A very simple narrative about a boy who takes up Akido because his father feels it will help with the anxiety attacks he has suffered since his mother left. Neither the anxiety nor the mother's absence takes up much room in the story and become unimportant, unexplored elements. The novel's focus is on Riley's interactions with the other kids, notably the Muslim girl whose hijab is a key plot element. Overall, an enjoyable read but unexciting.

Thank you to Orca Books who were kind enough to send me this copy for review. ( )

A healing read about a boy who has been hurt and finds strength and support through an aikido club that his father has encouraged him to join. I learnt some things about aikido that I never knew before and liked how diverse this club seemed to be. ( )

This is a fast read about ten year old Riley whose father is looking to help him deal with his anxiety and gives Riley a choice between aikido and yoga. Riley chooses aikido and the story details his experiences going to the dojo, meeting the four other students in his class, and eventually becoming more confident in handling the "surge"; the overwhelming flood of anxiety that complicates his ability to feel normal. I have a friend whose son suffers from anxiety and I feel that Corr represents the anxiety very realistically.
I enjoyed the story but would have liked the characters to be fleshed out a bit more. We learn enough about Wafaa to be satisfied since her back story gets revealed, but I'd have liked to have known more about Zack, Dion and Joe and what led them to aikido as well. I'd also like to have had some insight into whether Riley's aikido experience was making his school life any more bearable and whether he even told anyone he was going to classes.
I chose to buy this book because the author lives close by, and the former school librarian in me likes supporting local children's authors in their debuts. I would definitely read something else written by Corr and will be adding this book to the latest box of book I booktalk and then donate to one of my previous schools. ( )

Great book especially for young boys. It deals with a lot of feelings that I think pre-teen boys don't really acknowledge, let alone discuss. ( )

Riley needs to learn how to deal with life and anxiety he has been feeling since his mother left him and his father. His dad feels that aikido could be helpful. He was not wrong. As Riley participates in aikido he learns many lessons that translate to his personal life.

This simply written little book for young people has a lot to say and I would recommend it and encourage parents to read it with their kids. ( )