Takedown

Gr 4–7—Mikayla and Lev are two unlikely allies thrown together as wrestling partners. For Mikayla, wrestling is in her family's blood. Ever since her parents divorced, she has been determined to wrestle like her brothers in order to keep her father's attention. When she is not allowed to join her older brothers' team, the Eagles, her mom signs her up for the Gladiators. There she meets Lev, who has been steadily improving as a wrestler and has his eye on the state tournament this year. He is afraid that having a female wrestling partner will not give him the challenge he needs to get to the next level. Together they form an unlikely friendship, though always keeping in mind that only one of them can win at the end of the year. The story is heavy on wrestling action and jargon, which will please fans of the sport. Themes about building friendships, adjusting to new family situations, and weighing moral decisions add complexity. The characters are in their first year of middle school, which will appeal to both upper elementary and younger middle school audiences.