In this gripping story, wrestling dominates the lives of two young men. Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane come from very different backgrounds--yet they both have the drive, determination, and commitment of a champion. And both are determined to have successful wrestling seasons despite having to grapple with their own demons.
But their personal problems won't matter when these two teens meet on the mat to compete for the title of New Jersey State Wrestling Champion. Both Ivan and Bobby have put in grueling hours of practice, endured intense hunger to cut weight, and sacrificed themselves for the sport they love--but only one of them is destined to win.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Potential 5 star book but the end was dissapointing Comment: The book traveled the lives of two boys, Ivan Korkse and Bobby Zane. They're both trememendous wrestlers whose lives are all wrestling. Both have dreams of being state champion but only one could be able to say they're state champ. Ivan had a devastating loss the previous year of the states finishing third. Ivan's school(Lennings) is not really known as a winning school while Bobby's(Millburn) is. Both cruise into the state tournament with Bobby losing one match to Rampart while Ivan is undefeated. In their bracket Ivan is placed first, while Bobby is third. The book really satisfies the reader and really gives great detail and description in every chapter. There are some great twists and turns you could say, with Bobby getting his former girlfriend pregnant and Bobby's parents splitting up. The book really explains the components of life and how to deal with them. Ivan, on the other hand, has been tormented by his mother's passing his senior year. It really affects him drastically. To make matters worse, Ivan now has to win the state title to get accepted into the college of Western Arizona. This really brings some drama and excitement into the book. Now, onto the ending. I'm not going to try to spoil the ending but you can say it's a dissapointment. The book just ends abruptly and there is no sequal. If not for the ending, I would've definitely gave this book 5 stars. Well, there you have it. A great book that is an exciting read. Customer Rating: Summary: Real Situations in a Wrestling Experience Comment: Pinned, a novel by Alfred C. Martino tells the story of two wrestlers and the challenges they must overcome to become a champion. The first of the two teens introduced is Ivan Korske. Ivan comes from a poverty stricken town whose only hope it to earn a scholarship to leave his current life behind. Second is Bobby Zane who is facing family and relationship problems unlike any he has faced before. The story peeks into the life of a wrestler. You learn about cutting weight, long tiring practices and the pressures to succeed.
Throughout the novel, it's apparent that Alfred Martino has a true natural writing ability and knowledge of wrestling. But through all the talent and knowledge the novel still lacks many things, including and appropriate ending. Most of the book is spent building up to one match, the state finals, yet the story ends with no outcome. If there was a sequel then the current ending would have been perfect, leaving the reader wanting more, but since there was no other book the ending was a let down.
Even though the ending was a disappointment, overall the book was pleasing. I was able to relate the book and the struggles of both characters faced. I come from a wrestling background of 11 years and have struggled to make weight and deal with the pressure just like those in the book.
Customer Rating: Summary: Awesome Realism Comment: "Wrestling devotees will appreciate the work ethic of Ivan and Bobby as they perfect their moves throughout the season. Those readers who have not previously been exposed to the mat sport will be amazed at Martino's vivid descriptions of a wrestler's total devotion: the sultry, sweating practices, the workouts and running after practice, and the dieting. It is a committed wrestler's daily routine in his quest for a state championship... and every bit of it is authentic." Customer Rating: Summary: Read with caution: There be spoilers here!!! Comment: SPOILER: I'm a woman who has absolutely no interest in wrestling, but this book held my attention due to some interesting character development. That being said...what was up with that ending??? The entire book builds up to the final wrestling match and we don't get to find out who wins?? I was in shock and yelling %$#@(*&^%$#. By the time you reach the end of the book, you have picked your favorite (Bobby was mine), but the reality is that one of the two kids HAD to win. SO WHICH ONE IS IT!
BTW..I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a decent job. Customer Rating: Summary: Pinned Comment: Pinned
By:Alfred C. Martino
Reviewed By:A. Tang
Period 1
Ivan Korske, a promising young wrestler, with a short temper is on the Lennings High Wrestling team. Their school has been through a four season losing streak. He is no doubt, the best wrestler on his team, probably the best in the state. But, he is constantly torn with always losing the team matches. He was 22-0, never losing a single match. But, the whole season his team won only their last match. Bobby Zane, a rich boy who is also a promising young wrestler, has problems with his family. His mother and father divorce, and also, his girlfriend was supposed to be pregnant. His girlfriend ends up not being pregnant, and he is still torn by his parent's being torn. Both with the same talent, both with great wrestling talent, Zane and Korske are destined to meet each other in the 129 pound weight class State Finals. The book ends without telling who wins the match.
I liked most of the book, except for the ending. The ending was very elusive, and since he did not make a sequel I never can know what happened between Ivan and Bobby. The book itself was a wonderful book. I liked the way that the author was able to portray the hardships and the things that made wrestling a sport only people with dedication could do. I think that he could show it so well, because he, himself, was once a wrestler. He, as do many people of the sport, know all about the tough times of wrestling. Also, it did a good job of showing the life of a true teenager. It showed the pain of losing someone you love in the way that Ivan had lost his mother a few months before his senior year, season of wrestling began. It also showed how much a divorce can impact someone. Bobby's parents divorced in the middle of his season, and that's what really kept him from doing well; he worried about his parents too much. So, all in all, the book was great, but the ending really didn't satisfy me.
My least-favorite part of the book was the whole last chapter. It had done a great job of building up the right feeling of being anxious to find out who won the match, but, in the end, it just ended with, "And the state championship match at 129 pounds had begun...." It really killed it for me when the author couldn't even finish the story. It's like he fell asleep at the page, and decided not to write anymore. That really dissapointed it for me. I would have liked this book so much, if he had finished it. The book constantly reminded me, the reader, about the State Finals match, and how important it was to each wrestler. Yet, he didn't say how the outcome was. The last chapter was definitely my least favorite part of the book.
