My Corner of the Ring

By: Jesselyn Silva

Narrated by: Jesselyn Silva

The middle-grade memoir of a girl boxer and future Olympian.

In this Lean In-style inspirational memoir, 12-year-old Jesselyn Silva offers a ringside seat to girl power and what it takes to win in the ring and in life: punch by punch. My Corner of the Ring shows kids what it means to be true to yourself and stick with your dreams even when facing adversity and ridicule. Supported by her single dad, Jesselyn (JessZilla in the ring) first donned her boxing gloves at seven years of age, making her one of very few female boxers in the country. My Corner of the Ring charts Jesselyn's oft-times exhilarating and heartbreaking journey to success in a male-dominated sport where she struggles to find partners to spar with and combats the viewpoint that no one wants to see a girl fight.

Despite an inhospitable environment, Jesselyn still has her sights set on the Olympics. With the help of her dad, Pedro, who has instilled in her a strong work ethic, she just might make it. It is an exciting and motivational listen that will provide kids with the roadmap and encouragement to accomplish whatever goals they set for themselves. Jesselyn's positive can-do attitude and determination make this a must-listen.

©2019 Jesselyn Silva (P)2019 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“This memoir will undoubtedly inspire and motivate teens to set goals and challenge themselves. An invaluable addition to public and school library biography collections.” (School Library Journal)

"Jess is a smart, strong Latinx girl with a fierce determination, and readers will root through her wins and losses, ups and downs, all the way to the 2018 Junior Olympics...young girls will be able to relate to Jess and will be inspired by her fighting spirit. Her loving relationship with her father and the support of her coach give an emotional weight to the story. Readers will come away believing nothing is more important than knowing you have people in your corner." (Kirkus Reviews)

"This autobiographical account of [Jesselyn’s] journey to date is matter-of-fact yet absorbing as she negotiates the physical and mental challenges of boxing and also the cultural challenges of being a girl in a sport with very few women.... Reluctant readers will especially appreciate the combination of compelling subject and accessible prose...and maybe intrigued enough to strap on a pair of gloves themselves.” (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)

That she never gave up

Wonderful book from Jess’s life of boxing and has taught me so much on how to do something in my own way.