Why I Fight by J Adam Oaks

Meet Wyatt Shreaves. He’s been out of school since he turned twelve and a half—and he hasn’t seen his parents (ma and Fever) since then either. Together with his itinerant uncle Spade, a traveling salesman with questionable morals, Wyatt crisscrosses the country, weaving in and out of cities, towns, trailer parks and suburbs.

One day, uncle Spade spots Wyatt throw a powerful punch and the dollar signs in his eyes light up. Thus begins Wyatt’s life as an underground fighter. As the wins, money, and injuries roll in, Wyatt begins to feel more and more estranged from his once-admired uncle. Without anyone to talk to and without anyone who truly cares for him, Wyatt withdraws deep into himself.

Wyatt’s voice is so authentic and gritty, his story so dark and heartbreaking, it’s near impossible to put the book down. The end is despairing—yet contains hope and optimism—and the reader is left with the question: What is Wyatt going to do now?

I highly recommend this book to everyone, but be warned that it will grip you tightly and wrench your heart. Filled with complex characters and ambiguities, the book will keep readers thinking of Wyatt and his fate long after the story is finished.

Oaks, J. Adams. Why I Fight. New York: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, 2009. Print.

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