McCutcheon Daniel's mother left him with his father. His father is a washed up fighter that came close but never made it to the top. He is now a drunk that uses McCutcheon to fulfill his dream of being a champion. McCutcheon also has to take care of his five year old sister without much help from dad. McCutcheon is a promising young MMA fighter on the underworld circuit of Detroit. He is rising up the ranks and his father uses him to win bets and fuel his drinking and womanizing. Meanwhile, McCutcheon wants a better life. He is really intelligent and his science teacher sees promise and the chance for a better life. When McCutcheon wins a lottery to be accepted at a prestigious school and make a better life he faces a lot of choices. Can he walk away from his father and the illegal fighting? How does he care for his sister and keep her safe from the Priests (the gang that runs the underworld in Detroit)? Where is his mother and why did she leave? Great action with a lot of responsibility for a high school kid. Action packed with a twist at then end. Excellent read! ( )

Fairly graphic descriptions of injuries. ( )

McCutcheon Daniels has never had it easy: he lives in a bombed out neighborhood on the east side of Detroit, his mother left when he was in grade school, his dad is drunk/high or asking for money when he isn't, and he goes to a terrible school. But Daniels has one talent: he can fight -- cage fight -- and as Bam Bam he has beaten every fighter that has faced him. Daniels is smart enough to know that there is a life beyond cage fighting and when a sympathetic teacher suggests that he should transfer and go to an elite private school, Daniels is torn. Can he give up cage fighting for good? Can he turn his life on the only life -- and family -- that's ever known? Is he good enough for such a prissy school? You'll need to read this book to find out!

This book is full of realistic dialogue, hard-hitting violence (pun intended), and credible situations. It falters in trying to portray Detroit (while the high school "Fenkel" is obviously made up, SE Michigan is seldom affected by Nor'easters) and the slang is not midwestern. The ending is too pat and then is followed up by an obvious over-the-top twist to set up the sequal. Shame on the author for such a cheap trick that mars an otherwise good YA book.

Most teens won't worry about the false tone and setting and care too much about the ending... they'll be too busy gobbling up the eye-gouching violence and fast-paced plot. ( )

McCutcheon is a mixed martial arts cage fighter. Only 16, he is pushed into the world by his unscrupulous father. His sister, Gemma, gives McCutcheon a reason to reach for more. When he is given the opportunity to join a prestigious high school, his father and the Priest (mafia-type organization) kidnap Gemma, forcing him back in the cage.

I wasn't really sure that I would like this book. But I thought McCutcheon had depth and was really well developed. I doubt I will read the sequel, I don't know that it can have as much character and tension as this book did. Overall, this is a great book for young adults, teenagers, etc. Highly recommended ( )