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One Shot Away

by T. Glen Coughlin (Goodreads Author)

3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 · rating details · 40 ratings · 18 reviews

It’s senior year and the last season for Diggy, Jimmy, and Trevor on the Molly Pitcher High School varsity wrestling team. And they all want the same thing: to win.

But Diggy’s got to compete with his older brother’s legacy, and now he’s in danger of losing his spot to newcomer Trevor. Jimmy’s got the cops after him, and a girlfriend who looks down on him. Then Diggy does t...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published October 12th 2012 by HarperTeen (first published October 2nd 2012)

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Oct 07, 2012 Kaede rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-arcs-edelweiss, fantastic-characters, males-done-right, more-than-i-expected, books-i-own, made-me-cry, lots-of-punching-and-kicking, a-best-of-the-best, so-insanely-in-love-with, made-me-laugh, pure-awesomeness

I'm bumping this one up to a five. The more I look back on it, the more I realize how much more I loved this than I originally thought. I really, really want my own brother. Revised review to come.

--

Kaede is both shocked and happy. So...I might look a bit like this...maybe:

But like, just a teensy bit less cuter.

A wrestling story. Never in my life did I think I'd enjoy a wrestling story. I'm a girl. And a fairly girly one at that. But One Shot Away was so much more than just a wrestling story....more

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Apr 24, 2013 Britta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: up-for-trade

Wrestling is not a big deal where I live. I know my school has a wrestling team, but I could not name one person on it or the results of any match. Really the only time I've heard about our wresting team was during the ringworm epidemic of 2011. The point in telling you this is that I enjoyed this "wresting novel" even though I know nothing about the sport.

Admittedly, it did take me a while to get into this book. The book is told by a third person limited narrator, which each chapter centering...more Wrestling is not a big deal where I live. I know my school has a wrestling team, but I could not name one person on it or the results of any match. Really the only time I've heard about our wresting team was during the ringworm epidemic of 2011. The point in telling you this is that I enjoyed this "wresting novel" even though I know nothing about the sport.

Admittedly, it did take me a while to get into this book. The book is told by a third person limited narrator, which each chapter centering around one of the team members. I took me a couple of chapters to really get a feel for the characters. But once I understood the dynamics of the relationships, I was really interested in seeing what happened next. While I was a bit bored at the beginning because I could not visualize the wrestling, by the end on the novel my heart was racing during the matches. The author does a great job at pulling in readers who, like me, know nothing about the sport.

Before I referred to this novel as a "wrestling book" and I put those quotations in for a reason. Although this novel does center around the sport, it is much more about team dynamics and internal motivation. Anyone who has been on a team for anything or has pushed him or herself to reach a certain goal can relate to the struggles faced by the characters of this novel. That is what I love about contemporary novels, the troubles and struggles faced by the characters are almost always universally applicable.

I mentioned that the novel is told from the third person point of view of multiple characters, each chapter featuring a different member of the varsity wrestling team. What I did not yet mention is that the story is further broken down into parts. The earlier parts feature the sport much more than the later, which I found intriguing. By the later parts, many of the characters find themselves in life changing situations. This novel is far from squeaky clean: there are detectives, federal and misdemeanor crimes, a prostitute, and plenty of explicit wordings. It is real and it is gritty.

I personally love novels that feature male POV's, and Coughlin did it well. Perhaps it is because unlike many YA novels featuring male POV's, the author actually is a male... Regardless, if you are like me and love to read male POV's, this is a good one to check out. One Shot Away is not just about wrestling. It is about teenage struggles and pressures while on the threshold of adulthood - something very real and difficult and not to be dismissed. (less)

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Jan 14, 2013 Karen Yingling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Diggy's father is living vicariously through his sons. Diggy's older brother did very well, but is now in college and enjoying his studies and NOT wrestling. The biggest problem Diggy faces is that he is always hungry and has gone up a wait class, so he may lose his spot at 152 to Trevor unless he can cut enough.

Trevor's father died in a car accident, and he and his mother are running a seedy motel for a man interested in Trevor's mother. Trevor gets constant grief for being Native American, but...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, ya, surprise-its-sports

Where I come from, wrestling isn’t just a sport, it’s a religion. Our small city can claim (and do we!) two Olympic silver medalists and we’re close to the top spot in State Championships won. Sure, football and basketball are interesting, but this town cares about its wrestling legacy, so even though the sight of cauliflower ear makes me want to cry, this book seemed like it would have a lot for me to relate to.

I’m not used to books told solely from a male perspective, especially three teenage...more Where I come from, wrestling isn’t just a sport, it’s a religion. Our small city can claim (and do we!) two Olympic silver medalists and we’re close to the top spot in State Championships won. Sure, football and basketball are interesting, but this town cares about its wrestling legacy, so even though the sight of cauliflower ear makes me want to cry, this book seemed like it would have a lot for me to relate to.

I’m not used to books told solely from a male perspective, especially three teenage boys, so this was quite an experience even outside of the story. The chapters alternate in no particular order between Diggy, Jimmy and Trevor and combined with the first person, present, POVs, I had a difficult time keeping everyone straight for a while, I have to say. It wasn’t until the three boys started having major conflicts with each other and in their lives that they, and the story, started to come together for me.

All three boys are struggling with family issues that affect their wrestling and relationships with each other in different ways. Diggy’s dad is always riding him to do better and be more like his older brother who was the best wrestler, but Diggy’s having all sorts of problems this year. He can’t make weight, his coach wants him to make changes and for the first time, he’s getting his butt kicked – by Trevor, last year’s junior varsity kid. After Trevor’s father died, he dedicated more of himself to wrestling and it shows, as his victory over Diggy proved. His home life with his mom has gone to hell though, since she’s met a skeevy motel owner and is changing everything for him. In between is Jimmy, the boy who’s betting his entire future on his wrestling season. If he can stay on top and out of trouble, he’s looking at a full ride to the college of his choice where he can do what he wants. Of course he has a not-so-clean dad who isn’t going to help him stay out of trouble.

Each boy’s story separately would have been enough to make a great book, but the three together felt like a trainwreck about to happen. With each chapter, each bad decision made by some characters against others and things that I could see were going to hurt a chapter or two down the line, I cringed and was afraid to keep turning the pages. Coughlin has a great ear for the tragic things teens can do to each other, which was great for the story, not so much for my nerves. I enjoyed the wrestling and training scenes quite a bit – even though I obviously am pretty familiar with what happens on the mat, the author did a great job describing it and I could practically hear the action.

It was very strange, reading a book and not knowing who to root for and what to do when I felt sorry for someone who was deliberately making destructive choices. I had no idea if there was going to be a happy ending for everyone or even anyone, so when I added everything up, from the boys, the perspectives and everything else, this was more of a leap of faith for me than I expected, but I’m glad I took it. I was unsettled when I finished it, with a lot of things running through my mind. This would be a great book to give to a freshman and let them hang on to it to re-read all through high school. There are quite a few great lessons about what not to do in it.

My Rating: B

Review copy provided by HarperTeen for Kismet Blog Tour(less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was my first wrestling story and I really enjoyed it! Actually, this year, I've learned a lot about wrestling, as a couple of my students are wrestlers on our high school team (I recommended this book to them, btw. They were pretty darned excited that there was a book about their sport out there! Of course, there are some others but they're few and far between.).

ONE SHOT AWAY follows the trials and tribulations (of which there are many!) of three young wrestlers, Diggy, Jimmy and Trevor. Th...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reading-challenge, 2012-release, 2013-release, books-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews

Being a big sports fan, I love seeing sports themed YA books. I think there needs to be more. T. Glen Coughlin's One Shot Away isn't a book I'd normally find myself picking up, even though I just said I love sports. Reading a story about 3 different senior guys who all wrestle didn't sound appealing at first, but there was something about this story that made me want to read it. What a great story it was. T. Glen Coughlin wrote a fabulous contemporary for guys! Each of his unique characters, and...more Being a big sports fan, I love seeing sports themed YA books. I think there needs to be more. T. Glen Coughlin's One Shot Away isn't a book I'd normally find myself picking up, even though I just said I love sports. Reading a story about 3 different senior guys who all wrestle didn't sound appealing at first, but there was something about this story that made me want to read it. What a great story it was. T. Glen Coughlin wrote a fabulous contemporary for guys! Each of his unique characters, and the over all storyline was engaging, realistic, and hard to put down.

There's something to be said about a well written sport story. No I didn't wrestle, but one of my brothers did and I had friends who did in high school, so I at least understood the wrestling part of this story. But, this story isn't just about wrestling. It was far more than just three different guys all trying to content for a spot on the varsity squad. T. Glen Coughlin introduces readers to three not so perfect characters who are doing the best they can given the situations they are in. Well, I can say two of them are, and one of them takes a bit of a darker turner than the rest of them. One of the things I liked about this story is how relatable these guys are. They're not perfect, but flawed, well written characters who connect with their reader on some level.

I liked how this story is told from three different points of views, Trevor, Jimmy, and Diggy. Each character's voice is distinct. They each come from different back grounds, and each teen is dealing with something different, yet all three have a common ground in wrestling. I liked that this story wasn't a sugar coated story. The struggles the teens are dealing with are very realistic. Trevor Crowe, the underdog no one saw coming has the most to prove. He has struggled in the past with being made fun because of his mixed heritage embraces his Native American heritage, learns to move on from his father's death, and the new changes his mother's new job brings them. Jimmy, the wrestling star is dealing with his father's mistakes and trying to stay afloat while his father's criminal activity is catching up to him and his family. Then there's Diggy, who is struggling to live in the shadow of his brother's wrestling records, an abusive father, and trying to make a name for himself, but in the process makes some stupid choices that cost him more than he thought.

It wasn't hard for me to cheer on some of these characters. Though I will say I was a bit shocked over the stupidity and bad decision that cost one of the characters. While I didn't relate to what each of the teens where dealing with, I did relate to that stage in life they're in, where they're on the verge of freedom from school, trying to figure out what to make of their life after graduation, trying to make the best of the situation they're in, and figuring out where they stand in the world. Aside from Trevor, Jimmy and Diggy, is a great cast of supporting characters who all play a huge role in their lives. From their parents to their friends, their wrestling Coach and team mates.

Coughlin's writing was fantastic. He doesn't shy away from the struggles teen athletes deal with, and the drama and hardships that come along with playing a team sport. He delivers a great YA book with three different, yet strong male voices that guys will enjoyed reading. This story felt like I was reading a documentary on three wrestling team mates, their lives, and how they got to where they did (at the end of the story). Over all, I think this is a book readers will enjoy. It's a gritty, realistic portrayed story, and one I think guy readers will enjoy.(less)

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Dec 19, 2012 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amidst all the fantasy and paranormal books it is always great to settle down and find a book focused around sports. Being an athlete and sports enthusiast myself, I appreciate a well-written book on the topic. One Shot Away is an interesting story about three wrestlers and their journey through their senior year as wrestlers. This being his third novel, T. Glen Coughlin does a pretty good job of combining the lives of the three main characters to create an intriguing storyline.

For example, one...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Carrie Ardoin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, i-own-this, tour

3.5 STARS

This was a wrestling book that didn't actually contain much wrestling. For that, I am kind of glad, because for someone like me who doesn't know a thing about the sport, the book was still easy to follow.

The novel is told in alternating chapters of three senior wrestlers: Diggy, Trevor, and Jimmy. Diggy's dad never lets up and never believes he will live up to the legacy of his brother. Trevor's dad has recently passed away, and Trevor has found a new drive to be a wrestler. Jimmy is u...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin was a really unique read. It is the perfect blend and will appeal to both guys and gals. There is so much of real life in One Shot Away - T. Glen Coughlin really captured what high school is like and did so in a unique way, through the eyes of wrestlers.
I loved T. Glen Coughlin's choice of wrestling - It is the perfect sport to illustrate the fact that guys have some of the same issue girls do, but they get highlighted much less. Watching the boys struggle with...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Chapter by Chapter rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’ve been really interested in reading One Shot Away after finding out that it was a story about wrestling. Even though I am a teenage girl I have done a bit of wrestling and while I didn’t exactly adore the training and repetitive movements that all aim at the pin—I did adore reading One Shot Away by author T. Glen Coughlin. It was a fun read that I got into almost instantly. Wrestling does sound like more of a boy sport and a novel that focuses on it should sound like a novel that is meant mor...more I’ve been really interested in reading One Shot Away after finding out that it was a story about wrestling. Even though I am a teenage girl I have done a bit of wrestling and while I didn’t exactly adore the training and repetitive movements that all aim at the pin—I did adore reading One Shot Away by author T. Glen Coughlin. It was a fun read that I got into almost instantly. Wrestling does sound like more of a boy sport and a novel that focuses on it should sound like a novel that is meant more for guys and manly men than female readers. Stop! Right there! I don’t care what gender you are, if you can get your hands on One Shot Away… you better get it.

One Shot Away tells the story of three different high school seniors who are all on the same wrestling team at Molly Pitcher High School. Out of these three boys they all want the same thing: To be the best wrestler on the team, get the pin and get a scholarship a.k.a. a one way ticket out of their town. This wrestling season looks like the toughest one yet for main characters Diggy, Jimmy and Trevor. Diggy wants to keep his spot at the 152 weight class and wrestle his way to the top, but it looks like his teammate Trevor is threatening everything he’s ever worked for. Diggy is struggling to make weight, his complicated relationship with Jane “the Stain” is getting him trouble he doesn’t need and Trevor seems to be doing everything in his power to take his weight class. How is it that just one year was all it took to make Trevor the varsity wrestler he is this year?

Jimmy is trying to keep the cops of off his back after his father digs them both into a never-ending hole. Now the police are hassling Jimmy about what really happened the night that he and his father were both driving away with stolen supplies. Jimmy’s girlfriend Roxanne is looking down on him over the whole situation and all he wants is to stay on the team, get his scholarship and leave before his situation gets messier than it already is. Then there’s Trevor a half Native-American boy whose father just died and whose mother seems to already be moving on. Wrestling was something that Trevor and his father used to bond over, but without his father Trevor is on his own and wants to use the varsity team to prove something to himself and to everybody in school that bugs him about his heritage. But with Diggy constantly bothering him and trying to bully Trevor out of the 152 weight class, Trevor’s finding that being on the team is harder than he anticipated.

Then Diggy does the unthinkable and betrays Trevor—and the team – nobody believes that they can trust Diggy after what he did. Even Diggy knows that after what he’s done everything he has ever worked for could be down the drain.

I definitely think that One Shot Away is a novel that I will always have a soft spot for in my heart. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how there should be more YA novels about combative sports and One Shot Away filled the spot in my mind that has been aching for a good novel about sports that I enjoy. Despite being about Wrestling, One Shot Away is also the story about the struggles that these three boys have to go through and the physical hardships that come with having to make weight and perform efficiently. There are also the mentality problems that come from overbearing coaches and people who expect you to be able to get out there and win like it’s no problem at all. Honestly I could write paragraphs among paragraphs about the three main characters in the novel, they’ve left me with so much to think about and enjoy.

What I really enjoyed about the writing in this novel is how it’s in the third person and written in the present tense. Now, I don’t see that too often when I read, so it was very refreshing form the common third person, past tense scene. What makes the present tense so awesome for this novel is when it comes to the matches. It made every single scene feel so realistic and made the emotions and thoughts that the characters experience very believable. Every action describing takedown attempts, grips and techniques was seriously awesome. As somebody who knew what every word meant, I found it really easy to imagine the wrestling matches. To somebody who doesn’t know very much about wrestling, you may find it really hard to imagine, just a note.

As the novel progressed there were a lot of moments where I would have to sit there wide-eyed. I mean honestly, from the start of the novel to the end things do spiral out of control for almost every character. They go through things that either make or break them and I do have to admit that by the time the novel concluded I sat there and felt a bit sad. After all the emotions that were conjured up inside of me, after finally getting to experience everything with the cast of characters, I couldn’t believe the novel’s ending. How final it felt, but also how nicely it summed up the entire novel. The more I think about it, I really did love this book.

I’d recommend One Shot Away to fans of sports novels but mainly to readers who enjoy wrestling. Readers that are looking for a novel that will pull them in and never let go will probably love One Shot Away, definitely one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It’ll be hard for anybody and any novel to top One Shot Away after reading it.(less)

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Mar 28, 2013 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: what-s-new-ya-2013, sports

Actual rating: 3.5 stars - I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. It covers the senior years of three wrestlers - Jimmy, Trevor, and Diggy. All three have messed-up family lives. Jimmy's wrestling obsessed dad is a criminal who is trying to rope Jimmy into helping him steal lumber (even though it puts Jimmy's wrestling career and scholarship dreams in jeapordy). Native American Trevor's loving father was tragically killed in a freak car accident. His grieving and financially strapp...more

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Feb 16, 2013 April rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, for-review, contemporary

I am not sure about you, but as someone who grew up not very athletically inclined, but came to see the light when it comes to exercise as an adult, I find myself immensely attracted to young adult books where sports play a central role. I’ll admit I did participate in: cheerleading, swim team, and volleyball plus a few 3-on-3 basketball tournaments growing up. However, I was never very good at sports. In One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin, the three protagonists are actually very, very serious a...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Veronica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: family, wrestling

This was somewhat of a disappointment. There were very few wrestling scenes, the female characters were all very weak and not a single character had a good home life. Maybe that was the point, but the wrestling team wasn't really written as a team of guys who supported each other either.

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May 06, 2013 Carol Morison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wrestling book. Wasn't sure I'd like it, but it wasn't bad. Had to read it for ROYAL. I think some of the high school guys will enjoy reading it. Talks about three different guys, their problems, their dreams, their hunger for wrestling title.

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Nov 13, 2012 Shanyn (Chick Loves Lit) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm an advocate for good sports focused books, so when ONE SHOT AWAY came across my doorstep and I saw that the premise was wrestling, I was excited to give it a try since I have no wrestling book suggestions in my repertoire.

Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/12/revi...

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Aug 06, 2012 Edward Sullivan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-novels

Reviewed professionally.

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Nov 30, 2012 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sports

A "World According to Garp" for a new generation.

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Mar 05, 2010 sharon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-travel-read

This is what happens when my kindle breaks and I've read every book in my possession.

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About T. Glen Coughlin

Coughlin's first novel, The Hero of New York, was finished when he was 23 years old and explored the dark side of the middle class suburban dream. New York Times reviewer, Dennis Smith (1986) wrote, "The Hero of New York is solid tough-guy entertainment, and Mr. Coughlin's descriptions can be hilarious." Coughlin’s second novel, Steady Eddie, is a coming-of-age story set in Long Island, New York i...more

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