Davey and Goliath

A Novel

He wanted to disappear. Instead, he became the target of the biggest kid in school. And then… the bully asked him for help.

When Davey Watkins moves across the country, his goals are simple: stay invisible, perfect his fadeaway jumper, and maybe dunk a basketball someday. But his first day at his new school lands him in the crosshairs of Shawn “Goliath” Morton—a violent bully with wounds of his own.

Everything changes when Shawn shows up at Davey’s door—bruised and desperate—with an impossible request: train him to fight his abusive father.

Davey reluctantly agrees—with one condition:
“If I’m gonna train you for war, I also need to train you on peace.”

As their secret training sessions evolve into philosophical explorations of strength and violence, both boys begin to change in ways they never expected. At the same time, Davey falls for Nora—a Kuwaiti refugee with a personal perspective on war—and wrestles with a secret that could end their relationship before it even begins.

Set during the Gulf War, Davey and Goliath explores how conflicts near and far can shape the lives of teens trying to find their place—and peace—in a violent world: one punch, one mixtape, one act of courage at a time.

Perfect for fans of the emotionally rich, character-driven stories of Fredrik Backman and Kristin Hannah. This unflinching coming-of-age story blends the raw honesty of The Perks of Being a Wallflower with the authentic teen voice of Eleanor & Park.