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Bloomsbury USA Childrens
On sale:
October 2009
Price:
$16.99
Format:
Hardcover
Size:
5.0625 x 7.75 in
Pages:
336 pp
Ages:
14
Grades:
9
ISBN-13: 9781599903729
ISBN-10: 1599903725
Girl in the Arena
By Lise Haines
Book Description
A powerful YA debut that combines the visceral storylines of movies like Fight Club and Gladiator, with the emotional tug of Romeo and Juliet.
During the week, Lyn lives in a big house in Cambridge and hangs out with friends in Harvard Square. But over the weekend, she cheers her father on as he gears up for neo-gladiator competition—a high-profile televised blood sport that rivals the NFL. Lyn's father is the top player in the league, and the paparazzi that have always swarmed him have started to dog Lyn's every move. All this fame comes with another price--Lyn's family lives with the constant presence of violence, uncertainty, and a strict cultural code set by the Gladiator Sports Association. When a skilled young fighter slays Lyn's father, the GSA imposes an unthinkable sentence—Lyn must marry her father's murderer. Though her mother has made a career out of marrying into Glad culture, Lyn is prepared to do whatever it takes to claim her independence. Even if it means going into the arena herself. . . .
Lise Haines' debut novel, a dark satire for our time, is a mesmerizing look at a modern world addicted to violence, fame, and greed—a world eerily close to our own.
"Vividly rendered, this story of self-determination, loss, grief, and survival is set in a contemporary but alternative world permeated with virtual reality and an extreme-sport gladiator subculture. Referencing history and pop culture, Lyn’s droll, sometimes poignant first-person narrative is engaging and intimate, and it deftly combines romance, Lyn’s family responsibilities, and thought-provoking, frequently satirical looks at societal issues, such as celebrity, violence, and a culture that prizes profit over compassion. [T]he diverse characters, chillingly hyperrealistic scenarios, and the strong, appealing protagonist provide an immersing read that is likely to attract fans of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games (2008).”—Booklist
"Pop-culture references make Lyn’s world seem familiar to readers, and clever new technologies make the story plausible without taking it too far into science fiction. Haines’s protagonist is street-smart, socially conscious, and wise all the way through, even when she begins to have feelings for Uber. Readers will appreciate that her victory comes from life on her own terms and not merely romance.”–School Library Journal
"Entertainingly gruesome and emotionally resonant.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Haines wisely keeps this violence-obsessed culture as realistic as possible; readers will be disturbed to see the overlaps with our own world, and they will note the short jump from contemporary wrestling and street fighting to this rawer dynamic. This is far from being a message novel about the evils of violence, however; the characters, all achingly vulnerable and hovering close to permanently breaking, are the core of story, and they will haunt readers long after they forget the battle scenes. While fans of Collins’ Hunger Games or Fight Club will be drawn to the edgy, sci-fi violence, the potent, disturbing mother-and-daughter dynamic will certainly intrigue realistic fiction fans as well.”—BCCB
“Lyn is a vibrant, appealing character. If you enjoy character-driven stories that focus on a set of unexpected changes and decision points in the character's life, you should really like this book.” – Epinions.com
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