SOLVED. YA Romance, drama, coming of age. Set in Australia. Guy teaches some sort of martial art (tae kwon do or karate?) to a girl who's been abused. He crushes on her. Read around 1995-2000. [s]

[Hayley]

I read a book in high school - so 95-2000. I don't know when it was published but I'm guessing it was set in the late 80's or 90s.

It's a about a guy in a high school - I'm pretty sure it's set in Australia. This kid does some sort of martial art - tae kwon do or karate or whatever and one day in class he see's a girl he goes to school with. He crushes on her pretty hard and helps her train, I think for a competition.

I can't remember if it's directly addressed but she's definitively been assaulted or abused and that's the reason she's learning to defend herself.

From what I remember, the cover was blue with a blurry figure in a white gi on the cover. This could be mistaken though.

[Kris]

Hayley, what's the genre (which we need to add to the header/ topic title) - e.g., for teens or adults? realistic fiction, romance, coming of age, etc.?

[Hayley]

Sorry, thought I'd done it. its YA/Romance but also maybe drama and coming of age.

[Kris]

No worries. I added a few details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it.

[Rainbowheart]

Does anything on the LoveOzYA list look familiar?

[Rosa]

Black Belt? Peeling the Onion (aka Fighting Back)? Probably neither, sorry.

[Rosa]

Kick Back?

[Hayley]

@Rosa Kick back is it! Thanks a bunch x

[Rosa]

Great, I thought so! You're most welcome.