him choose what he wants to do freely. The only thing keeping him from doing this is they want him to stay with them for the rest of his life. The story takes place in modern times in a violent, gang ridden town.
I think the book is good and worth the read because Tony has to think outside of the box and choose what he wants in his life and overcome the challenges. I think this because in the book he is tempted by college who can make his life better and the gangs who might put his life to an end if he doesn't' go with them. If you could make your life better at the risk of your life, would you do it?
I think the book is good and worth the read because Tony has to think outside of the box and choose what he wants in his life and overcome the challenges. I think this because in the book he is tempted by college who can make his life better and the gangs who might put his life to an end if he doesn't' go with them. If you could make your life better at the risk of your life, would you do it?
April 2, 2020
Way too much violence, drugs, and swearing to be even considered anything near a YA book. Two stars only because the plot was somewhat interesting, and I learned more about MMA fighting, which was the main point of the plot but didn’t get explored as much as a main point should, in my opinion. The author has potential, with a good plot and plot twists I didn’t see coming, but the level of swear words was highly unnecessary. I get that it was meant to show how “gritty” and “raw” Tony’s life is, but it just surpassed that and became obscene.
August 25, 2017
At first, I saw the summary of this book, and I thought, "This sounds like an interesting book to read.". Instead, I could not get through 20 pages because every other sentence, there is at least one cuss word. I can take occasional cusses. Heck, I myself cuss like a sailor, but this book is more crude and dirty than my mind! So, if you can get through it, great. I just cannot get through it at all.
October 23, 2019
Honestly one of the best books I've ever read. The author is extremely captivating and has written this story in a way that allows you to develop your own relationships/ connections with the characters. I recommend this book to everyone! one of the easiest reads I've come across.
May 6, 2017
Tap Out does give many gruesome details and has very very fowl language, but it does share an important message and story that many people could learn from.
May 18, 2017
great language
October 22, 2019
It was pretty cool.
September 14, 2012
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 the hand he’s been dealt is nothing short of a miserable existence. As a resident of Pleasant Meadows, his classmates always look down on him- no matter how “fresh” he keeps his appearance- and his band of trailer-park misfits as the lowest of low– white trailer trash. That’s the least of his worries, though. For as long as Tony can remember, his mom’s either been abusing alcohol or drugs or both and always been on the receiving end of punches from some low-life degenerate a**hole that she lets occupy her house and her bed. To block out the smacks and cries, Tony huddles beneath his pillows and covers in his room, dreaming of the day that he’ll be able to rescue her instead of cowering in fear, especially because the boyfriends always turn on him at some point, too.
However, a few adults- his principle, in particular- see Tony’s potential and through a series of events, Tony ends up at a gym taking a Mixed Martial Arts class with his best friend, Rob, and things finally appear to be looking up for him. But just like in real life, and even more so for those with less fortunate upbringings, there is always that negative entity that lurks in the shadows, ready to pounce at the opportune moment and drive you in the wrong direction. That negative force in this book is a drug-slinging bike gang that sets up camp in the same park as Tony. When he finds himself in between a rock and a hard place, circumstances force Tony to do things he’d never imagined (and always swore he would never) he’d have to do.
My Opinion: Why for the life of me I ever believed I could read this is beyond me. I don’t know… I guess I thought I’d read this story about a boy who had all the odds stacked against him, and somehow, he’d be able to break away from the mold and succeed in life, especially when he had people ready to back him and offer him several opportunities not only to make it out of the trailer park, but to actually make it in life. So for me, it was hard to watch Tony pass up all these chances and just accept that he had a certain crappy plot in life and that things couldn’t and wouldn’t change no matter how hard he fought against them. But how can someone know that if they never even tried?
I really wanted to root for Tony and his friends. Despite putting down the book at several turns and insisting that I was done, couldn’t read another page, I continued to pick it back up and hoped that his sheer will to survive, his fighter spirit to protect himself and his mom, would kick his behind into overdrive and he’d commit to bettering himself. I gritted my teeth through one sickening fight to the next, blinked through tears as Tony entered the same whorehouse that caused his good friend irreparable damage all for the sake of $500, and punched pillows after Tony made one stupid, ridiculous mistake after another and all for what? Nothing. In the end, I don’t feel like Tony was ever able to redeem himself. In fact, a few of his actions made me question whether or not he didn’t deserved to be put in prison or end up tied to the biker gang that he feared so much.
My Verdict: I was appalled when I saw that the targeted age for this book was 14-17 year olds. The crude language and frequency in which profanity (and even the derogative term used for African Americans) appears in this book had me aghast, and I swear probably more than any person ever should. Aside from the foulness of the prose, the overall graphic nature of the content left me stunned time and time again. I’m not stupid by any means and my childhood wasn’t rainbows and kittens (far from it if I’m being completely honest), so I know this type of world exists and that there are kids that face these hard truths every single day. It’s horrible, but it does happen. However, it is my opinion that kids at the targeted age shouldn’t be introduced to a world where a boy ends up choke-holding his own mother after watching countless men beat her near to death before or read about a man needing to beat a woman up to get his rocks off at a whorehouse or to see a father sell his daughter’s body to his supplier just for kicks. If this book draws any type of attention after publication, you can almost bet it’s making it on the banned book list.
♥ A very special thanks to Running Press Book Publishers and Net Galley for allowing me to preview this title. It went on sale Tuesday, September 11th.
**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 the hand he’s been dealt is nothing short of a miserable existence. As a resident of Pleasant Meadows, his classmates always look down on him- no matter how “fresh” he keeps his appearance- and his band of trailer-park misfits as the lowest of low– white trailer trash. That’s the least of his worries, though. For as long as Tony can remember, his mom’s either been abusing alcohol or drugs or both and always been on the receiving end of punches from some low-life degenerate a**hole that she lets occupy her house and her bed. To block out the smacks and cries, Tony huddles beneath his pillows and covers in his room, dreaming of the day that he’ll be able to rescue her instead of cowering in fear, especially because the boyfriends always turn on him at some point, too.
However, a few adults- his principle, in particular- see Tony’s potential and through a series of events, Tony ends up at a gym taking a Mixed Martial Arts class with his best friend, Rob, and things finally appear to be looking up for him. But just like in real life, and even more so for those with less fortunate upbringings, there is always that negative entity that lurks in the shadows, ready to pounce at the opportune moment and drive you in the wrong direction. That negative force in this book is a drug-slinging bike gang that sets up camp in the same park as Tony. When he finds himself in between a rock and a hard place, circumstances force Tony to do things he’d never imagined (and always swore he would never) he’d have to do.
My Opinion: Why for the life of me I ever believed I could read this is beyond me. I don’t know… I guess I thought I’d read this story about a boy who had all the odds stacked against him, and somehow, he’d be able to break away from the mold and succeed in life, especially when he had people ready to back him and offer him several opportunities not only to make it out of the trailer park, but to actually make it in life. So for me, it was hard to watch Tony pass up all these chances and just accept that he had a certain crappy plot in life and that things couldn’t and wouldn’t change no matter how hard he fought against them. But how can someone know that if they never even tried?
I really wanted to root for Tony and his friends. Despite putting down the book at several turns and insisting that I was done, couldn’t read another page, I continued to pick it back up and hoped that his sheer will to survive, his fighter spirit to protect himself and his mom, would kick his behind into overdrive and he’d commit to bettering himself. I gritted my teeth through one sickening fight to the next, blinked through tears as Tony entered the same whorehouse that caused his good friend irreparable damage all for the sake of $500, and punched pillows after Tony made one stupid, ridiculous mistake after another and all for what? Nothing. In the end, I don’t feel like Tony was ever able to redeem himself. In fact, a few of his actions made me question whether or not he didn’t deserved to be put in prison or end up tied to the biker gang that he feared so much.
My Verdict: I was appalled when I saw that the targeted age for this book was 14-17 year olds. The crude language and frequency in which profanity (and even the derogative term used for African Americans) appears in this book had me aghast, and I swear probably more than any person ever should. Aside from the foulness of the prose, the overall graphic nature of the content left me stunned time and time again. I’m not stupid by any means and my childhood wasn’t rainbows and kittens (far from it if I’m being completely honest), so I know this type of world exists and that there are kids that face these hard truths every single day. It’s horrible, but it does happen. However, it is my opinion that kids at the targeted age shouldn’t be introduced to a world where a boy ends up choke-holding his own mother after watching countless men beat her near to death before or read about a man needing to beat a woman up to get his rocks off at a whorehouse or to see a father sell his daughter’s body to his supplier just for kicks. If this book draws any type of attention after publication, you can almost bet it’s making it on the banned book list.
♥ A very special thanks to Running Press Book Publishers and Net Galley for allowing me to preview this title. It went on sale Tuesday, September 11th.
September 14, 2012
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 struggle in life when the hand he’s been dealt is nothing short of a miserable existence. As a resident of Pleasant Meadows, his classmates always look down on him- no matter how “fresh” he keeps his appearance- and his band of trailer-park misfits as the lowest of low– white trailer trash. That’s the least of his worries, though. For as long as Tony can remember, his mom’s either been abusing alcohol or drugs or both and always been on the receiving end of punches from some low-life degenerate a**hole that she lets occupy her house and her bed. To block out the smacks and cries, Tony huddles beneath his pillows and covers in his room, dreaming of the day that he’ll be able to rescue her instead of cowering in fear, especially because the boyfriends always turn on him at some point, too.
However, a few adults- his principle, in particular- see Tony’s potential and through a series of events, Tony ends up at a gym taking a Mixed Martial Arts class with his best friend, Rob, and things finally appear to be looking up for him. But just like in real life, and even more so for those with less fortunate upbringings, there is always that negative entity that lurks in the shadows, ready to pounce at the opportune moment and drive you in the wrong direction. That negative force in this book is a drug-slinging bike gang that sets up camp in the same park as Tony. When he finds himself in between a rock and a hard place, circumstances force Tony to do things he’d never imagined (and always swore he would never) he’d have to do.
My Opinion: Why for the life of me I ever believed I could read this is beyond me. I don’t know… I guess I thought I’d read this story about a boy who had all the odds stacked against him, and somehow, he’d be able to break away from the mold and succeed in life, especially when he had people ready to back him and offer him several opportunities not only to make it out of the trailer park, but to actually make it in life. So for me, it was hard to watch Tony pass up all these chances and just accept that he had a certain crappy plot in life and that things couldn’t and wouldn’t change no matter how hard he fought against them. But how can someone know that if they never even tried?
I really wanted to root for Tony and his friends. Despite putting down the book at several turns and insisting that I was done, couldn’t read another page, I continued to pick it back up and hoped that his sheer will to survive, his fighter spirit to protect himself and his mom, would kick his behind into overdrive and he’d commit to bettering himself. I gritted my teeth through one sickening fight to the next, blinked through tears as Tony entered the same whorehouse that caused his good friend irreparable damage all for the sake of $500, and punched pillows after Tony made one stupid, ridiculous mistake after another and all for what? Nothing. In the end, I don’t feel like Tony was ever able to redeem himself. In fact, a few of his actions made me question whether or not he didn’t deserved to be put in prison or end up tied to the biker gang that he feared so much.
My Verdict: I was appalled when I saw that the targeted age for this book was 14-17 year olds. The crude language and frequency in which profanity (and even the derogative term used for African Americans) appears in this book had me aghast, and I swear probably more than any person ever should. Aside from the foulness of the prose, the overall graphic nature of the content left me stunned time and time again. I’m not stupid by any means and my childhood wasn’t rainbows and kittens (far from it if I’m being completely honest), so I know this type of world exists and that there are kids that face these hard truths every single day. It’s horrible, but it does happen. However, it is my opinion that kids at the targeted age shouldn’t be introduced to a world where a boy ends up choke-holding his own mother after watching countless men beat her near to death before or read about a man needing to beat a woman up to get his rocks off at a whorehouse or to see a father sell his daughter’s body to his supplier just for kicks. If this book draws any type of attention after publication, you can almost bet it’s making it on the banned book list.
♥ A very special thanks to Running Press Book Publishers and Net Galley for allowing me to preview this title. It went on sale Tuesday, September 11th.
**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 struggle in life when the hand he’s been dealt is nothing short of a miserable existence. As a resident of Pleasant Meadows, his classmates always look down on him- no matter how “fresh” he keeps his appearance- and his band of trailer-park misfits as the lowest of low– white trailer trash. That’s the least of his worries, though. For as long as Tony can remember, his mom’s either been abusing alcohol or drugs or both and always been on the receiving end of punches from some low-life degenerate a**hole that she lets occupy her house and her bed. To block out the smacks and cries, Tony huddles beneath his pillows and covers in his room, dreaming of the day that he’ll be able to rescue her instead of cowering in fear, especially because the boyfriends always turn on him at some point, too.
However, a few adults- his principle, in particular- see Tony’s potential and through a series of events, Tony ends up at a gym taking a Mixed Martial Arts class with his best friend, Rob, and things finally appear to be looking up for him. But just like in real life, and even more so for those with less fortunate upbringings, there is always that negative entity that lurks in the shadows, ready to pounce at the opportune moment and drive you in the wrong direction. That negative force in this book is a drug-slinging bike gang that sets up camp in the same park as Tony. When he finds himself in between a rock and a hard place, circumstances force Tony to do things he’d never imagined (and always swore he would never) he’d have to do.
My Opinion: Why for the life of me I ever believed I could read this is beyond me. I don’t know… I guess I thought I’d read this story about a boy who had all the odds stacked against him, and somehow, he’d be able to break away from the mold and succeed in life, especially when he had people ready to back him and offer him several opportunities not only to make it out of the trailer park, but to actually make it in life. So for me, it was hard to watch Tony pass up all these chances and just accept that he had a certain crappy plot in life and that things couldn’t and wouldn’t change no matter how hard he fought against them. But how can someone know that if they never even tried?
I really wanted to root for Tony and his friends. Despite putting down the book at several turns and insisting that I was done, couldn’t read another page, I continued to pick it back up and hoped that his sheer will to survive, his fighter spirit to protect himself and his mom, would kick his behind into overdrive and he’d commit to bettering himself. I gritted my teeth through one sickening fight to the next, blinked through tears as Tony entered the same whorehouse that caused his good friend irreparable damage all for the sake of $500, and punched pillows after Tony made one stupid, ridiculous mistake after another and all for what? Nothing. In the end, I don’t feel like Tony was ever able to redeem himself. In fact, a few of his actions made me question whether or not he didn’t deserved to be put in prison or end up tied to the biker gang that he feared so much.
My Verdict: I was appalled when I saw that the targeted age for this book was 14-17 year olds. The crude language and frequency in which profanity (and even the derogative term used for African Americans) appears in this book had me aghast, and I swear probably more than any person ever should. Aside from the foulness of the prose, the overall graphic nature of the content left me stunned time and time again. I’m not stupid by any means and my childhood wasn’t rainbows and kittens (far from it if I’m being completely honest), so I know this type of world exists and that there are kids that face these hard truths every single day. It’s horrible, but it does happen. However, it is my opinion that kids at the targeted age shouldn’t be introduced to a world where a boy ends up choke-holding his own mother after watching countless men beat her near to death before or read about a man needing to beat a woman up to get his rocks off at a whorehouse or to see a father sell his daughter’s body to his supplier just for kicks. If this book draws any type of attention after publication, you can almost bet it’s making it on the banned book list.
♥ A very special thanks to Running Press Book Publishers and Net Galley for allowing me to preview this title. It went on sale Tuesday, September 11th.
March 21, 2017
His favorite word is the F bomb, as you know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2012
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!
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!
March 4, 2017
A fast-paced and violent fight for survival. And one that makes you glad you're reading, and not living, the narrator's struggle.
October 11, 2014
This book is yet another that I found at BookExpo America this year. I think what initially drew me to it was the cover. The picture of the young man on the cover is eerily mysterious and I was intrigued to find out what was going on under that hoodie. I love the pop of the bright green and bright blue against the depressing scene of the trailer and motorcycles in the background.
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 the meth-dealing biker gang that hangs out in his neighborhood recruit him, his hopes begin to slip away.
This is often a tough book to read. Devine does nothing to cover up or sugar-coat the characters’ reality in order to protect the reader. The language is crude and scenes violent, but that’s what makes the plot and emotions real. It deals with issues that many teens in Tony’s situation face every day: drugs, domestic violence, teen pregnancy and poverty (among others).
Even though Tony does illegal and immoral things throughout the book, you still root for him. His high IQ (said to be 130) proves that he has the potential to succeed in life, but he often lacks the motivation because of his home life distractions. He’s thrown into tough situations that he has no control over yet still wants the best life he can muster for himself. Even though Tony knows there’s a better life waiting for him, he still can’t figure out how the make the right decisions.
There are many relationships that grow and mature throughout this book but my favorite by far is the one between Tony and his best friend, Rob. On the surface, it’s a traditional tough guy relationship filled with cursing, rough-housing and fist bumps. But it’s obvious that they truly care about one another and have each others’ backs. Just like any other friendship, Tony and Rob go through rough patches, but their love and respect for one another is clear throughout the entire book.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself excited to see what would happen next each time I went to read a few pages. If you can get through the violence and inappropriate language, you’ll find a great story with characters you’ll grow to care about.
Tap Out was published in 2012 by Running Press Teen. I received a copy of the book from the publisher at BookExpo America 2012.
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 the meth-dealing biker gang that hangs out in his neighborhood recruit him, his hopes begin to slip away.
This is often a tough book to read. Devine does nothing to cover up or sugar-coat the characters’ reality in order to protect the reader. The language is crude and scenes violent, but that’s what makes the plot and emotions real. It deals with issues that many teens in Tony’s situation face every day: drugs, domestic violence, teen pregnancy and poverty (among others).
Even though Tony does illegal and immoral things throughout the book, you still root for him. His high IQ (said to be 130) proves that he has the potential to succeed in life, but he often lacks the motivation because of his home life distractions. He’s thrown into tough situations that he has no control over yet still wants the best life he can muster for himself. Even though Tony knows there’s a better life waiting for him, he still can’t figure out how the make the right decisions.
There are many relationships that grow and mature throughout this book but my favorite by far is the one between Tony and his best friend, Rob. On the surface, it’s a traditional tough guy relationship filled with cursing, rough-housing and fist bumps. But it’s obvious that they truly care about one another and have each others’ backs. Just like any other friendship, Tony and Rob go through rough patches, but their love and respect for one another is clear throughout the entire book.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself excited to see what would happen next each time I went to read a few pages. If you can get through the violence and inappropriate language, you’ll find a great story with characters you’ll grow to care about.
Tap Out was published in 2012 by Running Press Teen. I received a copy of the book from the publisher at BookExpo America 2012.
January 26, 2015
Hmm....this is a dark, "realistic" YA read, but the way the events are piled on until the big conclusion makes me question how realistic this can be.
I don't mind the cursing, and I appreciated reading about trailer park lives, the difficulties they face, and the mentality that the people who live there get sucked into. I was interested also in the scene where the gym Coach Dan first confronts Tony about what is going on in his life, and instead of answering, Tony is wildly insulted and walks out, because where he's from, you absolutely do not pry into other people's train wrecks. I sort of get it, because even though my own life doesn't mirror anything that this character goes through, I do get pressure from my parents not to air dirty laundry in public, so I really don't have any BFFs that I would "tell everything to".
On the other hand, I feel so much of the misery of this book could have been curtailed if someone would just TALK. Seriously, it's as bad as shoujo comics where all sorts of dramalama happens because people who are supposedly close won't talk to each other, and as a result, ridiculous misunderstandings abound that a 5 minute conversation could have taken care of.
For a supposedly super smart kid, Tony lets himself get dragged deeper and deeper, forever moaning and groaning about how his life is miserable and how he'll never get out. He also repeats on and on about how he's a pussy, and he really is; not because he's not man enough to beat the crap out of someone-- he manages at least that much by the end of the book; but because he's too much of a coward to just talk to the 3-4 different adults who attempt to reach him/get him to open up. These people were throwing themselves at him, waving their arms and practically yelling "WE'LL HELP", but Tony loves self-pity even more than self-preservation.
Things keep escalating from there until
My ability to suspend my disbelief took a nosedive. Or I simply lost the sympathy that the author worked so hard to give the main character. I would have preferred it much more if Tony had refused to commit arson and just got the crap beaten out of him...I dunno, broken legs maybe and stuffed in a trunk. Then maybe Marcus could try to sneak him out/save him when the bikers were preoccupied. Tony would have been a more likeable character then.
I don't mind the cursing, and I appreciated reading about trailer park lives, the difficulties they face, and the mentality that the people who live there get sucked into. I was interested also in the scene where the gym Coach Dan first confronts Tony about what is going on in his life, and instead of answering, Tony is wildly insulted and walks out, because where he's from, you absolutely do not pry into other people's train wrecks. I sort of get it, because even though my own life doesn't mirror anything that this character goes through, I do get pressure from my parents not to air dirty laundry in public, so I really don't have any BFFs that I would "tell everything to".
On the other hand, I feel so much of the misery of this book could have been curtailed if someone would just TALK. Seriously, it's as bad as shoujo comics where all sorts of dramalama happens because people who are supposedly close won't talk to each other, and as a result, ridiculous misunderstandings abound that a 5 minute conversation could have taken care of.
For a supposedly super smart kid, Tony lets himself get dragged deeper and deeper, forever moaning and groaning about how his life is miserable and how he'll never get out. He also repeats on and on about how he's a pussy, and he really is; not because he's not man enough to beat the crap out of someone-- he manages at least that much by the end of the book; but because he's too much of a coward to just talk to the 3-4 different adults who attempt to reach him/get him to open up. These people were throwing themselves at him, waving their arms and practically yelling "WE'LL HELP", but Tony loves self-pity even more than self-preservation.
Things keep escalating from there until
My ability to suspend my disbelief took a nosedive. Or I simply lost the sympathy that the author worked so hard to give the main character. I would have preferred it much more if Tony had refused to commit arson and just got the crap beaten out of him...I dunno, broken legs maybe and stuffed in a trunk. Then maybe Marcus could try to sneak him out/save him when the bikers were preoccupied. Tony would have been a more likeable character then.
May 17, 2013
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....
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....
October 4, 2012
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 to grip Rob's shoulder in solidarity, or tell Tony to stop hunching over (which is what I imagined him doing). You wanted to mean something to these kids because they only meant something to each other, and they had no idea where to go from there.
It's so grippingly real and honest until those last few pages that I was just about to recommend it to the entire world. We don't need Fight Club style face-bashing, and we don't need a glorified happy ending that doesn't suit the kid or his situation. I'm not at all saying I don't think Tony had it in him to get out of the trailer park--on the contrary, I think the way in which he would do it, were he a real kid, would involve a lot more willpower and fight. And it would take a hell of a lot more than some kind words from his mother for him to believe in himself enough to go for a scholarship when the entire scenario surrounding him going to college is based on trust he is unable to build at that point in his life. There were just so many other ways to write the ending, that I was frustrated with the way it was just wrapped up neatly and tied with a little bloody bow.
I would still recommend this to high schoolers, but only in a discussion group setting where different perspectives on Tony's life and of the ending of the book could be brought up.
It's so grippingly real and honest until those last few pages that I was just about to recommend it to the entire world. We don't need Fight Club style face-bashing, and we don't need a glorified happy ending that doesn't suit the kid or his situation. I'm not at all saying I don't think Tony had it in him to get out of the trailer park--on the contrary, I think the way in which he would do it, were he a real kid, would involve a lot more willpower and fight. And it would take a hell of a lot more than some kind words from his mother for him to believe in himself enough to go for a scholarship when the entire scenario surrounding him going to college is based on trust he is unable to build at that point in his life. There were just so many other ways to write the ending, that I was frustrated with the way it was just wrapped up neatly and tied with a little bloody bow.
I would still recommend this to high schoolers, but only in a discussion group setting where different perspectives on Tony's life and of the ending of the book could be brought up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2012
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 smart, but feels trapped in the trailer park where he lives. He is forced to deal crank by the neighboring gangs and has little hope of improving his circumstances. The only good thing in Tony’s life is a mixed martial arts class he is coerced into joining by his best friend Rob. In this class he learns how to fight and how to defend himself, and when to ‘tap out’ or give in. He doesn’t really do a lot of ‘Tapping Out’ but the title fits the book well. After more and more setbacks it seems that he might eventually have a slim shot at getting out of the park but to get there a lot has to happen and he ends up losing a lot, including his best friend. I had a very hard time finishing this book, in fact I skipped ahead to the last few chapters once I was about half way in. The writing was good, the story and plot were decent, it just wasn’t my kind of book. This one will be popular with older teen boys, especially reluctant readers. I would not put this in a school library but perhaps the adult section of a public library because of the language. While very realistic and modern, the language will cause problems with some parents.
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