The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Bullwinkel, Rita. Headshot. Viking, 2024.

Rita Bullwinkel's novel Headshot is set in Reno, Nevada and traces the two days of the Daughters of America girls' boxing championship. The narrative does not abide by a linear structure, employs fragmentation, and uses the past, present, and future tenses. For the sake of clarity, the following summary relies upon the present tense and a more streamlined mode of explanation.

In July, a boxing gym called Bob's Boxing Palace hosts the Daughters of America girls' boxing championship. Artemis Victor, Andi Taylor, Kate Heffer, Rachel Doricko, Iggy Lang, Izzy Lang, Rose Mueller, and Tanya Maw all travel to Reno, Nevada in order to participate in the competition.

On the first day of the Cup, Artemis and Andi face off in the ring. While they are fighting, the girls' minds shift between their physical surroundings and their recollected experiences. Artemis is one of three girls, all of whom have been involved in boxing. Artemis is determined to defeat Andi because she wants to prove herself to her family. She studies Andi's odd stature, stance, and mannerisms in order to get ahead in each round. Meanwhile, Andi cannot focus because she keeps seeing the image of the little boy who drowned in the community pool where she lifeguards. She blames herself for the incident and struggles to dismiss her memories of it. Ultimately, she loses to Artemis and feels lonely and disappointed afterwards.

Kate Heffer and Rachel Doricko face off in the next match. Kate has always been a people pleaser and started boxing because people said she had the build for the sport. Throughout the match, she counts in her head. Meanwhile, Rachel tries to scare Kate in order to gain power over her in the ring. Rachel likes being odd and unsettling others with her unexpected dress and behaviors. She ultimately wins the match.

Iggy Lang and Izzy Lang face off in the third match of the day. Iggy and Izzy are cousins but have a fraught relationship. Iggy worships Izzy and started boxing because she admired her older cousin. Izzy resents Iggy for copying her and feels threatened that Iggy is so good at the sport. After she loses to Iggy, Izzy knows she will have to give up boxing.

In the final round of the day, Rose Mueller and Tanya Maw face off. Rose has always been an outsider but is observant and attuned to others. She uses these skills to defeat Tanya in the ring. Meanwhile, Tanya's mind wanders to scenes from her childhood, thinking particularly about the day her mom left the family and about her relationship with her older sister.

The next day, Rachel defeats Artemis in the ring, and Rose defeats Iggy. Rachel and Rose then face off in the final championship round. Throughout the match, their minds move back and forth between the events taking place in the room and the images in their minds. Rose wins the match and the competition.

Years in the future, the Daughters of America Cup will end and Bob's Boxing Palace will go under. In the meantime, however, many girls like Artemis, Andi, Kate, Rachel, Iggy, Izzy, Rose, and Tanya will participate in girls boxing. Sometime in the distant future, a girl on another planet will also discover the power of boxing and similar hand games.