The Boxer and The Spy - Robert B. Parker

BLOG BY
LOGAN GRINDY

When i made my visit to the library to pick out a book this one instantly caught my eye. I was drawn in by the fact that this book is about boxing, yet it is mysterious. I have always been interested in boxing so i was eager to read about a topic that i enjoy. In addition, I love to read a book that is suspenseful because i find pleasure in having the urge to read on not knowing what unexpected turn the book may take. Knowing that Robert B. Parker is the author of the New York Times bestselling Spenser mystery novels i knew this would be an excellent choice and that i would not be disappointed in the book.

When a shy student's body is found washed up on shore of a quiet New England beach-an alleged suicide linked to steroids- former classmate 15 year-old Terry Novak is suspicious. Terry is just your average boy. However, he enjoys boxing. In fact, he has been training how to box with a man named George who is a former boxer himself. Terry didn't know Jason personally, but what he did know is that Jason was not the type of person to take steroids. Jason was a quiet boy who always kept things to himself and never looked for any extra attention. Not to mention he was extremely thin and weak. In addition to that, Terry doesn't think that steroids have severe symptoms such as suicide.

Terry, with the help of his friend Abby, decides to do some investigating on the topic. Terry starts off by researching steroids. When he chooses to ask the school nurse about steroids he doesn't realize what a treat he is putting himself in for. Before too long they realize that asking questions and getting involved in the case gets them into a lot of trouble and they are both put in great danger. However, they have such desire and determination to figure out what really happened to Jason that they don't give up. Survival soon becomes a fight. Luckily, Terry has learned a thing or two about fighting.

The title "The Boxer and The Spy" signifies what Terry goes through during this novel. Terry is very much into boxing and is training hard to improve his skills. However, throughout the story he is investigating the case and doing some detective work by "spying" on some people that may have been involved with the suicide of Jason. For those reasons, Terry is both a boxer and a spy.

I would ask Robert Parker:

"Did you live near a beach in New England as a child?"

I was wondering this because during the story Terry and Abby often times sit on rocks at the beach when they need space and a place where they can just relax and talk about things where they know no one will bother them. I was wondering if when you were a child you would go to the beach when you needed to escape things or a place to relax.

"Did you have a childhood crush on a girl when you were Terry's age?"

I noticed in the book that you always expressed Terry's feelings of affection toward Abby. I was wondering if you had the same type of feelings about a girl when you were his age or if you even later on had a relationship or got married to a woman that you met when you were young because they talked more than once about being together for the rest of their lives. The book even concluded with them talking about that.

"Did you box when you were Terry's age?"

Throughout the book Terry was always training for boxing. I was wondering if you used to box because I could tell by the way you talked about the training and the different moves and such that you have a lot of background knowledge about the sport. I don't know much about boxing and just by reading this book i feel like a learned a lot about boxing.