What do you think?
Rate this book
Headlock
A killer combination of high-interest plot and unforgettable characters "All kinds of people. Little kids, a lot of men, even people your age come to the shows." "They come to see acrobats pretending to wrestle with each other? Kyle is this some kind of sexual thing?"
"No! It's an athletic thing! It's called sports entertainment. Meaning, it's like a sport, but it's all scripted like theater. You've seen me watching wrestling on Monday and Thursday nights. . . . "
"Oh, that thing! Kyle, do you mean that terrible program where they hit each other with chairs? It's like The Three Stooges! Why would a boy like you with all your talent and brains want to do something foolish like that?" Kyle Bailey is a high-school senior who dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. He can't tell his beloved grandmother, who raised him, because she'll think it's ridiculous, but he gets himself accepted into a rigorous training school and earns a chance at his first professional match.
He's succeeding beyond his wildest dreams, falling in love with an amazing girl, and maybe even getting his grandmother to understand a little, when things take a dramatic turn for the worse. Kyle's flaky estranged mother shows up to "help," and--to his everlasting surprise--actually does.
Critically acclaimed author Joyce Sweeney's books have been chosen as Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Best Books for the Teen Age (NYPL), Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (ALA), and as Top Ten Sports Books (Booklist).
An honest, warm, and funny novel, Headlock will make wrestling fans of the skeptical, and Joyce Sweeney fans of everyone.
"No! It's an athletic thing! It's called sports entertainment. Meaning, it's like a sport, but it's all scripted like theater. You've seen me watching wrestling on Monday and Thursday nights. . . . "
"Oh, that thing! Kyle, do you mean that terrible program where they hit each other with chairs? It's like The Three Stooges! Why would a boy like you with all your talent and brains want to do something foolish like that?" Kyle Bailey is a high-school senior who dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. He can't tell his beloved grandmother, who raised him, because she'll think it's ridiculous, but he gets himself accepted into a rigorous training school and earns a chance at his first professional match.
He's succeeding beyond his wildest dreams, falling in love with an amazing girl, and maybe even getting his grandmother to understand a little, when things take a dramatic turn for the worse. Kyle's flaky estranged mother shows up to "help," and--to his everlasting surprise--actually does.
Critically acclaimed author Joyce Sweeney's books have been chosen as Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Best Books for the Teen Age (NYPL), Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (ALA), and as Top Ten Sports Books (Booklist).
An honest, warm, and funny novel, Headlock will make wrestling fans of the skeptical, and Joyce Sweeney fans of everyone.
- GenresSportsYoung Adult
214 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2002
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Sweeney
36 books29 followersJoyce Sweeney captured the attention of the YA book world when her novel Center Line was chosen as the winner of the first Delacorte Press Prize for an Outstanding First Young Adult Novel in 1984. Since that auspicious beginning she has continued to publish appealing novels for teens on a variety of topics, among them friendships, family relationships, and self-discovery. Four of those novels have been named Best Books for Young Adults, four have been Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, and Booklist included Players among its Top Ten Sports Books in 2002.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 25, 2017
Review of Headlock
Headlock caught my attention because when I was walking through the library I saw Headlock out of the corner of my eye and that's when I knew I would want to read it, When I picked it up I had an aha moment then knew for sure I was going to read it, because I liked the back of the book it told me what I wanted to know and what I was about to read it told me the main character and what he did and/or does, but then I had a thought question “do I really want this book?” I just set it down and looked around to see if I wanted a different book, after a while I couldn't find a book that felt like Headlock so I went back and grabbed it
I liked the book I would read it again. Kyle and Jake were best friends but then they got in a fight. Kyle is a smart kid he loves wrestling he want to be a professional but doesn’t want to tell anyone one Jake started being a jerk he had a thought question “do I want to still be friends with Jake?”
Headlock caught my attention because when I was walking through the library I saw Headlock out of the corner of my eye and that's when I knew I would want to read it, When I picked it up I had an aha moment then knew for sure I was going to read it, because I liked the back of the book it told me what I wanted to know and what I was about to read it told me the main character and what he did and/or does, but then I had a thought question “do I really want this book?” I just set it down and looked around to see if I wanted a different book, after a while I couldn't find a book that felt like Headlock so I went back and grabbed it
I liked the book I would read it again. Kyle and Jake were best friends but then they got in a fight. Kyle is a smart kid he loves wrestling he want to be a professional but doesn’t want to tell anyone one Jake started being a jerk he had a thought question “do I want to still be friends with Jake?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2018
Fun summer read! Headlock really has fun premise, and some really nice character development! I stayed up until 12:30 cause I got hooked! Kyle is a likable main character and really made the book great to read!
June 5, 2021
Not because it's a wrestling book, I just didn't like the story
May 5, 2008
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Kyle Bailey lives with his grandmother, Chantal. He has lived with her since his mother left him there at age four because she realized she wasn't "mother" material. His father has never been in the picture because he was simply a sperm donor from the local sperm bank.
Despite the unusual family situation, Kyle has done well. He is a high school senior and could be on his way to college, but he has other plans. Kyle wants to be a professional wrestler - the WWE kind that is on TV and really act more than wrestle. Unknown to his grandmother or any of his friends, he has enrolled in a wrestling training class, and he is doing quite well.
A local gym is the setting for much of the first half of the novel. Jeff, the instructor, is working with seven students, including one girl. He says Kyle is the most talented beginner he's ever come across. The motley group of students includes talented Kyle, hotshot Danny, hard-working Ben, "elderly" Hector, and the beautiful Ophelia. The training is physical, brutal, and exhausting, and the competition is stiff. Everyone hopes to be recognized by Rat Boy, the owner of the local Gold Coast Wrestling.
Kyle can't believe it when Ophelia shows a romantic interest in him. It just seems to add a little extra sweetness to his ultimate dream. Ophelia even loves his grandmother and spends increasing amounts of time as part of their little family; so much time, that she agrees with Kyle when he begins to notice his grandmother's behavior is changing in disturbing ways.
HEADLOCK by Joyce Sweeney will satisfy many readers. The plot is multi-layered with wrestling action, Kyle's first love, his absent and eccentric mother, and worry about the growing forgetfulness of his grandmother. HEADLOCK is a true page-turner much like Sweeney's previous novels, PLAYERS and TAKEDOWN.
Kyle Bailey lives with his grandmother, Chantal. He has lived with her since his mother left him there at age four because she realized she wasn't "mother" material. His father has never been in the picture because he was simply a sperm donor from the local sperm bank.
Despite the unusual family situation, Kyle has done well. He is a high school senior and could be on his way to college, but he has other plans. Kyle wants to be a professional wrestler - the WWE kind that is on TV and really act more than wrestle. Unknown to his grandmother or any of his friends, he has enrolled in a wrestling training class, and he is doing quite well.
A local gym is the setting for much of the first half of the novel. Jeff, the instructor, is working with seven students, including one girl. He says Kyle is the most talented beginner he's ever come across. The motley group of students includes talented Kyle, hotshot Danny, hard-working Ben, "elderly" Hector, and the beautiful Ophelia. The training is physical, brutal, and exhausting, and the competition is stiff. Everyone hopes to be recognized by Rat Boy, the owner of the local Gold Coast Wrestling.
Kyle can't believe it when Ophelia shows a romantic interest in him. It just seems to add a little extra sweetness to his ultimate dream. Ophelia even loves his grandmother and spends increasing amounts of time as part of their little family; so much time, that she agrees with Kyle when he begins to notice his grandmother's behavior is changing in disturbing ways.
HEADLOCK by Joyce Sweeney will satisfy many readers. The plot is multi-layered with wrestling action, Kyle's first love, his absent and eccentric mother, and worry about the growing forgetfulness of his grandmother. HEADLOCK is a true page-turner much like Sweeney's previous novels, PLAYERS and TAKEDOWN.
December 3, 2014
I went into this book with all kinds of snooty assumptions about the world of professional wrestling and came out of it with a new appreciation for it and for the book. (Not that I'm going to start watching WWE...yet!) But I totally believed that a smart young man would want to devote himself to something that's a cross between a challenging sport and an elaborate form of performance art. Some wrestling fans may be disappointed that the tone of the book doesn't echo the over-the-top hysterics of what they read in WWE magazine, etc., but there's enough description of what goes on behind the scenes at a small independent company to keep them happy.
The rest of the book deals with the protagonist's relationship issues: a girlfriend who drinks too much, a mother who abandoned him as a child, and a beloved grandmother who raised him but is now needing more care than a teenager can provide. His big struggle is not feeling like he has to take care of everything himself so he won't be like the mother who, in his eyes, never took care of anything. I didn't give it a full five stars because of some too-good-to-be-true twists that were satisfying if a little unbelievable, starting with how quickly the protagonists finds success.
There are references to sex but no descriptions, so I think it's OK for most middle schoolers, though high schoolers would probably be able to relate more to what the protagonist is going through. I'm glad to have another "boy" book I can shelf talk.
The rest of the book deals with the protagonist's relationship issues: a girlfriend who drinks too much, a mother who abandoned him as a child, and a beloved grandmother who raised him but is now needing more care than a teenager can provide. His big struggle is not feeling like he has to take care of everything himself so he won't be like the mother who, in his eyes, never took care of anything. I didn't give it a full five stars because of some too-good-to-be-true twists that were satisfying if a little unbelievable, starting with how quickly the protagonists finds success.
There are references to sex but no descriptions, so I think it's OK for most middle schoolers, though high schoolers would probably be able to relate more to what the protagonist is going through. I'm glad to have another "boy" book I can shelf talk.
March 24, 2014
HEADLOCK by Joyce Sweeney Kyle Being 18 is living rough , because he has too take care of his grandmother and go to school and go to wrestling practices all in one day and doesn't know if he will walk in one day to see her on the floor dead so he worries about her all day, and can't focus on what he's doing. Then his wish comes true one day to be in the professional wrestling but has a choice to stay and help his grandma or go and wrestle and pays the price for choosing the wrong one.
I beleve that the theme is that you should always be there for your family and stick up for them. Family's first and karma will pay you in a good way. It hit me in a logical way because if you have a choice between doing something you love or being there for someone you love I would choose to be there for my loved one because family will always be there for you but jobs and friends will come and go. I haven't read any other of this authors books but I like how he makes Kyle pick the wrong choice and pays for it in a big way.
I beleve that the theme is that you should always be there for your family and stick up for them. Family's first and karma will pay you in a good way. It hit me in a logical way because if you have a choice between doing something you love or being there for someone you love I would choose to be there for my loved one because family will always be there for you but jobs and friends will come and go. I haven't read any other of this authors books but I like how he makes Kyle pick the wrong choice and pays for it in a big way.
August 28, 2016
There’s a fair amount of pain in this story, and the pain of the wrestling itself is only a small part of the message.
Much more important is Kyle’s attempt to care for his ailing grandmother and follow his wrestling dream at the same time. He also has to find space for a romance that seems more immediately intense than it deserves to be.
You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this story – in fact, it’s probably easier if you’re not a fan. Casual readers can blip over the quick lists of holds and moves. And they don’t have to think about Kyle’s weight.
I’m no wrestling fanatic, but it makes no sense to me that Kyle could be 154 pounds, and still working with people who range from 120 to 300+. How could he ever make pro TV wrestling at that weight? I must be missing something – and good as this book is – I’m not so sure I want to seek out all the answers. One interesting extra – one of the wannabe wrestlers is a librarian in his day job.
Much more important is Kyle’s attempt to care for his ailing grandmother and follow his wrestling dream at the same time. He also has to find space for a romance that seems more immediately intense than it deserves to be.
You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this story – in fact, it’s probably easier if you’re not a fan. Casual readers can blip over the quick lists of holds and moves. And they don’t have to think about Kyle’s weight.
I’m no wrestling fanatic, but it makes no sense to me that Kyle could be 154 pounds, and still working with people who range from 120 to 300+. How could he ever make pro TV wrestling at that weight? I must be missing something – and good as this book is – I’m not so sure I want to seek out all the answers. One interesting extra – one of the wannabe wrestlers is a librarian in his day job.
September 1, 2015
Kyle Bailey dreams of making it big in WWE wrestling and is accepted into a training school for professional wrestling. With acrobatics in his background, Kyle learns the moves easily,impressing Ophelia, a beautiful girl also in the training school. Then again we have to have our problems, his grandmother, Chantal, is not doing well. Her memory is failing to the point that she needs constant care. His mother left him with his grandmother when she decided she wasn't interested in having a child after all. But now he is forced to call her to try and get her help in taking care of Chantal. n Kyle wins a spot staring against Rat Boy but feels he has to give it up to take care of his grandmother so Danny, fills in and thinks he's going to make it. When Jeff comes back, Danny loses his spot but no friendship was there to lose. Anyway the crowd loves Kyle and names him Some Kid.
November 19, 2009
This book "Headlock", by: Joyce Sweeney was a novel about a nineteen year old's dream to become a member of the World Wrestling Entertainment(WWE). He fights very hard and works hard as well. The novel isn't filled with that much suspense. There was something else then suspense in this novel and it was romance. The main character has a very romantic relationship with another girl. Something else that the book has is action. The title of this book is a wrestling move so why wouldn't it be filled with wrestling. Overall this was a good book and if you want to hear the story of a boys life that is trying to become a wrestler you have a good book here.
February 13, 2009
I thought that this book was o.k. The main character was a guy named kyle and he wanted to be a profesional wrestler. Once he gets his name out, his mom comes to meet him for the first time and not because she just wanted to see him. The conflicts in this story are pretty intresing it kept me reading. In this book Kyle has a few strugles, some are phisical and some are mental. But in the end it all works it self out. this was i good book if you like sports, mainly for guys but an all around good book.
July 17, 2010
I love Joyce Sweeney. After reading a terrible one of hers, though, I stopped looking for new books by her, so I was pleasantly surprised when my little sister mentioned a recent good one and my library had it, as well as two others I hadn't read. This particular book, about a high school senior who joins a pro wrestling school, was a very fun and quick read.
December 15, 2010
I thought that the book was very good. It talked a lot about the professional wrestling career. The plot was a little hard to understand but it had a lot of good scenes throughout the book. I have read the book multiple times and i am glad i read it. It taught me a lot about the shady side of the world of wrestling.
Read
January 10, 2008I liked the book because I like wrestling and it had a lot of actual wrestling facts. I know the author knew some stuff about wresting.The main character is kyle who is 18 years old. At the end of the book kyle starts his first w.w.e. match and his girlfriend is a w.w.e. diva
March 3, 2015
A realistically flawed, very likeable protagonist combined with a tightly woven story make this a page-turning read. I thoroughly enjoyed it--and as an added bonus, I have a new appreciation for professional wrestling!
March 6, 2009
Great book. This is a must read for wrestling fans. I had no idea that Jeff Jarret was a real wrestler.
February 6, 2009
The book is cool, but it gets boring at beggining. After that it becomes interesting
November 13, 2009
This is a great book for any wrestling fan!
September 24, 2011
Its very rare that you would come across a wrestling book like this.
May 22, 2012
This is a good book for people who love wrestling like WWE!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews