Leverage

by Joshua C. Cohen

The football field is a battlefield

There's an extraordinary price for victory at Oregrove High. It is paid on - and off - the football field. And it claims its victims without mercy - including the most innocent bystanders.

When a violent, steroid-infused, ever-escalating prank war has devastating consequences, an unlikely friendship between a talented but emotionally damaged fullback and a promising gymnast might hold the key to a school's salvation.

Told in alternating voices and with unapologetic truth, Leverage illuminates the fierce loyalty, flawed justice, and hard-won optimism of two young athletes.

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Teen, High School

425 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2011

About the author

Joshua C. Cohen began writing "Leverage" after reading a news account of a horrific attack by a group of high school seniors on their fellow underclassmen. When the victims reluctantly came forward, instead of receiving offers of help, they were ostracized by the surrounding community for sullying the reputation of the school and causing a cancellation of the football season. Joshua's fascination with that part of human nature--the need to keep quiet when awful things occur and how that leads to victims getting wronged twice--is what started the whole story that eventually led to "Leverage."

Joshua C. Cohen grew up in Minnesota and was an avid athlete in many sports but he fell in love with gymnastics and devoted most of his time to training in that sport. Despite his intense effort, he discovered very quickly, when he walked on to the men's gymnastics program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, that there was no way he was going to compete at the collegiate level. Joshua promptly walked himself right back off the team and chose, instead, to live vicariously as an elite level gymnast by rooming with and befriending members of the squad.

"Leverage" allowed Joshua a perfect opportunity to combine his love of both gymnastics and football into one story."

Reviews

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before beginning, I just want to apologize to anyone who reads this review. It won't really help you decide whether to read this book or not. Despite the fact that I've taken a fair amount of time to collect my thoughts and calm down, my head is still laden with what I've read and I'm unable to express my feelings in the way I'd normally have it. This review is somewhat vague and most of it probably won't mean anything unless you've read this book. So for that, I apologize.

Going in, I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book. Certainly not what I received. Leverage is a simultaneously devastating and uplifting mix of raw realism and gut-wrenching truth. This is a story about fear, abuse, and tragedy. But it is also a story about hope in the midst of the blackest situations, finding camaraderie in unlikely places, and winning back your life even after facing evil. The characters in this story are, at times, weak, scared, and torn. But ultimately they're strong, courageous, and, in the end, healed.

I've heard of the things that happen in this book on the news, I'm sure a lot of people have. But it is one thing to hear of something on the news and an entirely different thing to read about it; especially when it is being related by an author who doesn't go easy on the reader, doesn't sugarcoat reality. It astonishes me how something can be so revolting and yet also make me want to stand up and change. Change myself, change others, change something in this world to make it a better place for people to live in; and, most of all, to help prevent these atrocities from happening.
I wouldn't expect a debut author to be able to invoke such conflicting emotions in me, but the fact that Cohen was able to do just that only testifies that he was born to write. This book made me feel a red-hot rage. I found myself wishing that someone, anyone, would step outside of their own fear and self-preservation, their own painful past, their own mental anguish, and see someone else's before it was too late. And then somewhere around the halfway mark I began crying so hard that I could no longer see the pages. My library's copy now has little crinkled water marks from where my tears dropped on the pages. I felt like my gut had been punched by the fist on the cover. It knocked the air out of me.

I don't know. I don't know what else to say, what else can be said about a book like this. The only thing that I'm sure of at the moment is that this story needed to be told. These characters, somewhere in the world, at some point in time, their story is real. Despite the fact that this story tore me apart, or perhaps because it did, from now on, I'll read anything Cohen puts on paper.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio - 5 ++++ Stars
Story - 5 Stars

Damn that was harsh!! Fucking teenagers!! No wonder slasher movies were created.



I didn't like teenagers when I was a teenager so I'm not just saying that because I'm in my 50s now. I'm a mother of a teenager so...yeah. I love him...but teenagers are....challenging. Add bad parents and bad adults to the mix and it's a recipe for fucked up, heartbreaking life experiences.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“​The truth is I keep waking from the same nightmare, throwing off​ damp sheets and calling for him, but there’s no escape and no rescue​ coming. Never is.”​



​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There are a ​plethora​ of reasons why it deserves to be a nevermore. 📋

The copious amounts of racist/homophobic/ableist slurs that littered the scene - raising my hackles when on the first page, mathematical equations are described 'filling the chalkboard with coded al-Qaeda sleeper cell instructions'.🤨

Graphic sexual assault that caught me so completely off-guard, so unaware and so viscerally jarring that I had to momentarily pause and step away from my reader and just aimlessly browse the internet to calm my nerves. 💔💔🫂

Stereotypical cliché of victims and abusers that does come across as disbelieving for such extreme, if not messy circumstances to exist in any realistic setting. 🙅🏻‍♀️

​The insensitive reaction from those who wish to deny victims the chance to grieve and express their pain - hinting that forgetting about it even happening, is as much as killing them. 🥺

A most highly unsatisfying​, if not abrupt ending, where the justice served to the bullies is not all at the same level as to which the horrific torment of a baseless vicious hand they dealt to their undeserving innocent targets. 🤬

The callous indifferent behavior of all adults present - one heightened by their most questioning authority over the inappropriate use of performance-enhancement drugs​, questionable steroids that may belie the root of their ​violent anger and ​vicious rage. 😒

​“Size. Power. Ferocity. Establish you have the most of all three and everyone leaves you alone. That’s how you survive those places. If I had your size, I could rule the world.”

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ And yet, a good part of my conscience is not allowing me to give it a lower rating, because of the fury of emotions the writing evoked within me. For me to go from this



to this



to this



It was impossible not to feel every pain - every hurt - every unease of disquiet apprehension that cuts through you that speaks of the utter wrongness of it all.​ I felt so so much, it's not even funny. Nothing about it was. Anger, rage, disgust, sadness, shame, heartbreak - such an emotional onslaught that I cannot understand why, and I cannot figure out how it can be considered a YA read that teenagers could easily read; nor can I understand myself that I am not dismissing it as manipulative of the readers' feeling.. For, a part of you fears and believes that perhaps there are schools like Oregrove High where ​the kings of football ​surpass all rights to assert their dominion with god-like status that holds all the power - the fear, the intimidation​ over their prey who 'exist at Oregrove for the​ royalty to devour.' 🥺

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ​Is it over the top or overkill? Or simply what was the inspiration behind the ​events that one has to bear in mind to fully understand, perhaps, the depths of extremities to which Joshua Cohen went to portray certain hateful vindictive crimes that warranted - nothing.​ One where the author 'fascinated by that part of human nature--the need to keep quiet when awful things occur and how that leads to victims getting wronged twice--' ​and one where the writing convincingly excels at depicting how unfair and unjust a system can be when bullies thrive on instilling fear, by having at their disposal, the 'final variable neither one of us could ever match:​ cruelty.​' 😢With that, is it then safe to say that the author succeeded in captured the unfairness and unjust behaviors of all those involved?

“It coils around my chest and begins to squeeze, accusing me of cowardice. I should have said something to someone.”

​​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ​How the world of gymnastics brutally collides with that of football is a heart-wrenching and dark one. One that stems even deeper through the unlikely friendship borne between newcomer foster kid burdened with a stuttering speech, aspiring fullback, Kurt and quiet but ambitious gymnast, Danny, when they both happen to be the ones who witness a horrific tragedy, one that defines the simple meaning of Leverage, according to Google - 'the ability to influence situations or people so that you can control what happens'. 😥 Their attempt to silence the one who was in pain, the force inflicted upon them to keep quiet about what they know, their own inner personal breakdown over their questionable part of it - it is a gripping, and intensely gut-wrenching portrayal that is enhanced by the gritty way in which their thoughts echo with the dismal desire to find forgiveness for what they've done. 😔

​​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ​Told in their alternating perspectives, the author balanced their different personalities and backgrounds well enough to give you a sense of why either of them behaved the way they did. Kurt is fueled by his own traumatic past of his time in foster care, whereas Danny is overridden by his thriving passion to succeed at all costs, despite how his own small stance does make him an easy target - 'He was weak, I think. ALL people will ALWAYS take advantage of that' - thus leading him to try to avoid conflict at all costs. Their thoughts clash when they have to face the inevitable truth that the blame and guilt of staying silent does lie in their hands, of how they fear themselves to be seen as weak. 😥 It is the capacity of how they have to figure out how much longer they can withstand the extreme bullying is one that touches deep within. That even an explosive confrontation of truth could not sway true justice - is the most heartbreaking truth of it all.

“What in God’s name have you boys done?”

​​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ​There is an unflinching honesty to it that does make it a powerful intense read; that despite how uncomfortable it was to read, it still felt so real. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 And that is what makes me acknowledge that despite the many obvious flaws to it, the writing did leave me feeling raw and emotionally drained. For unless they have a really tough mettle to witness the helplessness of others heartbreaking and stressful, I don't know how anyone would make it through such a challenging read. Even now, the most painful moment of all - I remember how I reacted - how I had to pause and get the hell out of there. 😞 Is it a credit to the author that he captured the horror so vividly? Or is it to show the brutality of a bully and to think twice before ostracizing victims of such heinous unspeakable acts? It is certainly not a book I would recommend, but it is not one I regret reading, nor will likely forget...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leverage. We all search for it at work, home, and life whether we realize it or not. And we all possess leverage whether we realize it or not. It is how we choose to use that power, influence, and leverage that matters. How we act, respond, and move through life that counts.

Leverage by Joshua Cohen is told in two heartbreaking voices—Kurt Brodsky and Danny Meehan. Two young, strong athletes trying to carve out a spot in high school and the future with football and gymnastics. With patience and a whole hell of a lot of heart, Cohen allows the reader to get to know both voices and their worlds in school and home using humor and pain. I liked both boys right away. Their stories, personalities, and growing trust and friendship made my heart ache, smile and hope.

The first part of this book had me laughing and shaking my head muttering “boys” while getting to know each boy and their teammates. By the middle though, I had my hand over my mouth, shaking my head, trying to hold back tears and sobs. This story could go from heartbreaking innocence and gentleness to such evil and ugliness with one shocking turn of the page. And the last hundred pages had my stomach in knots, my hands in fists, and my voice swearing and cheering for Kurt and Danny out loud at times. The chain of events that kept twisting and escalating in this story left me breathless and devastated at times. It will truly kick you in the gut and get your heart pumping with such brutal honesty, suspense, and power.

Leverage is not my typical book. From the cover to the sports story, it just would not have found a place in my “to- read” pile, before joining goodreads. Finding new types of stories and voices is just one of many reasons why I love this place! :D After reading two wonderful reviews by Lora and Cara—(Thank you Ladies!!! )—my curiosity was piqued. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong about my type of book. If you think this book is not for you, I plead with you to give it a try! It will find a place in your heart.

All the characters in this book, but especially Danny and Kurt, were pushed and tested to stand up through unbelievable pain and suffering--to stand up for each other and themselves. This book will push readers to ask themselves—What would I have done?

Kurt Brodsky and Danny Meehan made such an impact on my heart. Their stories will haunt me. I cannot wait to see what Joshua Cohen does next!

I highly recommend this book.

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars audio and story. Even though a lot of the parts pissed me the fuck off! Fucking hate bullying jocks and stupid fucking coaches who cover for them. Bastards!

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This semester I'm taking a physics course and the whole idea of leverage is a cool concept. Oddly enough it makes me see the whole story in a different way. How something on its own may not have the power, but you just add some leverage and man do you see the impact. That great concept is the perfect title for this story.

The story is told by two boys who go to the same high school. Danny is a small kid but works his butt off on being an excellent gymnast. Kurtis is a massive guy that stutters, but is a threat to be reckoned with on the football field. On the outside the two cannot seem more different, but through the events within this story you see maybe they aren't as different as they look. As the reader we get to see the story from both of their perspectives. The teams they belong to have a sort of a rivalry. It starts to escalate and before they know it something terrible happens. It just goes to show how easily things can snowball and get out of control.

Out of the two main characters I have to say Kurtis was my favorite. He tries so hard to right his own wrongs and is such a textured character. Danny was a realistic character but the likeness factor went down a little bit for me with a decision he made. I get why but it still was hard for me to swallow. The atmosphere was right on. I could smell the terrible locker rooms and the language wasn't much better, but this is the reality of it. I hardly get to read male perspectives, so it gave me unique insight of what they have to go through. The author isn't shy so it was nitty gritty, and so poignant. I actually had to take a break while reading this because I got to be too much for me. I could feel myself gradually feeling worse about the whole situation, but I knew I had to finish it. I wish I could delve into it more but just read the book. You’ll get what I mean.

I must admit I am one of those people who are not well-coordinated, thus not into sports. I don't watch them too much and what activity I do is purely for fun(though I've been told I do have a competitive streak which I will vehemently deny). My appreciation of how much work that goes into being an athlete was heightened after reading this. It's admirable to push yourself, and you get to see how much these high-schoolers care about it, which was good to see.

I think the cover encompasses what the book is about really well, and I imagine that's probably suppose to be Kurtis's massive arm providing the leverage needed to do what's right.

[Marita Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, WOW, and triple WOW! This is the most intense and powerful book I have ever read, and I have read A LOT. When I heard it was a male version of Speak I thought I'd give it a read, especially since I'm writing something with a similar topic (although a very different story). But, this is so much more than just relating it as a male version. The tension in this book was rippling with more than steroid bound muscles. The build up to the horrible life changing event in the gym was perfectly paced and when it happened it was so sad. Although it was a shock (as well as shocking) it didn't come out of the blue. You'll understand what I mean if you read this, because the agro seen in those football players showed that they were capable of this horrendous act.

It was good that the reader is shown the before and after events in the story, because both were needed: the build up to the tragedy then the unwillingness to speak out against what happened. It was all about fear, such as Kurt worrying about being blamed because of what happened in his past as well as not wanting to relive things. So, you could understand how afraid he was to speak out. You could also understand Danny's fear in speaking out too, because he could very well have ended up in the same situation as the other poor boy.

I thought this book was done very realistically. The way the author described everything was spot on. His description of those three horrid boys in my opinion was accurate. I think I read some review about someone thinking that the boys' behaviour was over the top. BUT, that reviewer obviously doesn't understand what roid rage is. Even though those boys obviously had an innate evil in them, an inability to empathise, you could also see the part in the tragedy that the steroids played. I instantly understood the description of one of the boys and realised he was taking steroids due to the severe pimples on his neck, which is a side effect. People would probably just assume that the acne problem was a teenage thing. No, it was related to steroids just as much as the way in which the boy was beating his chest in anger, almost caveman like (roid rage). Hence, I thought the villains were described extremely well.

This book is portrayed from two perspectives: Danny and Kurt's. Kurt's character is someone that captured me from the start. He was both strong and vulnerable, and misunderstood with his stutter. The way he put himself in the line of fire to protect those smaller boys showed his beautiful nature. Combine this with his past and it shows how terribly brave he was. He was by far my favourite.

There was a little warming up needed for Danny, especially with his annoyance at Ronnie at the beginning: Not liking people thinking him and Ronnie were the same, his annoyance at Ronnie's weaknesses... But, I could understand where he was coming from because he didn't want to be shown as weak, which is why he was less friendly to Ronnie. And, when all the horrible stuff went down his pushing away of Ronnie was heartbreaking. You could see it was done out of fear, but the way in which he worked through the fear and eventually manned up took a lot of guts considering who he was going up against and the huge risks he was taking. He was a scared kid.

I loved the ending and thought what Danny and Kurt did, along with Tina, was perfect.

5stars isn't enough for this book. Once the pace snags you it is very hard to put down. Absolutely intense.

[Patricia (Patricia's Particularity) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to know where to exactly begin... Joshua C. Cohen's debut novel is anything and everything BUT disappointing. I honestly cannot come up with a negative thing to say about this amazing, outstanding, one of kind, unique novel. There is so much to say about this book that I am going to have to break it down into parts....


To start, a basic overview...
Kurt is the new football star at Oregrove High School. Danny is on the Oregrove gymnastics team. Both boys have a past, full of sorrow and pain. An unlikely friendship between these two boys is formed when pranks made between the football team and the gymnastics team get out of hand.... way out of hand. 'Prank war' is an understatement; things go beyond 'war', creating consequences more severe than one could think possible.



My Review...
As the book's synopsis implies, steroids becomes a factor in this 'war'. I am always drawn to books that focus on 'social issues' and taboo subjects that most authors dare not touch. If Joshua C. Cohen was afraid to write about steroid use in high school athletics, he does not show it. Kurt and Danny are both given the opportunity to have their say, from their own personal point of view. As a reader you learn about Kurt's and Danny's past and how it in turn it is affecting their present day decisions. Cohen's use of first person narrative makes you feel sympathy, understanding, and sometimes anger at each character; but you walk away with a better understanding of who they are.


Breaking down the Characters...
Cohen does not shy away from giving real and raw characters. Danny is a hard worker with one goal in mind: to get a full ride to college through his gymnastic skills. His quiet demeanour in the school halls is far from his loud actions as a gymnast. While he is terrified of the 'steroid-infused' jocks that rule the school, he proves he is anything but scared while doing dare devil moves in the air.

Kurt comes from a very sad and brutal past, one that you cannot put into words. Having experienced things that many are lucky to not know about, Kurt hides behind his shaggy hair while out in the real world and a football helmet while on the field. The only place he feels at 'home' is in the gym exercising or helping his teammates score touchdowns.

Both boys' sense of security and safety are shattered when the pranks between the two teams get way out of hand, invading the few places they feel safe. The ripple affect is greater than you could imagine, even as the reader. That brings us to the many supporting characters. While Kurt and Danny are clearly the starts, each supporting character plays a very important role in this novel. You have the 'steroid-infused' football players who literally blow your mind in terms of "How can anyone act that way, and think its normal?". Then you have the tiny small gymnastics team, who work hard to show their place in high school by trying to stand up to the jocks. Without these supporting characters the novel would not be complete.


My Final Thoughts
As I said, no matter how hard I try to come up with something negative to say about this book, I just can't. I first thought that because I couldn't read this book in a few short sittings that this was not going to be as amazing as it was... on the contrary, I found taking this novel in small bits, at least for me, was perfect. I was able to absorb every aspect in their entirety. This book is RAW, GRITTY, and REAL in such a severe and affecting way. Because of that, my mind had to grasp the severity of the topics and themes. There were times I cringed and cried, and had to take a step back. Other times, I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next, on the edge of my seat.

I believe that a novel of any kind should affect you on some level, in some way. You should walk away from that novel with a new perspective or insight into something, especially from a novel that dares to tackle a 'social issue' or taboo topic. Joshua C. Cohen provides this in the most perfect way! I am forever changed by this novel. If you are not afraid to confront such a raw reality that most people ignore, you MUST MUST MUST read this book!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I am so excited to discover such a fine book so early in the book "season"! Thanks to Penguin/Dutton for sending it to me! "Leverage," by first-time novelist Joshua C. Cohen, is as hard-hitting as they come, but very timely. The book tackles the important issues of bullying, sports, hazing, steroid use, the predominance of high school football over almost all other sports, child abuse, coping, loyalty, doing the right thing, etc. Some might think Cohen tries to tackle too much , but he manages to effectively give us a glimpse into all of these subjects. One need only look at the newspaper and listen to the news to know that Cohen is right on the money here: the 2003 Long Island, New York, football team incident and the 2010 Elk River, Minnesota, football team incident, and on and on, are all similar tales.

"Leverage" is told from the alternating points of view of Danny Meehan (a slight of build gymnast) and Kurt Brodsky (a behemoth of a football player). Danny has his eyes set on becoming the team captain, winning a State title, and earning a full-ride athletic scholarship. He has little support from home, since his mother has died, and his dad works constantly to keep them afloat. Kurt is a junior football recruit who has great potential as well. He has traveled from one foster home to the next and has suffered greatly. Because of his stutter, his teachers and peers assume he is a dumb jock. It is also assumed that he has the same mean streak that some of his fellow football players do; however, we quickly learn that he has a heart and a conscience. As the story progresses, we learn the horrible secrets of Kurt's past. Both of these characters are well-drawn and surprising.

The steroid propelled star football players choose the members of the gymnastics team (I like this - who ever writes about the sport of gymnastics? love it!) to inflict their reign of terror on. All of their unchecked behaviors go too far, though they are seen as a normal part of life at this particular high school. The intensity builds as both teams seek revenge for the actions of the others. The brutal rape of one of the male gymnasts and his subsequent suicide, takes the bullying of the football players beyond "normal" and is impossible to ignore by both Danny and Kurt. The ending is satisfying, if not a little over the top - but it does teach many terrific lessons.

The action of this important novel is intense. I had to put it down at times because I couldn't take anymore. That would last a few minutes before I would snatch the book up again and dive in. I read this in one day as a result. So, though the novel is 425 pages, it is a fast, compelling read. Because of the intensity of the book, language, scenes of sexual and physical abuse, and rape I would recommend this book for grades 10 and up.

Cohen writes excellent scenes of sports action that make the reader feel he or she is experiencing exactly what the protagonists are experiencing. This is an extremely well-written piece and offers promise of more to come from this outstanding author!

I can't recommend a book more highly!

[Nuzaifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE REVIEW - Visit wordcontessa.com for more reviews.

One of the biggest misconceptions of anabolic steroid usage is that it is solely used by athletes as a performance enhancing drug.

But in fact, half of the users of steroids aren't even athletes. These “mirror athletes” use steroids in order to achieve an “ideal” body. This practice roots from prevalent adolescent body image issues that are often perpetuated by misguided internalized messages in pop culture. Often, boys are obsessed with bulking up in order to fit in with what they see as societal ideals.

An astounding 57% of teenagers admit that they felt compelled to take the drugs what with leading “health” magazines constantly featuring ripped guys.

The percentage of teen athletes who do not receive any education about what the side effects of steroids: 85%

The percentage of high school boys who admit to having tried steroids at least once: 11%

Joshua C. Cohen's Leverage is a mature Young Adult novel that focuses on an issue that is often ignored - Steroid usage among adolescents. But Leverage goes above and beyond your average sports fiction novel.

Social hierarchies in school, dismissal of male victims of rape, bullying, substance abuse, abuse of the power and authority, speech disorder - No stone is left unturned. It's an incredibly hard book to read but also hopeful in its own way. Narrated in distinctive dual POVs of a gymnast and a football player, Leverage is a homage to beautiful friendships found in unlikely places.

Danny the gymnast who is working his ass off towards a scholarship. Kurtis the football player with a speech disorder who is unstoppable on the field. On the outside it looks like the two boys have absolutely nothing in common, but as the story unfolds you see that perhaps they aren't so different from each other. However, the gymnastic and football teams are embroiled in a rivalry of sorts with each side trying to take down the other. What begins as a series of prank soon escalates to a horrific and twisted event.

Cohen's writing is best described as a a series of unrelenting no-holds-barred punches that leave you gasping for air. A chilling yet undeniably realistic high school atmosphere sets the background for the atrocities that happened within those walls. Leverage was at times intensely graphic, so much so that I had to put down the book a couple of time and take a breather. Perhaps, Cohen's brutal honesty and raw dialogue are the very things that set this novel apart from the rest.

An unconventional novel with an unlikely hero, Leverage is a celebration of ambition and hard work. It's a story of two boys who fight against all the odds to make something of themselves.

Danny and Kurt find unlikely friends in each other but their worlds are soon turned upside down by a sick and depraved attack. An attack that is witnessed by both of them. Bound together by guilt, this incident becomes a defining point in their lives. As the story progresses, Danny makes some questionable choices but I could see that they were coming from a place of insecurity, self preservation and fear. Kurt on the other hand has been dealt some of the most fucked up cards in life. With everything he's been through, this boy tugs at your heartstrings and you can't help but love him just a little. The voices of these teenage boys felt completely authentic and watching them grow from boys to men was heartwarming.

Leverage evokes a multitude of questions, all of which are equally important. It explores the lines of morality that separates silent bystanders from criminals. Does failing to speak up make you criminal as well?

It speaks of setting aside our own fears and concerns for self preservation in the face of senseless brutality. It speaks of courage and the fight for justice. It speaks of empathy and our own flawed sense of humanity. It speaks of standing up for what's right even when it means going against everything you've been taught.

My only qualm with this novel was that I found one particular aspect of the ending to be unrealistic. Leverage is not for the faint-hearted but if you are looking for a YA novel unlike any other do yourself a favor and go read this one, you'll thank me later.

* Many thanks to my beloved friend, Savindi for the recommendation: Check out her review of Leverage!

THE RATING

4 and half Stars

QUOTE-WORTHY

“Being a hero usually isn't much fun. It's terrifying, most of the time, right up until the point you make it out safe. It's being scared to do the right thing and doing it anyway.” “On any given day you have the chance to be a hero or a victim, predator or prey. Most times, circumstances are beyond your control. Other times, you got a choice but you think about it too much and you freeze up. Sometime, though, you're forced to react and it's all instinct. May not make a damn bit of difference in a bad situation. But sometimes instinct squeezes the good out of you, forces you to be a hero before you even realize it.”

“I've got a better idea,"she says. "One that doesn't involve murder.""What makes you think you can outsmart them?""Uh, I'm a girl and they're boys,"she says. "By default, I win.”

FINAL VERDICT:

Leverage a breathtakingly eloquent and brilliant novel that's part hope and part cold truth. Give this debut a chance and you can rave about it later.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

What in the after-school-special was that

[Sarah (YA Love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

Joshua C. Cohen is an author to watch! Leverage is an edgy, emotional, gripping debut. It will appeal to those who enjoy sports, but it’s about more than sports. It’s about loyalty, courage, and standing up for what’s right, even when the odds are against you.

Kelly at Stacked has been telling me to read this for months, but I can’t say why I put it off for so long. I’m actually made at myself for waiting so long to read Leverage. When I told my students about the Y.A. Cybils finalists, one of my Y.A. Lit students asked if he could read it for his project (sports in Y.A.). He reported back to me as he was reading it, and eventually another student in class went to our library to get himself a copy. Once my student finished Leverage, he came into class telling me all about it and preparing me for some of the events/scenes in the novel. After this interaction with him, I started it right away. Just like my student, I came into school and kept up our conversation, this time sharing my thoughts about the story. This kind of interaction/relationship with my students is why I love sharing books with them.

I’m happy one of my older students read Leverage first because it’s a mature read. I knew something bad was going to happen as the prank war escalated, but even after my student’s warning, I never expected it to get as bad as it did. Without spoiling the novel, one scene in particular is horrific and haunting. I had a feeling something like that might happen, but I hoped it wouldn’t. It’s a graphic scene, so if you’re working with younger students, you might want to read Leverage first before you hand it to one of them. Or at the very least, let these readers know that it’s a mature and sometimes graphic novel. While I was heartbroken after this event, I understand why Cohen included it. It really sets up the characterization of Danny and Kurt.

I really enjoy novels that switch points of view, because it allows for more understanding of the events in the story. Kurt and Danny are written so well, that I couldn’t choose which character I preferred more. Both characters are flawed and motivated by their emotions. Kurt has a past no person would wish on another, and Danny is searching for praise and perfection. Kurt’s goal is to leave his past behind, so he’s working out constantly in hopes for a football scholarship. Football also allows him to release his anger and frustration. His helmet helps him speak without a stutter, which makes him feel more powerful and in control. He can also hide his scars, both physical and emotional. Danny’s mother died, so now it’s just him and his dad. His dad doesn’t seem to take Danny’s sport seriously, he sees gymnastics as a hobby. Danny’s hoping to become captain one day and receive a scholarship, but he also wants his dad’s approval and recognition. Danny and Kurt may play different sports and be vastly different physically, but both have similar aspirations. It’s not really until the heartbreaking scene that these two characters come together and work towards justice. It’s this scene that really shows how flawed Danny and Kurt are, but even while I was yearning for them to do something, I understood their hesitation. Joshua C. Cohen not only created complex characters, he has written a novel that makes the reader question what he/she would do if placed in Danny or Kurt’s position. Once you think about this from the character’s perspective, it’s difficult to judge them for their actions and/or inaction.

Leverage isn’t a novel for the faint of heart, because like Kelly told me, it will devastate you. And while much of the novel is dismal, I knew there would be some hope towards the end. Although the ending itself, I’m not so sure about. Parts of it didn’t feel very believable to me, but that might depend on the reader. If you decide to read Leverage, be prepared for an intense reading experience and an emotional connection to the characters. Leverage is a story about bullying to the extreme, and it’s one that I highly recommend.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I am not into sports very much, what drew me to this book were the words in the summary - "emotionally damaged fullback." I wasn't sure if the focus on sports would put me off or not. I'm so glad that I took a chance and read a book that was out of my standard comfort zone because this is one of my favorite books of 2011 so far. What sets it apart is its intensity. Everything in this book is intense. Intense emotions. Intense violence. Intense character development. Intense backstory. Intense stakes. It's just - wow!

The dual perspective works very well for this book. The voices of Kurt and Danny are distinct and poignant, though very different. Both boys have an inner world that few people are allowed to see, have fears about what could happen if they present a true face to the world. To Kurt, that "emotionally damaged fullback" that drew me to the story, that means stifling all the horrible, past memories he keeps inside from his foster care days. It means trying to block out the guilt that he feels about his friend, Lamar's, death. For Danny, it means pretending like being considered "less than" and weak doesn't hurt. While reading, I was stunned by how deep and complex the characters' emotions could be while remaining completely authentic and natural for guys their age. Kurt and Danny each leave a major impression in the mind of the reader.

The violence in this book is some of the most intense and graphic drop-your-jaw violence that I've ever read. Paired up with feelings that are already jangling from feeling the boys' emotional pain, it left me shell shocked. I would say in a good way, but I have to rephrase that because "witnessing" that level of violence can never really have a good affect on you. Rather, this violent act was harrowing, very masterfully serving its intended purpose of setting the stakes very high for both Danny and Kurt. Their lives are forever altered, and it's up to them to decide in what way they will change based on what they have seen.

After what happens, it is crucial for Kurt and Danny to stand up to the steroid-infused jocks at their school. Of course, it's the right thing to do, but it's also necessary in order for each of them to be able to cope. Theirs are the voices that are never heard, never acknowledged. They have to drastically act in order to keep themselves from being forever marginalized, victims. And the crew they have to stand up to makes any other bully in any other book seem like a moralistic cartoon. These guys are life-ruiners and, while not necessarily evil per se, their actions are so destructive, and they have all the cards stacked in their favor.

If you can handle gritty, gripping intensity, then I tell you to run - not walk - to the nearest bookstore and rip this baby off the shelf. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's something that you will never be able to forget. The themes and issues in this book are some that are necessary and relevant for today's world.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

2011 is going to be such a great year for books. I went to the ALA meeting last week and just the sight of this cover reached out and grabbed me. The book did not disappoint, although based on the backcover blurb part of me expected some kind of romance between a football player and a gymnast. God was I wrong, but in a good way. Gut-wrenching drama aptly describes this coming-of-age story about two young men, opposites in so many ways except for their need to uncover the courage inside themselves.

Kurt, the football player, has ugly scars on his face, a debilitating stutter that leaves people questioning his intelligence and him preferring to keep silent, and a desire to be big. Big enough so that no one can hurt him the way he and his friend had been hurt by the man he calls "Crud Bucket," the man in charge of the boys home he once lived in. Kurt's desire to be big and strong is fed by a high school football coach who freely dispenses steroids in the quest for a winning tram.

Danny is a sophomore gymnast still waiting for puberty so he won't keep being mistaken for a lost kid from junior high. His future plans include being team captain by his junior year and getting a full-ride to college to prove to his father that his "recitals" aren't child's play. His major event is the high bar where he has perfected a gravity-defying move that leaves even his coach (and the fifteen or so spectators that come to the gymnastics meets) shaking.

People fear the football team co-captains with good reason as their steroid induced rages grow more cruel and violent. After the gymnastics team faces them down over their treatment of one young boy, things escalate until a member of the gymnastics team pays a horrible price.

Kurt, the boy who can't talk, and Danny, the boy whose only real weapon is his voice, become targets of death threats. Kurt struggles to find the courage to trust that Danny won't let him down when his own bulk cannot save him. Danny sruggles to believe that sometimes courage means forgetting that what you are about to do is total stupidity.

By the end they learn that it's not about how many muscles you have or how big you are or how fast you talk. It's about trust and a belief that with the right leverage you can indeed change the world. Oh yes, there is a girl. And both guys need to learn that "Girls Rule." Especially in the smarts department.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few things here I'd like to mention. First, a trigger warning: rape. I realize this may be a pretty big spoiler, but since it is the cause of most of my reactions, I'm throwing it out there right away, and it's my review space anyway so shut up.

Rape is the kind of thing I have the hardest time reading about. To me it seems even more invasive than murder. It's breaking someone down until they're completely broken. I don't like it.

With that being said, I know it is (sadly) an extremely common occurrence. More common than we want to admit. So my problem with this book isn't centered around the rape itself. What pisses me off is the actions of everyone afterward.

I realize I'll never be able to actually step inside the head of a boy. I'll never be able to tell from personal experience all the things that influence them--things that objectively I know about, but won't ever experience. Where we as females are ridden with being considered flighty or temperamental with the slightest hint of emotion, men must always remain stoic so as not to be called a pussy.

I get that. Really, I do. But I cannot condone what these kids did after the fact. I realize that is kind of an inflammatory statement. But I can't get past that.

I can't stand to see the people around me suffering. So when that poor boy was raped, and everyone turned their backs on him, I was incensed. I couldn't understand how they could reject him and tell him to get over himself, it wasn't a big deal. How they could tell him to just take a shower and pretend nothing happened. How the poor kid had a broomstick down his throat and a penis in his asshole and they thought telling him, "get over it" would solve the problem. Further, I can't properly disguise my disgust at them when they were surprised he committed suicide. Really? He had no foundation, no one to turn to. THEY took that from him. And yes, obviously the rapists are the bad guys. Rape is never okay. But to continually shove the victim back down and tell him his emotions don't matter and he should be happy it's over... no.

Plus the book does a great job of showing that them being cowards did not hurt them or their lives. They got to truck along like mostly normal, even making some new friends and some new memories along the way. And I just can't abide that.

[Savindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cover Gushing Worthiness: have to admit that I prefer the hardcover version over the paperback version which looks like this .For me the hardcover captures the essence of the book perfectly. As you read the book the symbol of the arm with veins protruding becomes much more clearer.

Review: I'm on a roll with reading sports YA books at the moment. I bought Leverage about two weeks ago and decided that I should start reading it because I missed reading sports YA books. Leverage did not let me down and it is one book that you will not want to put down because the story will grip you in a way only certain sports stories can.

Told in alternative POV of a promising Sophomore Gymnast and a Fullback with a stutter and a tragic past Leverage explores the darker side of sports/sports hierarchy and high school social hierarchy. It looks at the use of steroids, rape, bullying and winning at all costs. This story at times is painful to read because of the rawness and reality, but in the end it does offer hope that there will be those who will always be a voice for the voiceless.

Plot wise I enjoyed this story because it tackled difficult issues that not only teenagers face but also adults. Bullying is something that I’m familiar with and this story looked at it in a way that I have never encountered in YA before. It felt so real because everything was so graphic. You could feel your heart ache for the victims and anger for the perpetrators. I think the book addressed the reality of how as a society rape is looked at how it’s wiped under the rug and those victimized are told “nothing happened. let it go.” The more important aspect in Leverage in regards to rape is how society treats male victims of rape. I know that as a freshman in University it hadn't even occurred to me that men get raped until I saw an advertisement for a hotline to male victims of rape. I know that it’s my own fault that I never knew about it, but I know that it’s an issue that I want to better educate myself about. Another aspect of this book that interested me was how sports is always compared to war and I have to say I do not agree with that comparison at all. Any sport for that matter is not a war, it is not gory or bloody. War brings pain and destruction of communities. Yes sports has pain too, but I find it disturbing that players of team sports are called “soldiers” because it’s an unsuitable comparison. Unless there are athletes who are soldiers I do not think this is a fair comparison by any means. The fact this attitude is drilled into younger generations disturbs me. As someone who grew up in a war-torn country I don't want an athlete telling me that he/she understands what it’s like to go to war because in all honesty they may not.

The story does start off a bit slow because Cohen builds up the characters by introducing them to the readers first and then letting the story take its course. Another thing is that the book addressed how hard and how scary it is for those who are witnesses to cruel acts to come forward and confess when they know that they will soon become victimized themselves. While reading the book I was constantly reminded of Martin Niemoller’s statement First They Came. If you haven't heard of it before this is it:

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

.

I thought the ending was a bit anti-climactic in the sense that I wanted to see justice and we got some of it, but I wanted so much more, but nevertheless it last few chapters were engrossing to the point where I literally could not put the book down because I wanted to know what happened and mind you I haven’t had a book do that to me in a while.

Character wise I liked Kurt (the Fullback) a lot more than Danny (the gymnast) . As a reader you sympathized with Kurt because of his past and his stutter, but you rooted for him like no other because he was trying to do the right thing. I didn’t cry when I read this book, but my heart-felt so much pain as I read Kurt’s chapters because I desperately wanted him to have everything good in life. I also liked him because he’s an unconventional male protagonist which is a nice change from some of the YA books I’ve read. Yes he is a jock, but he’s scarred both mentally and physically to the point where you wonder how he isn’t scared of his own shadow. I liked his character development throughout the book and I enjoyed the friendship between him and Danny. It was very well-developed.

I found it quite difficult to like Danny to be honest. I felt that he needed to be put in his place because of his attitude. Maybe some of us are guilty for thinking like him at some point, but when you’re witnessing someone acting like a jerk after everything that has happened all you want to do is put them in their place. I also found him to be rather self-absorbed and watching out for his own interests. However I was quite glad that he grew a backbone at the end of the story.

The secondary characters, especially Danny’s Gymnastic teammates were interesting. Sometimes I did find Bruce- the captain of the Gymnastic team hotheaded and rash because it was partially his actions that became the catalyst to the events that occur in the story. I liked Vance Fisher a lot because he provided the humor in the book, but I felt that he had to know that he too was responsible for some of the events that happened. It felt like he got off rather easily. Kurt’s teammates: Mike Studbaltz, Tom Jankowski and Scott Miller were really scary beasts because of the after effects the steroids had on them. They were characters that you definitely wanted to knock out with a baseball bat. They were mean and vile to the point where you wanted to scream at everybody in the book because someone had to something to stop them. Danny’s Gymnastics Coach- Coach Nelson was a really great character, I really wanted to know more about him. There was one quote he said that stuck with me “Never underestimate the power of underestimation.” As for the Football Coaches: Coach Brigs and Coach Stein- well what can I say. How can you trust adults who are willing to induce teenagers with steroids to win a football game? I really disliked both of them. It’s bothers me when people who teenagers and athletes look up to can engage in such activities. My favourite secondary character in the book was Tina. God this girl was so awesome! She was tough as nails and you really had to admire her for her courage to stand up to a steroid infused Football player. There is a passage in which she speaks to Danny that really stood out for me.

You’re good at that, I say. “Sticking up for people. I…uh…never thanked you for that time in the hall with Jankowski.”

“Yeah.” She nods at me. “I remember thinking you were a total jellyfish after that.”

“But then I saw you that night at the gymnastics meet,” she races on. “You were flying through the air,doing totally crazy tricks. Better than any martial artist I've ever seen on Tv. So if you can do all that stuff, how come you can’t stick up for yourself?”

“I…uh…I don't know. It’s not the same.”

“Of course it is.”

.

Overall Leverage was an amazing and heart-wrenching read. It’s strengths lie in its realistic portrayal of teenagers who are discovering the cruelties of life, but also their own voices. It’s a book about making a difference and it’s about forming friendships with the most unlikely people.

My Rating: 5/5

Would I recommend it? Yes, but not for younger readers of YA Fiction. I feel it’s too graphic for 13-15 year olds. I would recommend it to readers 16 and over.

[Karielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sports fiction will always have a special place in my heart because it combines two of my favorite things: sports and... well... fiction (okay, shut up).

I grew up with Dan Gutman and Mike Lupica, but I think Leverage was probably my first venture into older teen sports fiction, and definitely my first one about football (which, might I add, is my all-time favorite spectator sport). I know by the blurb, it sounds like another Friday Night Lights, another head-butting, sweat-packed story about the strength that goes into football and the tough friendships formed along the way, but isn't—it definitely isn't. Leverage is much, much more: It's deeper, more tragic, and more grueling than any other sports novel I've read before, and it's an unexpectedly jarring, as well as unexpectedly hopeful story that everyone should be aware of.

There are so many different issues tackled in Leverage, including the nit 'n' grit of two very competitive varsity sports teams, the treacherous social structure of high school, and an unspeakable crime against innocence, that all throw outsider, Danny Meehan, into chaos. A determined gymnast and self-proclaimed "nobody," Danny knows better than to mess with Oregrove High's most powerful social circle: the football players. It hasn't been too long since I last cheered on my own high school football team in the stands, so I knew exactly the atmosphere, exactly the rush of the crowd, that Cohen portrays. I do feel his evocation is a bit exaggerated, because never have I met such mean high schoolers, nor such brutal teenagers, but then again, I'm no Danny Meehan; having never gone to school actually fearing for my safety, I've probably never noticed the great, disastrous social divide.

When Kurt Brodsky, a terrifying rock of a fullback with a mysterious, painful past, treads softly onto Oregrove's social scene, Danny sees the school's dynamic doing a fabulous turnover. Suddenly, football players actually seem human, and he even builds up a little bit of courage for himself. All of this comes crashing down when he alone witnesses an inconceivable act of violence, and then is forced to live with the guilt of the ramifications that succeed it.

The hazardous burdens upon a faultless witness, as well as the morality that separates the bystanders from the perpetrators, are embodied seamlessly within Danny's conscience. I think Leverage is a book that everyone should be talking about, just for the hundred and one issues it raises on current events such as child abuse, sports security, and bullying.

I'm afraid to say anymore because I don't know if I could without spoiling the story/fangirling hard, but I will leave you with this: Leverage presents the darkest, most horrifying tragedy you could probably imagine in a contemporary teenage setting. I place this work of young adult fiction apart from others because while others may convey equal brute and equal atrocity, none has ever been so real, so realistic.

Now, if Leverage was a film, it would be rated R, not only for disturbing content, but also for some language, violence, and sexuality. (Not that any of it was enough to bother me—with the exception of one stomach-dropping scene that literally made me tremble—but just a warning: this is most certainly not your sweet, chaste young adult read! I repeat, this is NOT YOUR SWEET, CHA-)

Someone cut me off. Anyway. I love Cohen's voice. Leverage is split up into two narratives: one of the smart, smart-assy Danny, and one of the worn and leather-hard, but still tender Kurt. The high school dynamic is perfectly captured—from the tiny little observances regarding teachers and their inability to ever be subtle, down to the reeking of every boys' locker rooms (don't ask me how I know what a boys' locker room smells like)—and this is mainly the reason why Leverage is so true-to-life, and why it hits so close to home. Like I mentioned before, some of the secondary characters (e.g. the inflatedly brainless football players and the overly determined coaches) are a bit too much; I understand the author meant to caricaturize specific stereotypes within these supporting characters, but it did make the story slightly unrealistic. Fortunately, our two protagonists are perfectly proportioned and perfectly probed, which contributed a lot to my enjoyment of the book.

Kurt was an easy character to like—the gentle giant with a huge heart. The slow uncovering of his secretive past is riveting, and his ultimate triumph astonishing. I loved reading about him warming up to Oregrove, and eventually overcoming his darkest of demons.

Danny was more difficult to sympathize with, even though he's portrayed as the "victim" in many cases, so scrawny and well, kind of a geek, as he is. His attitude is generally snobby and condescending (even on top of his acknowledgement of being at the bottom of the high school social ladder), but it helps shape the plot of the book; in fact, the shift we victoriously see within Danny is what shapes the entire climax, in the first place. While I can't say I immediately liked him, I can say he's a well-fleshed, well-written character essential to the book's procession. Cohen did an excellent job with the main characters.

Leverage is vicious and emotionally searing, but there's a lyrical ending note that makes it all worth it in the end. Leverage is definitely a harsh ride, but there are some weighty issues within it that readers will pick up and take to heart. I am truly impressed with Cohen's accurate representation of the modern high school dynamic, his hard-hitting revelations on injustice and corruption within a sports system, and the disturbing, crude consequences of teenage bullying he reveals is prevalent in society today. The overall complexity and depth of this simply-presented novel astound me.

Pros:
Nothing is held back; raw, crude, vicious // Great portrayal of a high school // FOOTBALL! Need I say more? // Impressively dynamic characters // Intricate plot // Easy to read and follow

Cons:
Some characters are too stereotypical // Flow of the writing sometimes gets dull

Verdict:
Leverage is a coming-of-age football novel that holds no barriers and has no inhibitions. It will take your breath away and have your blood pumping madly; the adrenaline players feel, readers will definitely feel, and that rush—that delirious heart-pounding, throbbing, thrilling sensation—will reverberate effortlessly through their spines. Tragic, appalling, but all-the-while confident and anchored in tone, this young adult story about the power of perseverance and the importance of keeping courage—even if only for a few minutes longer—is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Fans will go wild over Joshua C. Cohen's stunning debut.

Rating: 9 out of 10 hearts: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf.

Source: Complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

[Andrea]

DNF @28%. I know this is supposed to be about bullying and other awful shit, but this is just too much shit & toxicity for me to take (especially for 9 more hours). 🤢🙅🏻‍♀️

[Sherry Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kurt Brodsky is recruited as a junior to attend Oregrove High School by Coach Briggs, who hungers for a state football championship. Kurt has grown up in foster care and has had some very bad experiences in his life, not the least of which is molestation by adults. In fact, at his last group home, Mr. Sandborn, aka “Crud Bucket”, was especially horrendous and evil in his abuse, killing Kurt’s friend, Lamar. Kurt escapes from his problems by lifting weights and becoming stronger, with revenge as his ultimate goal. However, he has a kind heart and a gentle soul, but also suffers from severe stuttering. He has a promising future as an offensive fullback.


Sophomore Danny Meehan, is a two-year member of Oregrove’s gymnastic team. He has set lofty goals for himself, hopefully ending in a full-ride college scholarship. Unfortunately, at Oregrove, football is king, and football players rule the school. The three football captains, quarterback Scott Miller, offensive tackle Tom Jankowski, and defensive lineman Mike “Stud” Studblatz, are extremely talented, but they are hyped up on Coach Briggs’s steroids. They terrorize the school, but mainly target the smaller athletes--the gymnastic team, the cross country team, and the swimming team.

Gymnastics coach Ted Nelson, a retired special ops military man, discovers his team budget has been cut by Coach Briggs, who is using the money to put a JumboTron up in the football stadium. Coach Nelson challenges the football players to a strength contest in the school’s weight room, with the winner getting to use the weight room whenever they wish. Much to the football teams’ dismay, they lose to the gymnasts, which sets off a series of pranks between the two teams. The retaliation between the two squads gets more and more out of control, leading to physical abuse and, eventually, a student’s suicide. In an unlikely pairing, Kurt and Danny team up with Tina, also a former foster care child, to expose the football bullies and mete out a kind of justice of their own.

This novel debut by Josh Cohen was a gripping, intense book, one I had to put down at times so I could ponder and absorb what I had read! The characters were extremely well-fleshed out and densely developed. A lot of thought went into their interactions; even the minor characters were complex! The book is told in alternating chapters between the two main characters—Kurt and Danny. I loved Kurt who, at first glance, seemed strong, imposing, and mean, but was actually a gentle giant underneath that hard exterior. Others’ perceptions of his being stupid because he stuttered only added an extra dimension to his likability factor.


Danny, as well, was extremely likable. I admired the way he set his goals to so high. The unlikely friendship that formed between Kurt and Danny was heartfelt and true. It was through Danny’s leadership and encouragement that the entire gymnastics team embraced Kurt’s inclusion in some of their activities.

Tina, the Goth techie girl whom Kurt knew from a previous foster home, was one tough chick. She was a super-hero in disguise! Not only did she know about music, computers and other technology, she was the defender of the weak! I loved how she and her friend, Indira, tried to take on Tom Jankowski in the hallway when he was bullying Danny. She also plays a huge part in the book’s climax.

The three football captains were vile, crude, and rude, and I absolutely hated them. I could not find a single redeeming quality in their personalities. However, at times, their behaviors almost seemed bully-stereotypical. I think that Cohen probably intended his reading audience to loathe the bullies, which was certainly the case, for me, at least.

The action scenes, both for gymnastics and football were extremely descriptive. The ending was awesome, although there is a surprising, unexpected twist! The novel is really about perceptions and expectations, how to overcome adversity, and acceptance of others. Due to the graphic nature of parts of the book I would only recommend it for mature readers, perhaps tenth grade and up. Those who do dive into this book will not be disappointed!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally into sports novels, but I have to admit my curiosity was piqued when I overheard another librarian describing Leverage as one of the most brutal YA reads they had experienced. I've always had an affinity for courageous YA books that tread disturbing little-plumbed territory, and I was proud to see that not only does this book belong in that fine category, but that it's also an excellent read.

Like most good sports fiction, this isn't really a novel about sports---it's more about expectations of community, friendship, how our past affects us, and how we act within and outside of established norms and social codes and how difficult it can be to break outside them. And although it does so in a way that is harrowing at times, this book explores all these issues beautifully.

I was sucked in right away by the alternating narration from Kurt and Danny. Both are unforgettable characters fleshed out so believably. Danny is a small but strong gymnast who focuses his life around his talent on the high bars and camaraderie with his team, which sometimes is enough to make him forget the death of his mother, emotional absence of his father, and his bottom-rung social status at Oregrove High. Kurt is the new school star as a huge, strong football player, which should make him immediately popular, but his stutter and scarred face hint at a dark past that is gradually and skillfully revealed in the narrative. Kurt doesn't quite fit in with his team as he doesn't anywhere, especially with its heavy-drinking, brutish captains, but like Danny, he uses the game and his preparation for the game as an escape from some of his demons. I appreciate that Cohen spends enough time fleshing out these characters that when they become unlikely allies it isn't really surprising.

As for the plot, there are some pretty tough things to handle---steroids are the least of it. Without revealing too much, there are at least a couple of scenes in particular that were extremely disturbing and difficult to read, enough so that I found myself physically glancing away from the book, and I wondered if the novel would offer any redemption. It amazes me that in the end, for all the author's depictions of bullying and ritualistic abuse to rival Robert Cormier's in The Chocolate War, it's ultimately an inspiring and even uplifting read while still feeling hard-won (you have to make it through the whole book to understand). I think I also read this described somewhere as the male Speak, and that seems like an apt if oversimplified comparison. Of the myriad things I loved about this book, one was about how it so deftly explored male bonding rituals and circles from the point of view of an outsider. This book struck me as very true to male athletic culture, capturing that terrifying feeling of star athletes in a small town who truly feel like they can get away with anything (in this sense, the book is a worthy successful to Carl Deuker's equally fascinating Painting The Black that goes even further as far as what can be "gotten away with"). Cohen is definitely a fearless talent to watch out for.

[Jessica Bierschied · Rating 4 out of 5]

LEVERAGE, by Joshua C. Cohen is not my usual kind of read but in the end it left me inspired and wanting to make a difference. Cohen brought the very real problems of bullying to life almost flawlessly.

When I started this book, I wanted the prank wars that little synopsis promised to begin right away, and I was shocked at the kind of pranks that these high school characters created, they didn't seem real but Cohen's writing sucked you into a story that that gives you so many mixed emotions.

This book is told in alternating voices, a football star with a bad past and a seemingly weak gymnast. Kurt, the football star really stood out to me, he had a good attitude with a pure heart even when accusations were flying and his team ganged up on him. The other voice, Danny, the gymnast, was hard to read sometimes because I found him almost like a small animal in the wild, which really is what he is at his school.

The extremes of bullying that some of these football players go to really stunned me. Cohen made me feel like I was there, watching these events unfold and I wanted to yell and take a stand to defend these poor kids. I can't fathom experiencing the horrors Cohen presents so amazingly.

I wanted to yell and scream at this almost scary story of two kids from opposite ends of the social spectrum teaming up to stop tragedies and shocking situations, but in the end I felt triumphant. I will not forget this novel.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a feud over weight training room privileges escalates between the gymnastics team and the football team at the high school, a question of morality, ethics, and doing the right thing becomes all encompassing for members of these teams. Danny, a promising gymnast and Kurt, a gifted football player who has seen way too much in his young life, create a bond that gives them the strength to stand up to murderous, lying bullies.

Danny and his teammate, Bruce are witness to a brutal attack on one of their teammates at the hands of mentally-disturbed football stars. They are frightened and are coerced into keeping silent, even though it has a devastating outcome. Kurt, who walks in on the attack, vows to somehow, someway make these bullies pay, even though his past may come back to haunt him.

Danny and Kurt, together with feisty, goth-girl Tina, leave no doubts behind when they expose Tom, Scott, and Mike (the football heroes) and their heinous crime. A chilling look at the power bullies have over those they taunt and how adults can sometimes look the other way. Be warned...there are some brutal, vicious scenes in this book that are probably, in all reality, happening at every high school in this country. Leverage is a book that you won't be able to put down and one that does not skirt around a frightening issue in our schools today.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not even sure what to say about this book. It was a little too intense for me. I devoured it in a couple of days and finished it in the middle of the night because I couldn't put it down, but at the same time I did not enjoy reading it. What the characters go through is absolutely brutal and are definitely things that happen in real life that deserve to be spoken about more widely, but I felt the ending was a total misstep.

The horrific plot turning point was very graphic, and after that point every single character in the book (teen and adult) did all of the exactly wrong things. Then the ending was a quick wrap-up and rally cry, with presumably a happy outcome--which is the exact opposite of how everything would turn out in real life. I felt uncomfortable with that juxtaposition -- the majority of the book is intense, brutal, and stark, and the ending feels like it was slapped on from a totally different story that doesn't tie up any of the loose emotional ends. It doesn't feel authentic to me at all.

I read this book several months ago and I still think of it from time to time and feel unsettled by it, so I guess in some ways it was powerful. Just not in a good way, for me.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely powerful. I haven't cried this much or felt so sick to my stomach since Some Girls Are (which is an excellent readalike). However, the end really bummed me out, which is why this isn't a 5-star. It felt way too cliche, too obvious. Because this kind of stuff doesn't stop.

Full review here: http://stackedbooks.blogspot.com/2011...

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: child abuse, sexual assault, bullying, violence

This was not an easy book to listen to, and there were moments when I had to stop and take a breather, but I also had trouble putting it down. With all the recent scandals coming to light about years and years of sexual abuse and other forms of abuse happening on sports teams (not just football), this was pretty timely, and I found myself feeling disgusted, sad, and so, so angry with what was happening to these kids. This book also ends up addressing steroid use, although not as directly, and it is clear from the ending that it will be addressed.

This was on a list of recommended books for my student's high school abnormal psychology book, and I decided to read the book along with her so we could have discussions and figure out what the various characters were dealing with. Thus, I ended up reading this story from a psychological perspective. The story was brilliantly narrated in alternating points of view by Danny, a small gymnast who was used to keeping a low profile in order to try escaping bullying, and Kurt, an orphan and a survivor of childhood abuse and the sexual assault of his best friend. He suffers from a stutter, so he has dealt with years of people treating him as if he is stupid, but also trying to keep himself protected as he loses himself in the weight room.

We really had a chance to get into the heads of the two boys as they struggled with their fears and just tried to be left alone to mind their own business, but the three captains of the football team don't allow that to happen. One of the things that I kept asking myself throughout this book was where were all the adults. I know that Danny's coach actually cared about his students, but I also think he was a bit misguided at the beginning when he put Danny onto the bullies' radar. Yet, I know this type of thing happens in many high schools with teachers being either blind to what's happening under their noses (in large part because bullied kids feel shame about bullying so they try to keep it hidden) or just outright chalking it up to "boys will be boys" and some such nonsense. In a school culture where the football program is huge, I can see something like this being hidden or given a pass until it becomes serious enough (by their standards) to warrant adult intervention. There is so much shame among victims of sexual assault that I can easily see it not being reported and victims just wanting to ignore it and "moving on" so as to not make things worse.

I could go on and on about this book, but I think it would be better to just read the book (if the TW's aren't triggers for you). The writing is incredible and while Danny and Kurt are the main protagonists, you also get to know many of the other supporting characters, including Tina, who was my favorite secondary character. The two narrators, Kirby Heyborne and Richard Powers were perfect for this story. This is not an easy book to read or listen to, but it's very well done and worth reading.

[Savon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was nearly torturous to listen to. From gratuitous violence to literal rape to teenage suicide for the payoff of winning a football game and having the perpetrators embarrassed in front of a crowd of adoring fans. While I feel, deeply, for anyone who may identify with any of the traumatic events in this book, there was absolutely nothing I enjoyed about this story. The horror was seemingly nonstop for 13 straight hours, and the "bad guys" were only ever shamed. For the torture to be so graphically detailed, it is unacceptable if not downright immoral for the book to have ended without justice.

[Missie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly don't know where to start. I'm struggling to figure out how to review or even rate this book. The first thing I should probably say is that I've never read a book like Leverage before. I've never read a book that has caused me to physically recoil, frantically trying to erase graphic images out of my mind. Reading a book like Leverage is challenging, like taking a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the face without flinching or gasping for air. But the problem is, you can't. Your throat rips open, raw and desperate for a hint of breath, and your eyes burn while filling to the brim with tears so thick they blind you.

Two athletes, Danny and Kurt, as different as night and day are presented as stereotypical jocks in sports that suit their exterior. Small and unimposing Danny is a gymnastic talent while large and frightening Kurt tosses bodies around on the football field.

Trouble occurs when the competitive edge that run rampant on the field is brought to the weight room, creating enemies between athletes that should be comrades since they all go to the same school. Seemingly harmless pranks quickly escalate, leading to violence so brutal it causes a death.

In a gritty yet honest writing style, Leverage delivers blow after blow of unrelenting punches filled with sorrow and hate, making the story difficult to endure. No words of kindness are offered to mask the evil that lives inside the sorriest excuses for human beings I have ever encountered. The football team's captains, a trio of cruelty so repelling they made me sick, were the most despicable versions of themselves by being the cause of irrevocable damage.

The saddest part for me was watching Danny's innocents die. He starts off as this quirky guy with hilarious musings about how the politics of sports work at the school. As a gymnast with potential to excel and even earn athletic scholarships in his sport, he has made plans and set goals for escaping the football bullies that rule the school. But all of that promise is murdered when Danny is forced to witness a crime so horrifying it completely alters his outlook. The only thing that helps soften the hurt is that when he finally reaches a point where rebirth is possible, he grabs for it with renewed hope and determination.

Kurt's character didn't feel as authentic as Danny's but he did offer a different perceptive that reaffirmed my belief that goodness can prevail even in the grimmest of circumstances. There was also a secondary character, Tina, that I couldn't get enough of. She was a well developed, refreshing change of pace, and I wish there was more of her included in the story.

I'm all over the place on how to feel about this book. I have a few major issues with the way controversial and sensitive issues were handled. The way some of the characters/elements were portrayed seemed too contrived and stereotypical. The way the revenge was exacted, and the fact that I wanted the revenge, that I felt it didn't come fast enough, that the story dragged on until it happened, upset me because it didn't feel like justice was served, which was unfair for the victim and only added even more heartbreak to the situation.

I'd like to think that a story like Leverage is unrealistic, that the rampage of rage infused emotions it creates is fictional. That all influential coaches encourage natural ability over anything that would ultimately cause harm to the young faces that look up to them for guidance. But I know believing that would be what is truly unrealistic.

Leverage will not be the type of book that will appeal to everyone, but when I consider the strong emotional reactions, the underlining message, and the relationships formed, I can't deny that the story was damn good. It is a book that forces you out of your comfort zone while opening you eyes to a world you thought you knew, one that you maybe aren't ready to get so intimately acquainted with, but need to know about because of the educational opportunity it provides.

Please be warned that Leverage contains crude language, violence, and rape among young adults.

http://www.theunreadreader.com/2011/0...

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book name is leverage and the authors name is Joshua C. Cohen. I think the author's purpose was to show people that teamwork is important and that tough times will come along. Like this guy named kurt never met his real parents and he lives with his foster mom but he gets really happy, read the book and find out what makes him happy during this time. I think the theme is winning and working to do that. That’s what I think the true theme is. A comparison that i would compare this book would be Unstoppable. A young boy is a football star until he is diagnosed with cancer on his leg. It is later removed but later on he gets a mechanical leg and starts practicing to be a football player again. In the end he only plays special teams but he's happy in the end. Danny is the main character. He's a sophomore in high school. He likes this girl named Gracie. I think danny is a good athlete tho and funny guy. Im kinda like that to I play jv as a freshman and I can get cocky most of the time. He's good but he's not me. Anyways we both love football and were kinda similar and I also get really nervous to talk to beautiful girls. That's what i think of danny tho. I'm only halfway in the book but I think the knights win the state championship and Danny gets the girl. It's engaging tho because it’s about football. I would recommend this book to some people to people who love sports. This book is out of 4 stars. The author prosways me with danny's crush and the Knights season and he also entertains me about kurts hard life. ¨ Hey, Brodsky,¨ Sudblazts calls out, ¨ looks like you might not be worthless after all.¨ ¨ this weight room is for real athletes,¨ Tom Jankowski tells our coach.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

Leverage is a story told in 2 different POV's by two boys on the opposite spectrum of the high school popularity chain. Kurt comes from a troubled past but becomes the star football player, Danny is a small fraile gymnaist who keeps to himself. Both boys witness a big prank-gone-wrong bullying scene and they try to bury it within themselves so they also don't get tormented.
This is a story of bullying to extremes and the way football is played up in some high schools, I could totally see it happening. There is swearing, alcohol consumption and sexual assult, but the book was extremely emotional and gratifying at the end.
NOTE: I actually had to take a break from reading after I read a certain scene. It was too much and I almost felt physically sick from it....The way the author writes is beautiful.

[Om Manghani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book, with an interesting and complex plot. From the start, Cohen was able to capture my attention, and it stayed like this throughout. There were plenty of highs and lows throughout the book, and I enjoyed seeing the resilience of the characters that he was able to create.

The book taught me a lot about fighting for what you believe in. At the start, Kurt and Danny let themselves be hurt, but as time went on, they realized that they best way to fight back was not with their fists, but with their words. They were able to see their actions in a bigger picture of the school.

An enjoyable read, for sure. I would recommend this to people who enjoy sports and realistic fiction set in high schools.