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Winning Season #8
Takedown
Strong, wiry, and lightweight, Donald seems to have the perfect combination of physical attributes for wrestling. And after seeing a highschool wrestling match, he's excited to join Hudson City's middle-school team. The work-outs are grueling, and he loses his first few matches, but Donald's most difficult obstacle is his temper. Can he channel it to work for him instead of against him?
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 18, 2016
Personal Response:
I liked the book Takedown a lot, because it was a book about wrestling and I am into wrestling. I also liked how it was a short story that got to the point and still made sense. I can also relate to the story with my experiences of the sport wrestling. I also like how the writer includes the main character, Donald's, regular day at school into the book. Such as how excited he is to have his matches and he can't wait for school to get out.
Plot:
The story takes place in New York where Donald is going out for wrestling. He is having a hard time at the start, but is practicing with the best kid in the room. The kid's name is Tavo and he and Donald were both at 90 pounds. They wrestled off for the varsity position before every match, but Donald always lost. Tavo was also more experienced and was an eighth grader, while Donald is only a seventh grader and just started wrestling. Donald did not understand why he was always was getting beat at practice, but later realized how wrestling a better opponent would help better himself. Donald's first two matches were good, but then he would end up losing even though he was up by points. Donald also realized how to be a better wrestler, and started to win matches.
Characterization:
The main characters in the book are Donald, Tavo, and Manny. Donald is a seventh grader that loves sports and always wants a challenge. Tavo is a long time wrestler that is always practicing with Donald. He is an eighth grader and he had a little bit of an attitude in the beginning of the book, but towards the end he gained respect for Donald. Manny is Donald's friend that runs cross country and track. He is always there for Donald and at every wrestling meet. Manny has been friends with Donald since they were in kindergarten. They are always there for each other willing to help.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any kid at any reading level, that loves wrestling. Any guy or girl into wrestling would like the book, because any wrestler could relate to the book. I would also recommend this book to anyone that likes books that get to the point, but still contains a great story.
I liked the book Takedown a lot, because it was a book about wrestling and I am into wrestling. I also liked how it was a short story that got to the point and still made sense. I can also relate to the story with my experiences of the sport wrestling. I also like how the writer includes the main character, Donald's, regular day at school into the book. Such as how excited he is to have his matches and he can't wait for school to get out.
Plot:
The story takes place in New York where Donald is going out for wrestling. He is having a hard time at the start, but is practicing with the best kid in the room. The kid's name is Tavo and he and Donald were both at 90 pounds. They wrestled off for the varsity position before every match, but Donald always lost. Tavo was also more experienced and was an eighth grader, while Donald is only a seventh grader and just started wrestling. Donald did not understand why he was always was getting beat at practice, but later realized how wrestling a better opponent would help better himself. Donald's first two matches were good, but then he would end up losing even though he was up by points. Donald also realized how to be a better wrestler, and started to win matches.
Characterization:
The main characters in the book are Donald, Tavo, and Manny. Donald is a seventh grader that loves sports and always wants a challenge. Tavo is a long time wrestler that is always practicing with Donald. He is an eighth grader and he had a little bit of an attitude in the beginning of the book, but towards the end he gained respect for Donald. Manny is Donald's friend that runs cross country and track. He is always there for Donald and at every wrestling meet. Manny has been friends with Donald since they were in kindergarten. They are always there for each other willing to help.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any kid at any reading level, that loves wrestling. Any guy or girl into wrestling would like the book, because any wrestler could relate to the book. I would also recommend this book to anyone that likes books that get to the point, but still contains a great story.
April 7, 2020
This is a story about wrestling in middle school. It seems to be one of a series, but it works as a standalone story - and I think I would probably grow bored extremely quickly if the others in the series are on the same theme. Basically this is a story of a boy who joins a wrestling team, finds that its harder than he thinks, perseveres and eventually triumphs. There are no surprises in the story - its almost formulaic. Still there could be readers - especially wrestling enthusiasts - who could enjoy this book. I can't say I was one of these people.
Read
December 18, 2023I read this book to make sure I wasn't gifting anything inappropriate to my nephew. I am glad to say there isn't anything inappropriate. But, I'm sorry to say this particular story doesn't have much more going for it.
The book is written from the perspective of a seventh grade, first-time wrestler. The entire book seems to be summoned up as if you're winning things are good. I will still gift it as my nephew is a wrestler and may be enticed to read it, but I would imagine this book will only be interesting to a select audience.
The book is written from the perspective of a seventh grade, first-time wrestler. The entire book seems to be summoned up as if you're winning things are good. I will still gift it as my nephew is a wrestler and may be enticed to read it, but I would imagine this book will only be interesting to a select audience.
January 9, 2017
It was a good book
Read
November 18, 2011Book Title: Takedown
Author: Rich Wallace
Critique by Alex Brode
This book is about a boy named Donald who wanted to try the wrestling team. He had tried other sports, but he was small and he liked wrestling because he could fight against kids his same size. “Donald had been on plenty of sports teams, too, but he had to admit that the most successful kids worked harder at it than he did.” (page 14). Wrestling was a lot of hard work and his coach matched him against an 8th grader named Tavo, who taught him all sorts of moves. Tavo always beat Donald and Donald was stressed. Donald kept working very hard, but he still lost his first match. The rest of the book talks about how Donald tried to win at wrestling. At the end of the book, Donald wins his first match and is very happy.
The main character of this story is Donald, who is an only child. He has a father who always encourages him and loves him but has to work a lot. “Mr. Jenkins had never been involved in sports as a kid, but he came to see Donald’s events when he had time. He was usually working when his games were scheduled, so it meant a lot to Donald when he got there” (page 82). He didn’t come to any of his matches, but he came to his last match where Donald won. He has a mother who has lost her job and finally found a job at Walmart. Donald’s best friend is Manny who is a track runner. His friend on the wrestling team is Mario. Donald’s coach and Tavo also are important to the story because they teach Donald how to wrestle.
Donald wanted to win at wrestling, but he kept losing. He was very frustrated but he wasn’t really listening to his coach or to Tavo. At his first meet, he thought he was going to win but at the last minute he lost because he hadn’t listened to their advice. Then he started talking to his best friend, Manny, who told him how he got good at track. Manny just said that he practiced every day and worked hard. Donald also talked to his dad who talked to him about hard work. At the end of the story, Donald won his first wrestling match.
I liked the book because I am an athletic type of person. This book had a lot of action in it, and it inspired me to work harder in sports and lots of other things.
THE END
Author: Rich Wallace
Critique by Alex Brode
This book is about a boy named Donald who wanted to try the wrestling team. He had tried other sports, but he was small and he liked wrestling because he could fight against kids his same size. “Donald had been on plenty of sports teams, too, but he had to admit that the most successful kids worked harder at it than he did.” (page 14). Wrestling was a lot of hard work and his coach matched him against an 8th grader named Tavo, who taught him all sorts of moves. Tavo always beat Donald and Donald was stressed. Donald kept working very hard, but he still lost his first match. The rest of the book talks about how Donald tried to win at wrestling. At the end of the book, Donald wins his first match and is very happy.
The main character of this story is Donald, who is an only child. He has a father who always encourages him and loves him but has to work a lot. “Mr. Jenkins had never been involved in sports as a kid, but he came to see Donald’s events when he had time. He was usually working when his games were scheduled, so it meant a lot to Donald when he got there” (page 82). He didn’t come to any of his matches, but he came to his last match where Donald won. He has a mother who has lost her job and finally found a job at Walmart. Donald’s best friend is Manny who is a track runner. His friend on the wrestling team is Mario. Donald’s coach and Tavo also are important to the story because they teach Donald how to wrestle.
Donald wanted to win at wrestling, but he kept losing. He was very frustrated but he wasn’t really listening to his coach or to Tavo. At his first meet, he thought he was going to win but at the last minute he lost because he hadn’t listened to their advice. Then he started talking to his best friend, Manny, who told him how he got good at track. Manny just said that he practiced every day and worked hard. Donald also talked to his dad who talked to him about hard work. At the end of the story, Donald won his first wrestling match.
I liked the book because I am an athletic type of person. This book had a lot of action in it, and it inspired me to work harder in sports and lots of other things.
THE END
April 22, 2015
The book was great. It is an amazing sports-fiction novel. It follows the story of a young middle school wrestler who may not be the biggest kid, but he has a huge effort span. I can connect with this book because I was on the Weber wrestling team this past winter. I wasn't that good, but I still tried and gave it my best shot. And I definitely wasn't the biggest kid on the team. Overall, if you are a sports fan, you should definitely read this book. It is a well-done piece of writing. :)
May 22, 2012
3 reasons why I liked this book.
1.I like wrestling.
2.Good suspense.
3.Stayed on topic (wrestling).
1.I like wrestling.
2.Good suspense.
3.Stayed on topic (wrestling).
May 24, 2013
Awesome book. My son wrestled for 12 years, so many of the wording and scenes hit home for me. 7th graders will love this book. Plenty of action and movement.
October 12, 2022
Not bad for a story entirely about wrestling
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews