In the Ring by Sierra Isley

The quick cut: A teen girl who struggles with panic attacks starts taking boxing classes at the suggestion of her therapist. 

A real review:

 Life comes with its successes and losses. However, on some occasions, those losses can be so devastating that it leaves you scarred. This is the situation for Rose. 

 Rose feels like she's losing her mind. Ever since her mother's suicide, she's been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. Since an incident at school, she's also become a target for teasing. The only people who understand her are her therapist and best friend Gemma. So when the star quarterback takes teasing too far, it's the tattooed classmate named Elliott who steps in. Will they find a bond together? Or end up ripping each other apart. 

 This book does an excellent job at portraying anxiety from a situationally induced angle. People like me have the biological wiring towards anxiety and stress. Rose experienced a traumatic incident that changed her forever. Recovering from that is different than a biological perspective and that representation is important too. 

 Rose has lost a parent in one of the worst ways possible. I still have both my parents, so the loss is one I can't fully comprehend. Having that be suicide only makes it worse. Her stress is suddenly about the inner fear that she may be slowly becoming like her mom. I can't blame her for that fear. 

 This story tells an important message: that one of the best ways to deal with anxiety is through physical exertion. Her therapist suggesting a sport to help cope with her struggles is a good one and can be effective for anybody going through difficult stressful moments. Its one of the many ways I cope with my generalized anxiety. 

 The only gripe I have is that Rose never really gets any resolution about WHY she started having panic attacks.  It made me feel like the story was left unfinished and I loathe that feeling. Having that conversation also would've made for better disability representation too. 

 A cute story with an important message on coping with anxiety. 

My rating: 4.5 out of 5