Willy Vlautin has never written a cheerful book in his brilliant writing career, and Don’t Skip Out on Me is no exception. Young Horace Hopper, half-Paiute, half-Irish, wants to be a championship boxer. Abandoned by his birth parents, he’s been taken in by an elderly rancher and his wife who love him like a son. They would like nothing better than to have him take over their Nevada ranch. His desire to prove himself in the ring, however, is stronger than his sense of worthiness. The ranch isn’t something he thinks he deserves. In fact, he doesn’t think he deserves much of anything out of life. Your heart will break for Horace as he tries to make his way in the world and you’ll find yourself pulling for him, hoping that he discovers his worth.
–Carol, Annie Bloom’s Books, Portland, OR
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