Pinned by Alfred C. Martino

by Alfred C. Martino

Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane couldn't be more different—they come from different backgrounds, different lifestyles, and they have very different values and ways of looking at the world and dealing with people. Yet they both have the drive, determination, and commitment to self-sacrifice necessary to become a champion. In the end, though, only one will stand in the center of the mat with his arms raised in victory.Has each boy prepared enough? Sacrificed enough? Does each want to win enough? All the training, pain, running, and cutting weight ultimately comes down to a few short minutes on a wrestling mat—leaving one boy the victor, the other devastated.

Genres: Sports, Audiobook, Young Adult, Fiction, Teen

Mass Market Paperback

First published February 7, 2005

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I AM SO FREAKING MAD RIGHT NOW!

Okay, enough all caps. But seriously, I am mad. I was gifted this audiobook by SYNC during the summer. It isn't a story subject I would normally find interesting nor would I choose to spend my time reading/listening to, but it was free and I did find it interesting. The character conflicts are what kept me in this book. So, I should be happy, right? I mean, I got to see the characters grow, overcome their difficulties, and make it to the thing they'd both focused on for so long.

But...

THERE IS NO CONCLUSION! NO RESOLUTION! NO WINNER!

I know, I said no more all caps, but I CAN'T BELIEVE I DON'T KNOW WHO WON! I was rooting for one boy over the other. I guess that's why the author decided not to give us the final outcome...he didn't want to leave us upset if our favorite didn't win. But now I'm upset because I don't know if he won...and I never will!

For my sanity's sake, I will just assume I know the winner and the outcome of his future. Oh, and for those of you who wouldn't dream of picking up this book because it's about wrestlers, you should give it a chance. The terms for different holds (or whatever they call it) are mentioned (and I'm sure a wrestle could visualize the exact moves), but it doesn't interfere with the story being told. I will tell you, if you have no idea what a wrestler goes through for his sport (and I didn't), it will make you want your son/brother/boyfriend/best friend to NEVER become a wrestler. A sport requiring such an unhealthy lifestyle should not - for the sake of the boys playing it - be encouraged, in my opinion. No offense intended to any of you wrestlers out there. Kudos to you for being able to play such a competitive and hard sport.

[Karson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book Pinned, was definitely one of my favorite reads this year. I really liked how each chapter would switch off from Bobby to Ivan. I really wanted to keep reading because both wrestlers work so hard because all they wanna do is win the state championship. I kept reading because every chapter would end on something that made you kept reading. And not one chapter made me bored, every chapter was really good.

[Collin baehnman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I thought that pinned was a good book,because during the story it told about how much the effort it takes to be a wrestler. There was very exciting points in this book like when Bobby almost got his girlfriend pregnant, then what happened to Ivan's mom there is a lot of the different things you will want to read more and more. I would have liked if this book went a little bit farther into the round where it was Bobby and Ivan wrestling for the state title and not having it stop at the start of the match. Other wise I thought it was a great book.

Plot Summary:
What happened in this book is that Ivan is the best wrestlers in the state of New Jersey,but there's another wrestler who is good but has the determination to get to the state title which he does. Ivan is from Lennings and then bobby Zane is from Milburn. Bobby has both his parents and then in the contrast Ivan only has his dad when his mother died. All Ivan's life has been wrestling he carved his mother's name into a wall thinking it will stay their forever which it will. Bobby is a rich kid who is good at wrestling he had a girlfriend and he thought he got her pregnant in all reality he didn't but their was a problem. He broke up with her half way through the things.

Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to anyone who really wants to know how much it takes to be in wrestling.

[Bailey Balistreire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was very good one of my favorite books now. The main reason why I liked this book is because wrestling is my favorite sport. I know how hard a person has to work to get to the next step in wrestling. Ivan Korske is the main character in this book. He is working on getting to the state wrestling tournament for his last year in high school. Ivan is like most wrestlers that want to go to the state tournament. That means you have to work more then any other person on your team and even the teams you are competing against. Some people don't know how hard you really have to work. Ivan works so hard toward the end of the book, but he gets tired by the second period and he doesn't know if he would be able to win and get to state. He ends up winning and going to state.
I think this book is for wrestlers (boy or girls, gender doesn't matter). What matters is if you take the time to read the book and know what the book and the sport is about. The age should be 13 to 17 because they will understand the book the most.

[Alfred C. Martino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! And the author is tremendously handsome!

[Reba · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I added this book to my to-read list in 2011. And I have absolutely no idea why. An intense book about wrestling? But I'm all in now, taking it to the mat (see what I did there?). Anyway, I have just started, and so far, not bad. Martino is a very descriptive writer, he does love his adjectives. But you know what? So do I, so I can't even hate on him for all that. Stay tuned as I delve into the sweaty, smelly world of high-school wrestling.

Tension...Martino excels at building the tension in this story. It's so thick and raw, it's almost painful. Yet, you have to know what's going to happen, so you keep reading. There is more here than matches and wrestling though. Both Bobby and Ivan are struggling with some heavy issues. Rather than weigh the book down, these struggles and issues give depth and help propel the narrative forward. As much as you care about what the outcome of the ultimate showdown between Bobby and Ivan will be, you also find yourself caring for them as people, and not wanting there to only be one winner.

There seems to be more than meets the eye with Ivan's coach McClellan. It feels like there is a backstory there, and I wonder if it will be revealed, or if it's just Ivan's hatred of him as a person, unrelated to any event.

That feeling when you think you missed something? The whole Ivan/Shelley/poster debacle. Ivan was so enraged because he couldn't find his name, Shelley said it was on there. Why did he never tell her that he didn't see it, and that's why he felt left out? Was he just being manly and hiding how deeply he had been hurt? I mean, he is apologizing, so why not go the extra step and come clean? I just don't know, which circles back to feeling like I missed something. Even after going back and re-reading.

Just no. No way. I am so mad. And let down. What a cowardly way to end the book. After all that tension, all that build-up, could Martino not even handle it? I don't think it was genius, or perfect, it's reprehensible. If you are going to get people vested in your story and characters, have the guts to finish it, to bring it to a conclusion. It doesn't even work as a metaphor to have an unresolved ending, it just cheapens the whole thing. Such a disappointment.

[Dylan Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in a wrestlers head and know what they are thinking. In the book Pinned, by Alfred C. Martino, you will get to see inside two wrestlers minds as they go through their journey through their senior year season. I would recommend this book to anyone that is a competitive athlete. I enjoyed this book because I love wrestling. I am also very competitive, and I would like to know what other wrestlers are thinking or what they are thinking about before a match. I could relate to this book because the boys in the book are in high school and going through some of the same things I go through.
In the first chapter we learn about Ivan Korske who is a wrestler in his senior year at Lennings High School who is extremely dedicated to the sport he loves. He is so dedicated that on the first page of the book it says, “Every night, regardless of how tired or hungry he was, Ivan ran. When his running shoes were soaked from rain, he ran. When his fingers were numb from the cold, he ran. The night his mother died last April, he ran (Martino, 1). Besides running he is doing push ups and sit ups every night he is always checking his weight making sure he is underweight. Throughout the book he is always trying to get better to be ready to be the state champion at 129 pounds.
In the second chapter we learn about Bobby Zane who is also a wrestler in his senior year at Millburn High School. He did have a winning season the previous year but he is not as dedicated and prepared for this season like he should. He is taking it for granted and thinks he will have a successful season. He is not as focused because of his parents fighting all the time and he is worried about how it affects his little brother Christopher. He also spends a lot of time talking to this girl he likes. After the first tournament when he gets beat he realizes that he needs to work harder if he wants to be the state champion at 129 pounds.
The story continues back and forth through both of the boys minds on things they are dealing with in school, wrestling, their families, their friends and how they are mentally preparing for tournaments. They also talk about the struggle they have with their parents about deciding on where to go to college and filling out applications. They struggle with feeling hungry and feeling dehydrated as they try to stay under weight. The boys also tell about their problems with teammates and coaches. It also doesn’t help that the state tournament is coming up and they both know they will probably be wrestling each other in the finals.
I really enjoyed this book because I go through some of the same things these two wrestlers did. It reminded me of how last year is the past and it doesn’t matter and that this year is a new year and I have to work hard to reach my goals and take nothing for granted. As a high school student athlete you would find it hard not to have some connection with the main characters. Pinned, by Alfred C. Martino, is a novel that high school athletes can relate to. There were several times while I read the story where I felt like I was really in Ivan and Bobby’s minds and not just reading a book.

[Gil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

This book is one I would never even think  of picking up.  So, how did it end up in my ears?  Well, it was offered up as a free young adult audiobook from SYNC YA as part of their free weekly audiobooks during their Summer Read program.  I have found that most YA novels are not just very well written but have stories that are intriguing.  (Except for that glittering vampire series.)

The basic story is that of 2 high school wrestlers in different parts of New Jersey and their climb to the New Jersey High School State Wrestling Champion.  Both come from different backgrounds, Ivan whose mother has recently passed away, and Bobby whose parents are possibly divorcing.  What kept me listening to the story was that each individual's climb to the same goal was so different from the other.  

While their story is told through the sport of high school wrestling, which by the way, has no ropes, rings, or folding chairs (which is why on the first day of tryouts in high school i left) it could have been any sport or common interest their story was in their dedication and progress.  The ending will confuse you for a moment, but after some contemplation you will reach that "Ah-ha!" moment.  I loved the ending.

Mark Shanahan delivered the audio perfectly and kept the story interesting with his vocal acting.

[Brayden R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pinned
By: Alfred c. Martino
The name of the book is Pinned by Alfred C. Martino. The lexile for this book is 670L. That lexile is for 6th to 8th graders. The book takes place in present day New Jersey. It is about two really good wrestlers who live very different lives but have the same goal, to win wrestling state. Ivan Korske was predicted to win state and has many scholarship offers. His mom died the year before his senior year. He lives in a small town with a bad wrestling team and a bad coach. He also is poor because his mother died. The second wrestler is Bobby Zane the underdog who comes out of nowhere. He is the team captain of a very good school which is ranked. His family is also very rich with a mansion and nice cars. Bobby also has some problems his parent are unhappy and want to divorce. Only one of them could win the state title.

In the book both Bobby and Ivan want to win the state title so the theme of the book is to win state at all cost. The big question is who will win. Throughout the book both wrestlers have really good reasons they want to win. Examples of this are ¨ If yall win the state championship, I'm sure I can convince the committee to accept you.¨. (page 183) That is Ivan´s reason for wanting to win because if he doesn't he won't get to go to his dream college. Bobby wants to win the state championship to prove to himself and his family that he is a great wrestler. He also does it to be remembered at his high school as one of the best. When Bobby´s parents split apart it drives him even more to win. Another reason why Ivan will do anything to win is because a year before his senior year his mom died and he wants to win for her.

This book is not for everybody I would only recommend it to people that are really into wrestling. If you don't know a lot about wrestling this book will be confusing. I liked how in this book every chapter switch between the two main characters. The only problem with this though is that for the first quarter of the book is very confusing. It was also very hard to read because it would get very dull and boring throughout the book. It was also very predictable throughout most of the book, but there was a couple parts that came out of nowhere. The ending of this book is left on a giant cliff hanger that will make you wish you didn't even read the book. One of the my favorite parts in this book is when Ivan and Bobby almost wrestle in the begin of the year but Bobby loses his match and does not meet Ivan in the championship match. Another one of my favorite parts is when Ivan gets a call from the coach of the college he wants to got to and he tell him he needs to win state to go to their college. So as a summary I would only recommend this book to people who are really into wrestling. If you don't know a lot about wrestling this book will be very confusing.

[Joey Corkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler alert

Pinned is a great book for all teenage wrestlers to possibly learn new moves and for young kids to live in the life of a wrestler. In the book are two characters named Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane. The book talks about how the two different wrestlers that live in New Jersey and that go on a similar ride to the NJSIAA(New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) but they refer to it as the states. They go through the season just to get there. They both have fantasized about the states and going to it. When they both get there they just look at the name of the gym: “Jadwin Gymnasium”. The only thing I don’t like is that the book ends with a big cliffhanger that says how both of them were in the finals and they don’t tell us who won the finals.

[Ana-Simona]

I AM SO PISSED OFF! I just couldnt wait to see who was going to win. That's the whole point of this book. You can't put in the book descriptions that only one can be the state champion and make that the culminating point and not give us an answer. It's not cool and its disrespectful to the readers that invested themselves into the story. It felt like saving up for something a whole year and then going to pick it up and finding out it's out of stock and out of manufacture.

If anyone has the email of the author, drop it. I demand answers. I'll square up with this guy for a proper ending

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

grew up in a wrestling household, my dad coaching for over 25yrs - my brother taking placement in the state finals, so many parts of this book became a familiarity to me. i felt i related to both bobby and ivan during different parts of the novel. very easy reading, good story line. i enjoyed the brutal reality of it all, life is put out exactly, no sugar, disney happy ending, perfection. very enjoyable.

[Mali · Rating 2 out of 5]

I spent months reading this to figure out who won the state championship. It ended with the line “And the state championship at 129 pounds began…” IT ENDED ON A ELLIPSIS!! I liked the character conflicts, but overall anyone but the main boys seemed flat. I wasn’t really rooting for one over the other, I liked them both equally. But a book without a conclusion is so unsatisfying, I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to anybody.

[Dennis Begley · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I read “one shot away” and “pinned” when I was a wrestling as a sophomore in highschool and I remember preferring this one to “one shot away” but I downloaded both of them for my deployment and after rereading them. I preferred “one shot away” which was kinda sad to age and realize I just really liked the ending of not knowing the outcome of the state finals match up when they both got to the finals, but like come on! Am I supposed to believe Bobby has a shot in hell against Ivan? There’s no evidence to support it. I guess this book wants me to be happy for Bobby because his team is better? It felt like it wanted me to root for Ivan because he’s poorer and his Mom’s dead, and I guess his coach is a jerk (I really didn’t think he was that bad, and the scene where they wrestled I don’t know what that was supposed to show) but he’s a fucking dick the entire time and yeah like Bobby objectively has it better financially, and he’s got both parents but his parents are going through a divorce too and except for the shit with his girlfriend getting pregnant and him getting all scared he was pretty alright throughout. So I’m rooting for Bobby throughout this even though I know he has no shot.

[Logan L]

"You walk like a wrestler. Shoulders flexed, hands out to the side. Its like you're always ready to grab someone and take them down really hard."

I liked this quote because I can relate as a wrestler too it. I've heard several people tell this too me before. This also goes for the book, its a good read and easy to understand when you are living through it also.

[Griffin E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinned is a book about two wrestlers Ivan and Bobby. They are the same weight class and they are both graduating this year and both are the best from there teams.

[Braden Wilson]

I AM SO MAD I WAS CHEERING FOR ONE OVER THE OTHER AND NO ONE KNOWS WHO WINS! THIS IS BULLS***! THERE NEEDS TO BE A SEQUEL!

[Tato · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little to sexual for a sport book. do like the turmoin between coach and wrestler though

[Lacey Louwagie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally avoid books about sports, but I had this one for free from AudiobookSync and it fit a challenge item, so I gave it a whirl.

Not much to recommend it.

I kept trying to figure out when the heck this book was written. It seems obvious that whoever wrote it grew up salivating over books like "The Contender," because it has that 70s sports sort of feel, where there's big drama surrounding white boys who date Puerto Rican girls, where the next door neighbor "nice girl" looks so dang sexy in a conservative turtle neck, etc. Although it was published in the 2000s, there was nary a mention of a cell phone or the Internet, and the whole thing felt incredibly dated, with a sort of "gee whiz" mentality even while it attempted to be edgy with topics like sexually active teens.

The story follows two boys who are gunning for the state championship in wrestling, each with their own reasons for wanting to succeed and with their own demons to battle, etc. Although I liked one of them more than the other (perhaps because he shares my husband's name?), I didn't really care for either of them. Despite one of them being from a poorer class, both of them came across as pretty entitled white jocks. ESPECIALLY Bobby, who, my God, was a total a*hole to his girlfriend who just "couldn't understand" the pressure he was under to win the championship while she was dealing with a potential pregnancy that was just such a PAIN to him because, you know, he had PRACTICE and stuff!

I know sports books are supposed to be about more than sports, but this was yet another where I couldn't bring myself to care about what the characters cared about, and I disliked them besides.

PopSugar Reading Challenge Item: A Book About Sports

[Logan Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logan Andrew
Pinned
This book was very interesting and relatable. It was a very exhilarating, intense and nerve racking to read. Some intense parts in this book was when Bobby Zane and Ivan Korske had to cut weight in a small amount of time because weigh ins were soon. Some parts in this book that were exhilarating were when Bobby and Ivan wrestled in the State Championship tournament and the energy that the felt when they walked into the arena was insane. Both of these wrestlers displayed the true meaning of hard work, dedication and mental toughness in this book. Even when these two wrestlers were tired and weak from cutting weight, the still managed to practice and work there butts of every single day.
In this book I could relate to everything that these two wrestlers went through or did. One quote from this book that I thought was pretty cool and relatable was"Every night, regardless of how tired or hungry he was, Ivan ran. When his running shoes were soaked from rain, he ran."(Martino 1). I been through this many times. usually my running shoes are soaked from sweat and not rain. No matter what Ivan ran because he had to make weight and get the job done. This teaches people that you always finish what you started and you never give up and you do everything one hundred percent every time no matter what it is. This is a great quote from the book and it shows other people how dedicated wrestlers are.
I could relate to this book a lot a because the author wrote many cutting weight stories and stories of hard practices that nobody could survive unless you are a wrestler. He talked about how Ivan and Bobby wouldn't say a word when they got home from a tough practice. I can relate to all of that and all of the other stories that were shared in this book. Fictional literature like this can really grab your attention and if you can relate to it, it will make you feel like you are in the book with the characters.
I recommend this book to anybody that likes a good story about dedication and toughness. This book is one of very few fictional books that I like and I think it is appropriate for all ages above 10.

[Geo Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrestling isn't just a sport for Bobby and Ivan It's a way of life. From the midnight runs to what they would do to cut weight. Wrestling is all they think about during the winter sports season.They Both compete in the same weight class 129-pound, and both refuse to let anything stand in the way of the state championship title. Each chapter takes the reader through both Bobby's and Ivan's journeys to the state championship.
Bobby's school wrestling team is known throughout New Jersey for its winning record. but there is always obstacles when accomplishing something Bobby’s girlfriend might be pregnant and leaves him wondering exactly where his life is headed. On the other hand, Ivan and his father are both sad that Ivan's mother passed away and Ivan's anger and loss are felt by everyone except for his neighbor Shelley, who motivates and encourages Ivan's talents. Ivan's only hope of leaving his town and to get scholarship to Western Arizona University, but his father wants him to attend college close to home. It is a great book just that the ending keeps you wondering, as a wrestler myself i can relate to the things they go through so i would encourage anyone who likes wrestling to read this book and anyone who likes surprises to read it also.

[Joseph Szplit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinned is a book by Alfred c. Martino. This book is being told by two different characters named Ivan and Bobby. Ivan and Bobby had both lived basically opposite lives. Both of them are extremely good wrestlers and both have the drive that wants to take them to state. When Ivan's year was soon to be ending he found out that his ex girlfriend has gotten pregnant. This took Ivan out of it and it all spiraled out of control. Bobby and Ivan both were at the same weight class. After a long while of regionals and sectionals they will meet for one last match at their varsity high school wrestling level. They will battle for first place and will see who is really a state champion.

I feel that this is a great book and is really fitting for anyone who is into wrestling. This story gave me a drive for this year to be the year that I go to state. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants that one thing to push them over the top and to go all the way. The characters reminded me of my brother. He would always tell me how he wanted to go to state and all of his problems and issues getting there. Like Ivan who no matter what kept his mind on wrestling and came all the way to his state championship match. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I accidentally read this book.

Is that possible?
Yes.
Why yes it is.
Here's how it happened: I picked it up off of my ENG 420 class bookshelf to just complete an assignment to "get a feel for YA literature." I scoffed at this book because it's about high school wrestling. It's a BOY BOOK. Sure to be un-engaging and dull for me, a twenty-something undergrad who doesn't like wrestling. Well, I read the first few pages right there in class and was too intrigued to just put it back on the shelf and move on to a different novel.

Alfred Martino understands the formula for YA literature: exceptionally talented protagonists who work hard for their rewards, challenge after challenge in said protagonists' lives, and manymany adolescent issues (relationships, sex, family life) all brought to the forefront within the pages of the novel. I would recommend this book to students who enjoy the sport of wrestling or who would like to see the process behind an athlete's journey to State. The ending of the book is CRAZY. That is all I'm going to say about that.

[Wyatt.w · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that pinned is a great book because it shows how hard you have to work, and the determination you have to have to be a great wrestler. Alfred C. Martino does a very good job of describing the determination both of the wrestlers show. He also does a great job on tell how they communicate with there coaches and how important it is to have parents that understand how important it is to cut weight. The two characters in the book are Bobby Zane and Ivan Koreskey. They both are competing for the Iowa state championship at 129Lbs. Bobby Zane has a girlfriend and she is trying her hardest to take bobby’s mind off of the state tournament by saying she is pregnant therefore Booby is breaking up with her and she says she was lying because she loves him and doesn’t want him to leave her. In this book the chapters rotate, one chapter talks about Bobby’s story and the next chapter talks about Ivan’s. That is why I think Alfred C. Martino is such a good author because he keeps your attention by all of the excitement in the book.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book Pinned, by Alfred Martino, senior Ivan Korske and senior Bobby Zane, are both wrestlers in the state of New Jersey, fighting for a state championship. Ivan lives on a farm with his widowed father, and doesn't have a lot of friends, his focus is wrestling and wrestling only. Bobby lives in a more developed part of the state, his parents are wealthy and his brother is a low-life. He has a relationship with a girl named Carmelina, but he doesn't let her get in the way of his race to a championship. Bobby is more laid back, but when he is in the wrestling room, he is a true wrestling machine. Ivan is a cold character anywhere he is, his father doesn't help the matter, he wants Ivan to do whatever he says, but Ivan, after being hit by his dad, wants to go to college far away and never come back to his small town that is making a big hype about his road to states. The two very different characters will meet up and have a tingly feeling in their gut on the New jersey state championship mat, the feeling is fear.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's another book for Battle of the Books read. It's about two high school seniors both living in New Jersey as they go through their wrestling seasons with the goal of being state champion.

I did like that the point-of-view switched each chapter to see life during this same period from two different perspectives. One is from a poorer, immigrant family and at a school with a team that is used to losing. He's also still dealing with the recent death of his mother. The other is from a richer setting but dealing with parents on the brink of divorce and a girlfriend from the poorer side of town who doesn't understand his passion and focus on wrestling.

I'm not a very competitive or singularly focused person, so I didn't really relate to the characters. It's one of those books that isn't bad and I'm glad that I read so that I have another title to recommend to guys as they wander the library looking for a book to read.

[Ms. Littell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another read for Battle of the Books completed. Books about sports are not typically my thing, but I liked the approach that this book took with it. It is about two guys who come from two different backgrounds but both in New Jersey and desiring to win the state championship for wrestling. While I could not relate as well to these characters because I'm not very competitive by nature, the shifting point-of-view allowed me to enter each boy's world to better understand where he was coming from. I did give the book only two stars because I found some parts of the book frustrating, but I don't want to give any spoilers.

At 306 pages, it is not a short book, but it does read quickly. The potential controversies in this book include the extremes that wrestlers will go to maintain weight and one sex scene. I recommend this to people who like sports or books about people's determination to accomplish a difficult goal.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an wonderful book if you would like to read about two teenage boys pursuing their dreams through wrestling. This book happens all over New Jersey as Bobby and Ivan wrestle to try to be state champion match winner which is in Jadwin high school. This is a realistic fiction sports book that is very good. Bobby is a high school senior on the wrestling team with his parents getting a divorce and has a little brother. Ivan is a high school senior on a different wrestling team with his mom dead and no siblings. Learn more about them as they try to wrestle themselves to the state championship. I personally liked this book till the end and then got mad at the ending and wished it was better. You would like this book because it is fast paced and exciting and you can guess who wins. Overall I rated this book a 3 because it was a little inappropriate and I didn't like the ending but good otherwise.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're putting together a required list for HS wrestlers, this should be on it. Martino alternates his story between Bobby (Italian, well-off, family troubles) and Ivan (Polish, poor, family troubles) as they struggle on their separate paths to the New Jersey State Championship meet. There's plenty of wrestling lingo and several matches, which is where the book shines. The non-wrestling portions of the story need much tightening up.

Unfortunately, "Pinned" doesn't go beyond YA-Problem novel territory. Issues are hinted at - self-doubt, loss of faith, the nature of romance, the inevitability of loss in competition - that aren't explored. Neither boy is particularly likable or deserving, so the story never builds up much emotional steam. The ending won't satisfy those looking for a winner and a loser, which would be fine if some other climax had been bridged. I must have missed it.

Keep it on hand for your HS mat-rats. I don't expect it to have a reach beyond that.

[B220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for every wrestler I have ever or will ever coach. I plan on driving to a former wrestler's home tomorrow to drop it off. Alfred C. Martino captures the love, passion, hardship, and drip of the sport of wrestling absolutely perfectly in Pinned.

Two wrestlers, both with their eye on a state title. One is from a single parent family, from a run down school with a run down wrestling team in a run down town. The other is from the seemingly perfect rich family, but one that has its own private struggles. Both young men fight, train, strive to achieve their dreams. Both young men also make some very big mistakes along the way. They seem to be on a collision course.....Who will overcome?

The ending, by the way, will leave you with your jaw on the floor, by the way. I was shocked!

I just have to say, this book NEEDS a sequel! If you wrestled in the past, are a current wrestler, or just enjoy the sport of wrestling than this book is for you!!!!!! LOVED IT.