Karate Girl — Mary Leary

Grrrrrlpower!

After a bullying incident at school, Mary Leary's young heroine joins a karate class. But karate, she learns, is not simply a method of self-defense. It also helps develop confidence and concentration. "To be sure enough of oneself to avoid a fight â€" that is what karate is about," her teacher, the sensei, tells her. So begins a firsthand look at what being a karate student is really like, from the special uniform and classroom to the rigorous exercises and practice sessions. Becoming a karate girl takes dedication and hard work.

With pictures and text brimming with sass and spunky style, Mary Leary charts the course of a girl getting ready to face new challenges â€" at the dojo and on the sidewalk after school.