A Fighting Chance

Gr 9 Up—For Miguel Angel, Monterey County, CA, is not just home to the opulent shores of Pebble Beach or the magnificent Gabilan mountains, which John Steinbeck once praised for being "full of sun and loveliness." Monterey County is home to the dangerous streets of Alisal and Salinas, two adjacent towns where most young men leave in either handcuffs or a body bag. Miguel Angel is only able to find refuge in two places, the arms of the rich and beautiful Britney Scozzari or inside the ring of the Alisal Boxing Club. While the protagonist battles for the survival of the boxing club amidst threats from warring politicians, Britney struggles to withhold the truth of her pregnancy from both Miguel Angel and her violently racist father. Debut novelist Meléndez Salinas has crafted a dramatic tale of Shakespearean proportions that includes star-crossed lovers, class warfare, bigotry, poverty, violence, and betrayal. While some of her characters can veer into stock clichés (the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the poor little rich girl), Meléndez Salinas's characters manage to ring with authenticity and make realistic choices when faced with adversity. A veteran reporter of Monterey, the author often gives too many facts by using unnecessary verbose descriptions, leaving readers with little room for personal interpretation of the text.