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luisasm's review against another edition
4.0
Turned out really well, although I had my doubts in the beginning. The first book, The Underdog, is definitely the most aimless, with not much of a plot. It's more like an introduction to the characters, and it works pretty well, although I kept waiting for things to happen. The second book, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, also works well, since the plot is compelling, and the characters start to flesh out. Finally, Getting the Girl pulls everything together. Every character gets their moment. It's such an excellent climax, that it really seems the three books are all supposed to be one. They fit together so well. The family dynamic throughout all three is so real and the situations remind you that everyday life can be really captivating. What can I say, Markus Zusak can make things ridiculously realistic, plus beautiful writing and characters.
jeffrossbooks's review against another edition
3.0
The first two are very good. The third, Getting the Girl, went off a little in my opinion. Zusak is an amazing writer and this trilogy shows he was great from the beginning.
greenm29's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a while to get into these books but I ended up enjoying them greatly. I love any book about 4 children growing up!
booksnorkel's review against another edition
3.0
This is just a review of the first book in this -The Underdogs- I love the other two so much and was floored when I saw that he had this book coming out. I was super happy, until I realized that I would have to also pay for two books that I had already bought. So I waited and waited and when this book became available as a strip I grabbed it up.
Unfortunately all of my waiting was for naught as this book was disappointing slow and didn't have any of the magic that all of Zusak's have. That lyrical love, those quotes that make you sigh. The end of each and every chapter was a really obvious dream. If I was in seventh and eighth grade I would have been happy as a clam since I had to do book reports and symbolism was a BFD to that teacher. This book tried too hard, and was too obvious.
If you haven't read Fighting Ruben Wolf, or Getting the Girl then get this book it's a great deal. Those two books are pretty amazing. But if you have been waiting for just this story it's a waste.
For Seventh graders on up mostly geared towards boys, but girls will have an interesting view to read about.
Unfortunately all of my waiting was for naught as this book was disappointing slow and didn't have any of the magic that all of Zusak's have. That lyrical love, those quotes that make you sigh. The end of each and every chapter was a really obvious dream. If I was in seventh and eighth grade I would have been happy as a clam since I had to do book reports and symbolism was a BFD to that teacher. This book tried too hard, and was too obvious.
If you haven't read Fighting Ruben Wolf, or Getting the Girl then get this book it's a great deal. Those two books are pretty amazing. But if you have been waiting for just this story it's a waste.
For Seventh graders on up mostly geared towards boys, but girls will have an interesting view to read about.
chaz21's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book boys everywhere are sure to enjoy. It's filled with lots of boyish things like hair brained schemes that go awry, girls, blood, guts, girls, mysterious smells, action, girls, fighting, and did I mention girls? There's talking about girls, thinking about girls, writing about girls, girls, girls, girls! So it's not all about girls but hey, that's what occupies a teen boy's mind 24/7 pretty much. The main difference between Cameron Wolfe and his brother Ruben is, Cameron wants to find love, and it all starts with a trip to the dentist…
This story is the coming of age journey of Cameron Wolfe, the youngest of four in a hard working, blue collar family from Australia who struggles to find himself not only in his own family but in the world around him. His oldest brother Steve is deemed the "winner" in the family, next comes his sister, Sarah who is popular with the boys and then there's Ruben, Cameron's other brother and best friend. He's also his only friend as Cameron's a bit of a loner. Cameron spends most of his time getting caught up in all kinds of mischief with Ruben, much of it involving either their backyard game of "One Punch" or the neighbor's dog, "Miffy" but he can't seem to break away from his brother's shadow. Where Ruben is outgoing, good looking and anything but shy, Cameron is the opposite and often takes solace in his "words", the thoughts and feelings he pens to paper but keeps secret from everyone.
In Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl, changes begin to take place both within the family as well as the relationship between Cameron and Ruben. The boys find themselves involved in an illegal boxing arena that strengthens their brotherly bond only to have it challenged a few months later by a certain girl. Tensions grow in the house and this becomes a turning point for Cameron whose words become stronger, even if only on paper and he slowly begins to see himself for who he really is and who he can be. Both boys learn lessons about pride and the difference between being a "winner" versus a "fighter" with Ruben explaining it this way, "Yeah, anyone can stop you being a winner. Only you yourself can make you stop fighting." Ruben Wolfe
The boys have a serious falling out and are eventually brought back together by two particularly heart wrenching scenes, one involving a yappy ball of fur and the other is a rescue worthy of a "Best Brother Ever" award. By the end of the book, the boys are still close, but a shift has taken place and new respect has been earned. It becomes clear that neither Cameron nor Ruben stands in anyone's shadow. They've both realized that they don't have to live up to the standard the world has set for them, only the standard they've set for themselves and they're fighters and fighters keep fighting until you can't get back up.
This story is the coming of age journey of Cameron Wolfe, the youngest of four in a hard working, blue collar family from Australia who struggles to find himself not only in his own family but in the world around him. His oldest brother Steve is deemed the "winner" in the family, next comes his sister, Sarah who is popular with the boys and then there's Ruben, Cameron's other brother and best friend. He's also his only friend as Cameron's a bit of a loner. Cameron spends most of his time getting caught up in all kinds of mischief with Ruben, much of it involving either their backyard game of "One Punch" or the neighbor's dog, "Miffy" but he can't seem to break away from his brother's shadow. Where Ruben is outgoing, good looking and anything but shy, Cameron is the opposite and often takes solace in his "words", the thoughts and feelings he pens to paper but keeps secret from everyone.
In Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl, changes begin to take place both within the family as well as the relationship between Cameron and Ruben. The boys find themselves involved in an illegal boxing arena that strengthens their brotherly bond only to have it challenged a few months later by a certain girl. Tensions grow in the house and this becomes a turning point for Cameron whose words become stronger, even if only on paper and he slowly begins to see himself for who he really is and who he can be. Both boys learn lessons about pride and the difference between being a "winner" versus a "fighter" with Ruben explaining it this way, "Yeah, anyone can stop you being a winner. Only you yourself can make you stop fighting." Ruben Wolfe
The boys have a serious falling out and are eventually brought back together by two particularly heart wrenching scenes, one involving a yappy ball of fur and the other is a rescue worthy of a "Best Brother Ever" award. By the end of the book, the boys are still close, but a shift has taken place and new respect has been earned. It becomes clear that neither Cameron nor Ruben stands in anyone's shadow. They've both realized that they don't have to live up to the standard the world has set for them, only the standard they've set for themselves and they're fighters and fighters keep fighting until you can't get back up.
sarahlchaps's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't even finish this. I got about 1/3 of the way through after forcing myself to even read that far! I thought it was incredibly dull; nothing happens! Maybe it was all set up for plot later on? I don't know. But it wasn't the same as the other two wonderful books I've read by Zusak.
laura_storyteller's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
oneesk's review against another edition
4.0
Book one was okay, book two was pretty decent and book three was great. Things got real.