Cassius Clay grew up in a segregated Louisville, with a close family that included a beloved grandfather and lots of friends. His best friend Lucky narrates the prose sections of this novel, while Cassius's sections are in verse. When the theft of his new red Schwinn Cruiser Deluxe bike led Cassius to Joe Martin's gym, it triggered his drive to become a boxer and provided the venue for his early development. This focus on Cassius's childhood and adolescent entry into the amateur boxing world is bookended by his 1958 performance in the Golden Gloves championship bout. Lucky's sections provide insight into his friend's character and context for the cultural and social stage of the time, while Cassius's free verse infuses personality and energy into this accessible account of the boxing superstar as a young person. (Ages 8-12)