Sarhn, a sensei herself, uses karate as a unifying thread in Olive’s disjointed new life—a life that mirrors her already shaky feelings of belonging, even in her own family: Olive was adopted as a baby, and she’s harbored a sense of being out of place for years. The move to Buxton exacerbates that feeling, until she stumbles onto the dojo, where she uncovers a haven, of sorts, alongside a group of people who quickly become her found family, particularly the kind, strong Sensei Matthew and his adopted son, Boyan.
Just as Olive finally starts to feel like she belongs, Sarhn throws in an unexpected twist in the form of a painful truth from Olive’s past, transforming Olive’s greatest fight not into a karate match against a formidable opponent, but into a metaphorical battle of self-discovery. Sarhn compels Olive to rely on the emotional strength and discipline she’s learned in karate to finally come to terms with who she is and who she can become, a sweet moment of victory that readers will relish being part of. Osu not only captures the struggles of adolescence—both silly and monumental—but also celebrates the victory of forging one's path.
Takeaway: Adopted teen finds karate a catalyst for self-discovery and belonging.
Comparable Titles: Cynthia Hand’s The How & the Why, Jay McInerney’s Ransom.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
