Underdogs (Wolfe Brothers, #1-3)

Oct 12, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Markus Zusak is arguably one of the best contemporary YA authors, as evidenced by his internationally acclaimed bestseller, The Book Thief. It was a pleasure to read this trilogy as it chronicles the first three works of the author before his literary fame.

The Underdog is the shortest story of the three, and while lacking in some aspects it is an intriguing first act of Underdogs trilogy and whets the reader’s appetite for a taste of the resilient Wolfe Family. Fighting Ruben Wolfe delves deepl...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Jillian -always aspiring- marked it as to-read-someday

All three books in one volume? YES!!!

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 29, 2012 Abby rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Friends, family

Shelves: favorites

This is probably one of the only books that I've ever wanted to reread. I've had that desire with every other Markus Zusak novel, as well, but this one seemed to stick with me the most. There's something about the Wolfe Brothers trilogy that is just so impactful and inspiring.

You are introduced to Cameron Wolfe and his older brother Ruben in the first book, The Underdog. Both boys are troublemakers, though Rube is fine with this and Cam's longing for a bit more. They're close, the two of them. T...more

like · see review

Nov 12, 2012 Chanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

I loved The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger so I really looked forward to Under Dogs. Sadly, I didn't love it. I don't enjoy short stories and essentially this is three short stories in one. They are all about the same characters so you do get a little attached to them by the end but I find it harder to invest in short-story characters, even when there are multiple stories about them. It feels like their tale always gets cut short.

Despite being disappointed by the book as a whole, I was defin...more

like · see review

Jan 29, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Underdogs is an omnibus volume of Markus Zusak;s three novels about the Wolfe brothers, Ruben and young narrator Cameron.

The first novel - The Underdog - is noticeably the weakest of the three, and was in fact Zusak's first novel. There's really little to say about it, except that so little happens in it that I am a bit surprised that it was even published. It basically sets the stage for the two novels that follow.

But it is followed by Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and that is a horse of another (extr...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 01, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read the Book Thief awhile ago, which I loved dearly. This trilogy...it wasn't what I expected. It's very different, in terms of plot, and content, but also in writing style. You see, starting with The Underdog, the growth Mark Zusak goes through, as an author. Of course, all there were great, but I liked Getting the Girl the best. These books seem more free, if you will, in terms of plot, with an almost dreamy quality to them, but Zusak does a marvolous job of connecting all the seemingly ran...more

like · see review

Aug 18, 2011 Eden rated it 3 of 5 stars

The first thing to note is that this is an omnibus of The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl. The second thing to note is that they're Markus Zusak's very first novels. The writing style we all loved in The Book Thief didn't just spring magically from a first effort, and Underdogs is definitely representative of the journey this author's writing grew through.

The biggest issue with The Underdog is that it's plot-less. This leaves it all up to Cameron to capture our interest, whic...more The first thing to note is that this is an omnibus of The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl. The second thing to note is that they're Markus Zusak's very first novels. The writing style we all loved in The Book Thief didn't just spring magically from a first effort, and Underdogs is definitely representative of the journey this author's writing grew through.

The biggest issue with The Underdog is that it's plot-less. This leaves it all up to Cameron to capture our interest, which he does, effortlessly. The portrayal of a regular teenaged boy with fears, wishes and hopes has never been truer. The longing he feels for the girls he meets also highlights this unique perspective; the plethora of female POVs may cause us to forget that, yes, boys do wish to be in love too. The fluid prose and realistic relationships still don't make up for the absense of a plot, though, and The Underdog has a wandering feel to it.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe continues Cameron's heartfelt narration with Zusak's (now-)trademark stylish prose. Relationships are redefined and delved into in this second book, and the whole family is drawn and redrawn. The love/hate Cameron and Ruben go through will be identifiable for anyone with a sibling. A gritty picture of life in the Aussie boonies is revealed to the reader through the situations the two closest Wolfe brothers get themselves into. Emotions and boxing intermingle, bringing out the best and worst in each to make for a moving story.

Humanity's favourite subject is the focus of Getting the Girl. Cameron's puppy-like approach to girls has already been introduced in the previous two books, but Ruben's love-em-and-leave-em style is developed, contrasted to his brother's style and made into an excellent source of conflict between the two. Cameron's "unmanly" habit of writing is perhaps a bit cliché, but the relationship he strikes up with the love interest, Octavia, is refreshingly tentative and tender. The cause of the eventual discord between them still eludes me, but it does offer a chance to build up the brotherly relationship again. (It should be noted that the US version of Getting the Girl differs in content from the Australian version -- read more here.)

A common element to all three novels is a specific type of passage to end the chapter (e.g., in The Underdog, it's a dream), adding to the eloquence. Well, all the eloquence a fifteen-year-old can get. It's an eloquence which Markus Zusak clearly grew upon.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 24, 2011 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Come on, people, this is Zusak we're talking about and while, yes, I love his entirely unique writing style, I adore his beautifully honest stories with their sweet messages even more. This little story doesn't have some huge event or a climactic ending, it doesn't have some whirling plot that keeps us turning pages but will be forgotten not long after the last page is read. It's about life, and the lessons we can glean from it. Sure, Cameron couldn't talk to girls and Ruben and he were pretty u...more

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Jen Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm going to do a three part review for this book, because I read all three novels at different times. The first one is for Underdog: Out of all of the Markus Zusak books I've read, this one was my least favorite. I felt like it didn't have as much direction as his other books, and there was no "wow" factor for me. But, nevertheless, this is Markus Zusak we're talking about, and he is a beautiful writer, so I enjoyed reading it.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe: I had the awesome experience of reading this t...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 29, 2011 Newengland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished-in-2011, ya

G'day, mates. This here's the story of Cameron Wolfe. OK, THREE stories of Cameron Wolfe. Once upon a time they were little known novels by a little known YA writer from Down Under. Title of the books? The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl. Title of the author? Markus Zusak. Reason that sounds familiar? The Book Thief.

And that's the reason Scholastic has put together these three books -- Zusak's sensational success with the Holocaust sleeper, The Book Thief. Some of the books...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 23, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Big fans of Zusak

Recommended to Jess by: His other stuff

Shelves: z_12, ya

Cameron Wolfe.

Releasing these as a set was a good move for they are best read together over the course of a week or so.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe is the best book on brothers I've read. The part where Rube defends Cameron (p. 270-71) made me cry, and it's been a long time since that's happened. He's just so loyal and protective and proud of Cameron that I couldn't take it.

Cameron is so introspective that you get more wondering about people and things that actual things. Good and bad. The Underdog h...more

like · see review

Feb 22, 2012 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

'Underdogs' is the story of the Wolfe brothers, Cameron and Ruben and the trilogy is now in one book. 'Underdog', the story of the Wolfe brothers and their various endeavours to make some money which do not go to plan. 'Fighting Ruben Wolfe', the story of the brothers who begin to fight for money, Ruben seems to have found his calling but its not what he wants, he wants to be something more. 'Getting The Girl', this is definitely Cameron's story, he finds a passion for writing, which he uses to...more

like · see review

Oct 01, 2011 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, fiction, young-adult

I don’t know what it is with me and omnibuses… omnibusseses… omnibi? Anything that’s packaged as a complete set, be it made up of novels or comics, tends to attract my attention these days. This particular omnibus appeared to me out of nowhere, and didn’t do anything for me at first. Somewhere between when I started it and when I finished it, though, it crept up on me and became one of my favorite recent reads. It’s a meandering, quirky coming-of-age story that is funny and heartbreaking by turn...more I don’t know what it is with me and omnibuses… omnibusseses… omnibi? Anything that’s packaged as a complete set, be it made up of novels or comics, tends to attract my attention these days. This particular omnibus appeared to me out of nowhere, and didn’t do anything for me at first. Somewhere between when I started it and when I finished it, though, it crept up on me and became one of my favorite recent reads. It’s a meandering, quirky coming-of-age story that is funny and heartbreaking by turns, and will definitely touch a chord in anybody who has been a teenage boy before.

This is a collection of Markus Zusak’s first published works, before his recent fame for writing The Book Thief. The trilogy, comprised of The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl, is narrated by a teenager named Cameron Wolfe. Cameron is the youngest son in a blue-collar family trying to make ends meet in an Australian suburb, and the books are a mesh of his stream of consciousness and his poetic writings as he attempts to navigate through his daily existence. The first book, The Underdog, introduces the Wolfe family and follows Cam through an aimless period in his young life where he tries to reconcile who he wants to be with the reality of who he is. Fighting Ruben Wolfe offers a bit more of a linear story: feeling like they should somehow contribute to the family, which is facing increasingly dire straits, Cam and his older brother Ruben get mixed up in clandestine, amateur boxing. As they fight, though, Cam realizes that Ruben is fighting for something other than money, and that he might be fighting for something deeper, himself. The third book, Getting the Girl, brings the themes of the first two into a familiar focus: first love and its consequences, which refines and changes everything that Cameron thought he had knew about himself.

At first, I wasn’t so impressed. I have a consciousness that streams just fine on its own, and so I tend to get annoyed by fiction that doesn’t have a point. But the Wolfe family makes an indelible impression, and Cam in particular is intensely likeable in all his quiet nobility and earnest insecurity. Once I got accustomed to the tone of this particular slice of life (which, with all of its Australian mannerisms and references, took me a bit to do), the narrative began to solidify a little, first into an exploration of the fraught relationship between close siblings, and then into a time-tested story of love and frustration. The character development is particularly excellent, and gets more nuanced throughout the books. Fighting Ruben Wolfe’s themes of sibling rivalry and family bonds build directly on Cam’s observations from The Underdogs, while the messy relationships in Getting the Girl spring from the character development in Fighting Ruben Wolfe. Taken as a whole, the story arc is subtle, and brilliant.

Getting the Girl particularly resonated with me. It could have easily been another entry in a somewhat crowded genre: horny teen boy learns a lesson about healthy relationships! As funny and enjoyable as books in that vein can be, they don't usually do too much for me. Perhaps it’s because most of those stories only touch the surface of what it’s like to have an adult’s sex drive but a child’s impulse control, and I don’t harbor any particular nostalgia for the situations that arise from that. But Zusak’s take on this particular form of teen angst struck home. While reading this, I occasionally mused that girlfriends and mothers should give these books a spin to gain some insight into the teen boy’s brain. Cameron struggles with the conflict between his hormones (sex with any female that looks his way, and proving once and for all that he isn’t a loser) and his heart (the little-boy desire of wanting to be nurtured and loved, and the manliness of being perceived as honorable and chivalrous). The results are the same insecurity, shame, and tendency towards self-defeat that almost every boy has to go through while growing up, and find inventive ways to cope with. His sexual fantasies are constant, and he accepts their inevitability. He also can’t help but fall in love at the drop of a hat, desperate to find something noble that gives those fantasies meaning, which makes him even more self-conscious. And best of all, this is not a motif that show up fully formed in the third book, even though the story itself stands alone. Rather, it is the result of Cameron’s character growth up to that point. It is beautifully understated, and cathartic to read, at least for me.

The only complaint I have with this book is the same complaint I have with every omnibus edition I read, and it has to do with the cognitive dissonance of reconciling the chapters of a collection to actual standalone books. As I mentioned, my infatuation with this book was a slow burn, since I was a little nonplussed by The Underdog and didn’t warm up to it until well past the halfway mark. If I were reading the standalone novel instead of this compilation, I don’t think I would have hung around for the following books, and that would have been a terrible loss. But as always, I can’t decide whether that speaks to a failure in the writing, or with me being psyched out by reaching the end of the “book” even though I have hundreds of pages left to read in the volume I’m holding. Suffice it to say that the first book is considerably more freeform and light on actual plot than the other two, so it pays off to stick it out if that bothers you.

But besides that small issue, this is a fantastic little smorgasbord of coming-of-age vignettes. It effortlessly brought me back to my own struggles with my self-worth as a young man, and it has the mark of a truly great read: the more I ruminate on it after finishing it, the more I love it. I would particularly recommend this to teen guys, who I suspect would not object to a little stealth introspection hidden amongst a tale of girls, fighting, and making fun of stupid little yappy dogs.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 23, 2011 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: fiction

Originally posted on my blog, Read Love

The Book Thief was no fluke. It was the culmination of years of work and growth from a gifted writer. When I began reading the first book in Underdogs, fearful that it would prove to be vastly inferior to The Book Thief (one of my all-time favorite books), I found real and rapid assurance that the hand that authored that masterpiece also wrote these words. In The Underdog, originally published in 1999 (and his first work), Markus Zusak's talent and unique s...more Originally posted on my blog, Read Love

The Book Thief was no fluke. It was the culmination of years of work and growth from a gifted writer. When I began reading the first book in Underdogs, fearful that it would prove to be vastly inferior to The Book Thief (one of my all-time favorite books), I found real and rapid assurance that the hand that authored that masterpiece also wrote these words. In The Underdog, originally published in 1999 (and his first work), Markus Zusak's talent and unique style, and the poetic beauty that shapes The Book Thief, are already present.

It's nice to see all three titles about the Wolfe brothers -- The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl -- bound in one volume. This makes for a great reading experience as the novellas seamlessly connect to form one unified work. And you'll find that the writing is so good you'll gobble up each piece whole. So it's a relief not to have to hunt down another book or wait for another release to read more about Cameron and Ruben. It's also worth noting that this publication is the first time American readers can get their hands on Zusak's first book, The Underdog. (An observant reader might notice that the Australian version of Getting the Girl is titled When Dogs Cry. This is not just repackaging or marketing by the publisher. They bear different titles for good reason: Getting the Girl is actually a rewrite of When Dogs Cry. But I'll talk more about this later.)

Let me tell you what I love about Markus Zusak's writing: His characterization. He writes about real people. These aren't heroic renderings of polished, perfect humans like you'll find on TV. Cameron and Ruben, their family, and the other folks who inhabit their world, are dirty, flawed, messy, and raw. And it's their sloppiness, their imperfections and vulnerabilities, these very human qualities, that give them life. Any time you read a Zusak book, you come away feeling like you know the characters, as if they are real people. And you feel you should be able to look out your window and find them walking in the streets. You know and understand them, and most importantly, you care about them.

I won't tell you too much about the plot. A plot synopsis or book jacket will never entice you to read a Zusak book anyway. His books generally don't have out-of-this-world-I-wonder-what-this-could-be-about premises. Instead, they are about ordinary people living ordinary lives. But there is extraordinary beauty in every day life, and that's what Zusak is so gifted at revealing. When you read about Cameron and Ruben Wolfe, you'll read about Loyalty. Family. Honor. Fear. Pain. Forgiveness. Longing. Hunger. Love. Pride. Fighting. Winning. And by watching Cameron learn to live his life, you'll learn about Living.

I love this book, or rather, these books, more than I could express. In fact, when I read The Underdog, I was busy and got away from it. Not wanting to cheat the book or lose the emotion, I started again at the beginning and became so engrossed that I read the entire thing without pause. The next night, I did the same with Fighting Ruben Wolfe. With each tale, my emotional connection to the characters grew. By the end, I loved Cameron. I had laughed with and at him, ached and cried for him. And I was happy for and proud of him, too. It was difficult to say goodbye when the final story ended.

I didn't need to say an abrupt farewell, though. After reading a note on Markus' Facebook page, I discovered that there was a significant difference in the third book. Markus explains in this note (I wouldn't recommend reading it until after you've read the book) that the American publisher requested a change in When Dogs Cry (which would be renamed Getting the Girl). I was curious as to how the book was altered and wanted to know what Zusak's original vision was. I had to get my hands on a copy of the Aussie version. Luckily, Markus pointed readers to a couple of booksellers, and I was able to download an epub from an online store. (Now, this is the beauty of e-books! No need to wait for (and pay for) international shipping!) Once I had put the ebook on my Nook, I read it in one sitting. Then I re-read the last 100 pages of Getting the Girl. I was surprised at how the same story can be told so differently. As Zusak says, "It was a change that would take it on a different course to arrive at almost an identical ending." However, while both titles end at the same place, with essentially the same final chapter, they are very different. I'm still trying to digest those differences. The emotional experience has changed. I don't want to ruin it, but if you read Underdogs, I would encourage you to read When Dogs Cry. And if you've already read When Dogs Cry, you might want to get a copy of Underdogs or Getting the Girl to compare.

By all means, though, you MUST read Underdogs. You need to find out for yourself why I love Cameron Wolfe. Boy do I! Forget Team Edward or Team Jacob or Team Fill-in-the-blank-boy-heartthrob. I'm Team Cameron. And more than that, I'm Team Wolfe. Pick up this book, meet this family, and experience the beauty of Cameron's heart, soul, and words.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 10, 2013 Lynn rated it 2 of 5 stars

I chose this book because I'd heard that The Book Whisperer was such a great book, and the author Markus Zusak was wonderful. These are earlier books that just were published in the US. Zusak is from Australia. Underdogs is actually 3 books bound into one volume and tell short tales of the Wolfe brothers. Two rough and tough kids from the wrong side of the tracks. To me the writing is round about and repetitive and not very interesting. I think clearly that books were intended for an audience of...more

like · see review

Jan 20, 2012 Allison rated it 2 of 5 stars

I wasn't too impressed to be completely honest. I got really bored during most of it. I really liked the boxing matches which I found interesting. I liked the poems and words that Cameron wrote but I feel the story was lacking at times. I wasn't a huge fan of Underdogs but Fighting Ruben Wolfe was a big improvement. Getting the Girl took a step back and definitely was as good as Fighting Ruben Wolfe. I have read all of his books now and I definitely have to say that he gets better with time. The...more

like · see review

Oct 21, 2011 Heidi (awesome group member) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya-that-rocks

I am not afraid. I will admit it. I have a new book crush. His name is Cameron. He is geeky and shy and he has a heart of gold. What is not to love? I will add that in the intro Mr. Zuzak admitted he is Cameron so by default I guess my crush also carries to him (Who are we kidding... I love Markus too. I mean who can resist an accent?)

What is it about Aussie writers? Even in their earlier books that are not as polished (such as this one) they have you laughing one minute and wanting to bawl you...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 02, 2011 Jen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-s, male-pov

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 fin...more 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.

(less)

like · see review

May 02, 2013 Albert Riehle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an omnibus edition of the 3 continuous books in the Cameron Wolfe series and as an omnibus I'm giving it 4 stars because I have to judge it all together. It's worth noting that if there were half-stars I'd give it 4.5 though. It's also worth noting that the last two books, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl are definite 5 star works. It's the first book, Underdog that brings the rating down. And Underdog isn't bad. It's simply a first book and it's not as good as the other two. It...more This is an omnibus edition of the 3 continuous books in the Cameron Wolfe series and as an omnibus I'm giving it 4 stars because I have to judge it all together. It's worth noting that if there were half-stars I'd give it 4.5 though. It's also worth noting that the last two books, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl are definite 5 star works. It's the first book, Underdog that brings the rating down. And Underdog isn't bad. It's simply a first book and it's not as good as the other two. It suffers in comparison to them.

These three books work well together in the omnibus format. In addition to being three separate stories, they also function as one full and total story. They are the coming of age story of one boy, two brothers, and an entire family, really. It's told by a dreamer amongst a gritty, salt-of-the-earth, hardworking, blue collar family. He lives in the shadow of all and searches for an identity of his own. The three stories tell of the journey from not knowing who or what he is, to fully realizing himself.

Book 1 is Underdog. It's slow. I put it down and picked it up a lot. In fact, I've been on this book for a couple of weeks. I read the final two books in the series in two consecutive days. In fairness, I had a lot more free time in those final two days, but in honesty, I had trouble getting into the first book--as easy a read as it truly may be. Underdog does well in expressing the mind of a horny, clueless, boy evolving. It does poorly in plot. It's a character piece. It doesn't really go anywhere. And frankly, the dream sequences were mostly fluff and filler to me. As a setup to what comes later, it functions as a slow beginning. As a standalone, it suffers. That doesn't stop Zusak from throwing in some brilliant bits of writing, some great characters, and show a lot of promise.

Book 2 is Fighting Ruben Wolfe. It's brilliant from start to finish. Every flaw that Underdog had is fixed in this book. It starts well (which was important to me after Underdog) and just doesn't stop. This middle book really starts to explore the dynamic relationship of two brothers, close in age and how they function and evolve in their middle class family. It's a story about making your name mean something. It's about making your mark. And, Zusak does an amazing job of drawing that out and showing how on the path to discovery, we sometimes find fault in who and what we are while admiring what someone else is and it's just done really well. The book centers around the Wolfe brothers, Cam and Rube, fighting for money during a particularly dark period in their family's life. It's just really well done and well worth the read.

Book 3 is Getting the Girl and I'm not sure if this one is my favorite or if it's Book 2, but truthfully, it's hard to even separate them. They are, of course, separate, but they are also interlinked and parts of one and other. And it's as advertised. It's about getting the girl, about wanting to be loved, needing to be touched and not knowing how to unlock those secrets that seemingly everyone knows but you. It's about sibling rivalry and love. It's about finding your talent in life and being brave enough to share it. It's the perfect culmination of the Wolfe Brother's story.

Together? Well, let's just say that I like this omnibus almost as much as I loved I Am The Messenger and much more than I liked Zusak's most famous book, The Book Thief. It cements his place for me as one of my new, favorite writers and makes certain that I will always find and read anything Markus Zusak writes.(less)

like · see review

Dec 21, 2011 Bethany Miller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: royal-november, ms-miller-recommends

Underdogs includes Zusak’s first three novels: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl. Cameron Wolfe is the main character and narrator of all three. The Underdog introduces Cam and the Wolfe family: Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe – Cam’s overworked parents, Ruben – Cam’s brother and best friend, Steve – his successful older brother who considers Cam and Ruben losers and Sarah – his loving but flighty older sister. Cam is the perpetual underdog especially when it comes to girls. He meets a...more Underdogs includes Zusak’s first three novels: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl. Cameron Wolfe is the main character and narrator of all three. The Underdog introduces Cam and the Wolfe family: Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe – Cam’s overworked parents, Ruben – Cam’s brother and best friend, Steve – his successful older brother who considers Cam and Ruben losers and Sarah – his loving but flighty older sister. Cam is the perpetual underdog especially when it comes to girls. He meets a girl while working on her house with his father, but when he finally gets the courage to ask her out, she rejects him. In Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Rube’s reputation as a fighter lands him and Cam in an illegal boxing operation. Ruben – known as Fighting Ruben Wolfe - is a great success. Cam – known as The Underdog – is less successful but becomes known for getting back up off of the mat when he is knocked down. Once again Cam meets a girl, but she rejects him. The novel reaches its climax when the two brothers are forced to fight each other. In Getting the Girl, Rube has grown into a ladies’ man and has a constant stream of girlfriends. Cam is still a loner, spending his evenings standing outside the house of the girl who rejected him in Fighting Ruben Wolfe. He finally meets a girl who is interested in him, but Octavia happens to be one of Rube’s ex-girlfriends. When Cam finally tells Rube that he has been seeing her, Rube loses his temper and beats Cam up. Octavia breaks it off with Cam after seeing his bruised face because she does not want to come between the two brothers. Will Cam and Rube find a way to reconcile? Will Cam ever get a girl?

Zusak became famous for The Book Thief, and in these first three novels, you can see the promise that came to fruition in I am the Messenger and The Book Thief. Cam is a likable character whose journey of self-discovery from loser to fighter is satisfyingly resolved in the final book. Cam’s siblings, particularly Ruben, are well drawn characters that give a feeling of authenticity to Cam’s home life. Another minor but important character is Miffy – the neighbor’s Pomeranian – who is a great source of much-needed comic relief throughout the three novels. There’s not a lot of action here; the focus is on Cam’s journey to understanding himself and his eventual realization that being an underdog means being a fighter. Teens will relate to Cam’s feeling of insecurity and inferiority, but because of the focus on character and slow moving plot, this trilogy won’t be for everyone.
(less)

like · see review

May 19, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars
When I saw this book at the library I literally gasped and grabbed it off the shelf. There was a big NEW sticker on the spine and oh how I hoped Markus Zusak had written a new book. Soon I realized that this is a collection of his first novels previously unpublished in America. Still I was excited to read it. I actually really enjoyed these stories, but more than that I enjoyed reading his writing. There were several glimpses of the writing gems found in The Book Thief. Because of these...more

like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Dee Dee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Three books in one

The Underdog is the first. Its short and reads fast but...nothing happens. It can easily be skipped in the trilogy and you won't miss a beat.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe is the second and my favorite the three. Starts off a little slow, but picks up.

Getting the Girl rounds it out. Again it starts off slow and picks up. Didn't have the same feel as fighting ruben wolfe.

The best part about these books are the familial relationships as seen by the youngest in the family, slowly going from...more

like · see review

Oct 08, 2011 Shay (Shannon) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, favorites

*This is an omnibus edition.* I am going to break this up into sections.
The first book of the trilogy, The Underdog, can only be described as an adolescent boy coming of age story. Cameron Wolfe is an introverted boy on a journey of self discovery. Through his dreams and nightmares a battle is told and with his own observations his insights become teaching tools. He starts to wonder and care what others judgments are of him and if they are justified. Through it all he feels painfully alone.
All I...more
*This is an omnibus edition.* I am going to break this up into sections.
The first book of the trilogy, The Underdog, can only be described as an adolescent boy coming of age story. Cameron Wolfe is an introverted boy on a journey of self discovery. Through his dreams and nightmares a battle is told and with his own observations his insights become teaching tools. He starts to wonder and care what others judgments are of him and if they are justified. Through it all he feels painfully alone.
All I could think about while reading this was my own son and the sons’ of my friends. This is amazingly real and vivid. Cameron Wolfe could be any boy that I know or that I see from a distance. As a parent you know that self discovery is a journey we all must take, but your heart still clenches at how cruel that process can feel and you wish you could shelter them from it.
In the second book, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Cameron is still looking for himself. Life deals the Wolfe family some hard times and the dynamic changes. Cameron and his older brother have always been close but there’s a strain on their relationship now. That strain intensifies when they take up fighting for money and the possibility of facing each other in the ring is a real threat.
This one was much more emotionally intense. I didn’t see it as just a story about personal paths but also about respect for the people that are important. I got a better look at the whole Wolfe family and a greater feel for their relationships. Even though the message was deep there were some laugh out loud moments and some tender moments as well.
Finally the third book, Getting the Girl, takes us to Cameron’s romantic side. He has seen his brother, Ruben’s, romantic escapades and knows that he doesn’t want to be like that. He wants to find a girl to love and treat right. The problem is that the girl he finds causes a rift between the brothers. There are bigger problems on the horizon for Ruben and if they can’t look past their differences things could go very badly.
This book was also emotionally charged. There’s not much to say without giving the story away. This was a great conclusion and I definitely recommend this one to anyone. There is something for everyone: family values, adventure, romance and the emphasis on self confidence. Young boys will look up to Cameron and young girls will fall head over heels for him.

(less)

like · see review

Nov 28, 2011 Andralynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I simply love Markus Zusak. This is a compilation of the three books about the Wolfe brothers. While it was fairly apparent that the first book was Zusak's first published novel, it was still great. His characters solidified as the stories continue. It was kind of like watching Zusak refine his writing process, which was awesome, in my opinion.

I love the Wolfe brothers. They are such normal people, but they have so much depth. It's like getting a look inside your neighbor's head and realizing th...more

like · see review

May 22, 2012 Dan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Markus Zusak has earned a place at the top of my list of favorite authors. If you haven't read The Book Thief, do. Read my review of it first though--I think you should know some things before you start. Read I am the Messenger too.

Once you've read those, you're going to want more Markus Zusak--at least I did. Luckily I discovered Underdogs. It is a compilation of the first three books Zusak published. Originally published in his native Australia, they have only recently become available to rea...more Markus Zusak has earned a place at the top of my list of favorite authors. If you haven't read The Book Thief, do. Read my review of it first though--I think you should know some things before you start. Read I am the Messenger too.

Once you've read those, you're going to want more Markus Zusak--at least I did. Luckily I discovered Underdogs. It is a compilation of the first three books Zusak published. Originally published in his native Australia, they have only recently become available to readers in the U.S. They feel very "Australian," with lots of slang and sentence structure that was strange to my American mind but understandable within context and actually really fun to experience. The three books follow a few months in the ordinary life (a Zusak theme) of Cameron Wolfe, a very self-introspective, ponderous, but in most ways normal, 15-year-old boy. The plots are very simple and center around Cameron, his older brother Ruben, and their exploits involving the rest of the Wolfe family.

I enjoyed Underdogs. It is not on the same level as TBT or IATM, but still very well written and classic Zusak style.
With a lot of short sentences.
That are used.
Effectively.
Another classic Zusak element is his emphasis on the strength of words, and his unique and powerful words are on display here--albeit in a way that shows how far he's come in penning the amazing words of The Book Thief.

Here's one of my favorite passages. Cameron dreams . . .

"There's a big crowd, around a fight, and they are all yelling and howling and screaming, as though punches are landing and fists are molding faces. It's a huge crowd, about eight deep, so it is very difficult to push my way through.
I get down on my knees.
I crawl.
I look for gaps and then slip through them, until, eventually, I'm there. I'm at the front of the crowd, which is a giant circle, thick.
'Go!' the guy next to me yells. 'Go hard!' Still, I look at the crowd. I don't watch the fight. Not yet.
There are all kinds of people amongst this crowd. Skinny. Fat. Black. White. Yellow. They all look on and scream into the middle of the ring.
The guy next to me is always shrieking in my ear, drilling right through my skull to my brain. I feel his voice in my lungs. That's how loud he is. Nothing stops him, even the ones behind who throw words at him to make him shut up. It is no use.
I try stopping him myself, by asking him something--a shout over the rest of the crowd. 'Who y' going for?' I ask.
He stops his noise. Immediately. He stares.
At the fight. Then at me.
A few more seconds pass and he says, 'I'm goin' for the underdog . . . I have to.' He laughs a little, sympathetically. 'Gotta go for the underdog.'
It is then that I look at the fight, for the first time.
'Hey.'
Something is strange.
'Hey,' I ask the guy again, because there is only one fighter inside the huge, loud, throbbing circle. A boy. He is throwing punches wildly and moving around and blocking and swinging his arms at nothing. 'Hey, how come there's only the one fella fighting?' It is the guy next to me again that I have asked.
He doesn't look at me this time, no. He keeps focused on the boy in the circle, who fights on so intensely that no one can take their eyes off him.
The guy speaks to me.
An answer.
He says, "He's fighting the world.' And now, I watch as the underdog in the middle of the circle fights on and stands and falls and returns to his haunches and feet and fights on again. He fights on, no matter how hard he hits the ground. He gets up. Some people cheer him. Others laugh now and rubbish him.
Feeling comes out of me.
I watch.
My eyes swell, and burn. 'Can he win?'
I ask it, and now, I too cannot take my eyes off the boy in the circle."

Pretty cool, right?

As you might imagine, getting into the authentic mind of a 15-year-old boy the topics get a little . . .ummmm. . . I’ll say "girl-centric." There were a couple of moments when I was afraid Cameron's thoughts would go too far and I would have to put the book down before it crossed my boundary of appropriateness. Luckily, Cameron is a really good guy and his thoughts never got that far. I actually found Cameron to be a little too deeply introspective at times. I even felt a bit that Cameron was a weird-o because I don't know any 15 year olds who really think as deeply as he does. Other times, though, I really felt like Cameron was right on, and I remember feeling the same way. Maybe I was a weird-o. Hmmmm. . . .

Underdogs was a pretty great read, and I recommend it to all mature readers with the same enthusiastic plug I gave for The Book Thief and I am the Messenger. Be on the lookout for the publication date for Bridge of Clay, Markus Zusak's next project!(less)

like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm going to review each story as I read it so I can look back and justify the overall rating that I end up with.

So the first is the underdog. I was ready and eager to love it. Zusak wrote one of my very favorite books on my all time favorites list (the book thief) so I had high hopes for this and was excited to start. That excitement quickly dimmed, unfortunately. One thing I hated, and it may just be my aversion to having people tell me about their fantastical dreams, is that every chapter en...more I'm going to review each story as I read it so I can look back and justify the overall rating that I end up with.

So the first is the underdog. I was ready and eager to love it. Zusak wrote one of my very favorite books on my all time favorites list (the book thief) so I had high hopes for this and was excited to start. That excitement quickly dimmed, unfortunately. One thing I hated, and it may just be my aversion to having people tell me about their fantastical dreams, is that every chapter ended with, you guessed it, a telling of a fantastical dream. Then, to make matters worse, the dreams came to be more and more written as a form of poetry, which I'm also not a fan of. the thing that also worries me is that I'm not particularly enamored by the characters and I'm pretty sure all three stories feature the same characters. I tend to give 2 stars if something is well written or if I found something redeeming about it but as much as this truly pains me since I still respect this author so much, I have to give this only 1 star. :-(

Fighting Ruben Wolfe - ok, this is more like it! Zusak found the writing style I enjoy in this story. Cam and Ruben were much more likable, the writing was crisper, no fantastical, pointless dreams, and a plot that was entertaining. It did end a bit abruptly, but I always feel that way about short stories. I'm looking forward to starting the next story and reading the conclusion about these two brothers. 4 stars.

Getting the girl - that was it. That was the story I was hoping for when I opened this book. That was the story that made me root for Cameron and keep turning the pages obsessively. That was the story in which not only were the characters and the plot compelling, but the words were so beautiful. That was the story that made me think, hmmm, maybe I do like poetry, if it's not so heavy handed. Really great. 5 stars.

Overall book rating - 4 stars. The first story was a dud, but the other two were gorgeous and more than made up for it.(less)

like · see review

Dec 27, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-release, books-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews

I have yet to read The Book Thief, which has been highly recommended to me numerous times, so this is my first time reading Markus's work. Being that Underdogs, a collection of three stories following the Wolfe Brothers (The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl), is Markus's first writing, I can only imagine how brilliantly written The Book Thief is. It's not that these books were bad, because they weren't, they were good reads. Overall this collection show cases how Markus's writ...more I have yet to read The Book Thief, which has been highly recommended to me numerous times, so this is my first time reading Markus's work. Being that Underdogs, a collection of three stories following the Wolfe Brothers (The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl), is Markus's first writing, I can only imagine how brilliantly written The Book Thief is. It's not that these books were bad, because they weren't, they were good reads. Overall this collection show cases how Markus's writing improved with each story, which I loved.

The Underdogs- This was the hardest story for me to connect with. There wasn't an in-depth plot for me to fall in love with. Instead, Markus used his characters to connect me to the story. While he did a good job at that, I was still left with a feeling this story was missing something. Cameron is one of those characters I couldn't help but like. I felt he was portrayed in a very realistic, raw way. I liked his voice in this story, and I felt bad for him, as he just could not catch a break. He and his brother get into quite a bit of mischief, they're always disappointing their parents, and they don't measure up to their older siblings. But, at the heart of this story is a realistic portrayal of a teenager who wants to fall in love, and be loved, who has dreams and aspirations he wants to achieve.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe- The thing I enjoyed the most about this story, is feeling like I was reading the true story of Cameron. Markus's writing style and character development in this story created a feeling of reality. He took his character development from The Underdogs to a more detailed level, which I enjoyed. The family dynamic changes a bit, and Cameron and his bother Ruben's realistic love/hate relationship intensifies. In reading this book I felt like if I visited Cameron's neck of the woods in Australia I could knock on any neighbor's door and they'd have some story to tell me about the trouble Cameron and his brother caused.

Getting The Girl- Through out the first two books, Markus does a great job at bringing to light the similarities and differences between both Cameron and his brother Ruben. Whether it be with girls, sports or what have you. It's in this book that I felt I really got to see just how different the two really are. Aside from the love interests, brotherly love/brotherly fights, and the trouble they cause, is a witty, realistic portrayal of life, choices, consequences and finding our place in the world. Life isn't always about winning, or winning the girl. It's about being yourself, and never giving up, no matter how many times you get knocked down. In Cameron's case, it's a lot. It's those elements combined with Markus's writing prose that kept me reading Cameron's story. (less)

like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 Carla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Because I loved "The Book Thief" and I liked "I Am The Messenger" a lot, I was eager to read "Underdogs," Markus Zuzak's debut novel which is really three related short stories put together. I am glad that I did not read this book first as it may have put me off the other two, but this first novel had its redeeming features. The story is about the Wolfe brothers, Reuben and Cameron, who are underdogs in all senses of the word -- in their family, in their working-lower class neighborhood, in thei...more

like · see review

Jan 18, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-timefavorites, youngadult

Magnificent!

I know THE BOOK THIEF is the one that all kiddies rave about, and don't get me wrong: that is a brilliant book and I love it. But then I discovered GETTING THE GIRL, which led me to find FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE, which brings us here, to the first US publication of THE UNDERDOG, contained in this omnibus of all three Wolfe brothers books. If you don't, from the first chapter of THE UNDERDOG (or any of the other two, really), fall madly in love with the endearingly awkward and yet strange...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2011 Marija rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ya-mg, contemporary, favorites

On TCM there’s a segment where Peter O’Toole reflects upon his experiences working with David Lean in Lawrence of Arabia. O’Toole remembers one particular scene where Lean asks him to complete five minutes of mime for the scene where Lawrence tries on, for the first time, that white robe in the desert. Not knowing what to do, O’Toole thinks about it, and then remembers the dagger he has sheathed on his waist. As the film starts rolling, O’Toole uses the dagger as a mirror to look at himself and...more On TCM there’s a segment where Peter O’Toole reflects upon his experiences working with David Lean in Lawrence of Arabia. O’Toole remembers one particular scene where Lean asks him to complete five minutes of mime for the scene where Lawrence tries on, for the first time, that white robe in the desert. Not knowing what to do, O’Toole thinks about it, and then remembers the dagger he has sheathed on his waist. As the film starts rolling, O’Toole uses the dagger as a mirror to look at himself and then looks at his shadow on the sand, lifting his arms up in the air, letting the wind turn the white robe into wings. After the five minutes were up, Lean yells, “Cut!” O’Toole then recalls hearing Lean murmur, “Clever boy….”

While reading Zusak’s prose, coming across his poetic lines and brief moments of personification which play with the mind, evoking poignant imagery that heightens the mood of a particular scene, I kind of feel like David Lean when he murmurs that phrase about Peter O’Toole… “Clever boy.”

I’m glad these three novels are being published together. On their own, they’re certainly fine works, especially Getting the Girl. However, when put together they truly become something special… allowing the reader to see how the structure of the first story The Underdog, with those dream reflections, complements the structure of Getting the Girl, through those sections of free verse, Cam’s “Words,” that are found at the end of each chapter. As well, the growth of Cam as a narrator becomes all the more apparent. Progressing from book to book, Cam’s narrative style becomes tighter and more reflective, truly putting his essence in the words he’s composing instead of just reporting facts and details and describing a few amusing anecdotes. All of those emotions—loyalty, fear, love, anger, happiness, the feeling of being torn apart and that all important feeling of “hunger”—are placed into focus as Cam becomes more introspective, figuring out what really makes up Cameron Wolfe.

As well, reading all three books in tandem provides a better picture of the city, as well as Cam’s family—his mother, father, Steve, Sarah and Ruben—each story giving more details, allowing the reader to piece together all of those little elements, painting a more complete image in the mind’s eye when reading along.

All in all, the picturesque quality of Cameron’s words and the personal nature of his stories create so many lasting visual images that I can’t help but love them.
(less)

2 likes · like · see review

title link	preview: Underdogs
avg rating	preview: Underdogs Goodreads rating: 3.88 (393 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10484883-underdogs?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311725171l/10484883.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10484883-underdogs?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Underdogs by Markus Zusak[/url]

Underdogs (Wolfe Brothers #1-3)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (4)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Markus Zusak

Books by Markus Zusak

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Underdogs

Quotes from Underdogs