Kelly Zekas

Spectacular book, based on real figure from the early 1700s, Elizabeth Wilkinson.

I'm not sure how to feel about it -- as a book, I loved it -- from Elizabeth's fighting spirit that never gives up, to her toughness, to the thought-provoking alternate stories about poverty and racism -- it's a powerful work, and it inspired me to learn more about the history behind the work.

That's where it gets a little sticky for me -- not much is known about Elizabeth Wilkinson, aside from her published boasts and a little bit about her career, including the fact that she didn't lose to Hannah Hyfield, and she did marry her promoter, Stokes. Interestingly, she seems to have been one of the most famous figures in boxing during her lifetime, eclipsing even Figg. I get where the bare bones of her life are sacrificed to write an engaging story that will resonate with American teenagers. However, there is no evidence on her racial background. There is no association with debtor's prison. And feelings about race in Britain were very different when her story took place -- so this feels quite manufactured to me in a way that does not respect the history it is based on, or even the location.

Is this an effective book? Yes! Is it a great platform to talk about race and gender? Also yes! Is it truly based on the life of Elizabeth Wilkinson? Nope. And that begs the question -- it is erasure when you fictionalize a life to the extent that this one is fictionalized? Or it it meant to be twist on a retelling, that honors her spirit above all?… (altro)