Fighting Ruben Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers, #2)

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Fighting Ruben Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers #2)

by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 1,273 ratings · 144 reviews

It's the difference between being a winner and being a fighter...

Cameron and Ruben Wolfe are brothers from a family clinging to the ragged edge of the working class. Initially to make some money, the boys hook up with a sleazy fight promoter who sees something marketable and audience-pleasing in the untrained brothers' vulnerability.

So they hide the boxing from their long...more

Paperback, 224 pages

Published June 1st 2002 by Push (first published April 1st 2000)

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Feb 09, 2009 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors, the-kids-are-all-right

Wow.

This book is about two things that I know very little about.

Brothers & Boxing.

So, I thought maybe I'd sort of float through it. Large font, little over 200 pages... an overnight shift... no biggie.

Right.

Markus, I'm sorry I gave you such little credit. What was I thinking? I'd read I Am the Messenger. I bawled over The Book Thief. So, why was I so surprised by this? Maybe because I didn't want to believe that someone so young could deliver like this from the get-go.

Again, sorry about tha...more

10 likes · like · see review

Oct 29, 2007 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

So, I'm convinced that Markus Zusak could write an entire novel about mashed potatoes or asphalt and it would be brilliant. I also know that there is surely no other writer on the planet that could make me give a book about two boxing brothers 5 stars and hate that I've finished it so quickly!

14 likes · like · see review

May 06, 2011 Shirley Marr rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-ya

I enjoyed Markus Zusak's first novel The Underdog sufficiently enough to give this sequel, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, a go. I liked The Underdog. I love Fighting Ruben Wolfe! What a difference one novel makes. The Underdog was strong in character, prose and theme, but Fighting Ruben Wolfe ups the ante with a stronger structure and a fully realised plot. This gritty, feelgood novel about two boxing brothers and a family of "battlers" made me glow on the inside and want to laugh, cry and smile maniacal...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 14, 2012 Thewildtinker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a biscuit. It was warm, short, sweet and incredibly straight forward. With its short span of 224 pages, Markus Zusak's remarkable story-telling was just enough to send the message over - The story of brothers. It was simple - a tale that narrated the life and hardships of a pair of brothers living in the harsh environment of a father in unemployment, a mother working to the bone... and the fire that burned inside of them to make a difference.

Every page was lined with the knowledge...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Marco Cardenas rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fighting Ruben Wolfe is about two brothers named Cameron and Ruben Wolfe whose family is having a hard time finding a new job and paying taxes. Their older brother named Steven has ambitions, so he can't wait to leave the house. Their sister Sarah has an addiction to alcohol and a tardy reputation at school. Cameron and Rube hoped to get money by winning a bet at a dog track, but even with the policeman's help they were unsuccessful. But after Rube gets in a fight at school, word gets around and...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Marleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ruben and Cameron Wolfe are teenage brothers. When their father loses his job, the family is in financial trouble. One day Ruben is noticed when he beats another boy up for insulting his sister and soon afterwards both Ruben and Cameron are offered the opportunity to take part in illegal boxing matches for money.
While fighting doesn't come naturally to Cameron, the narator of the story, Ruben takes to the competition like a fish to water and appears unbeatable. But, as Cameron slowly discovers,...more

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Jan 17, 2011 in which a girl reads rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nicely-phrased, rockin-contemporary

"She smiles pretty, and in that split second, I forget. I forget about Perry Cole and all those future punches. It makes me wonder, Do we spend most of our days trying to remember or forget things? Do we spend most of our time running toward or away from our lives? I don't know."

So wonders Cameron Wolfe, the big-hearted, tender protagonist of Fighting Ruben Wolfe. Passages like the one above--full of a quiet sort of wisdom, almost a ache to it--aren't uncommon in this book. They're plentiful, si...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 12, 2010 Newengland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished-in-2010, ya

Tie me kangaroo down, mate. Fans of The Book Thief can take a look-see at Markus Zusak's formative days as a writer with this early (2001) and autobiographical outing about two brothers who join an illegal boxing ring to help stabilize their family (Dad is out of work but too proud for the dole).

The reading is real zippy and reminiscent of Hemingway in that it's concise and to the point. Unlike Hem, however, young Zusak employs lots of sentence fragments for effect (the effect at times being to...more

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May 12, 2010 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

‘Fighting Ruben Wolfe’ tells the story of the Wolfe brothers, Ruben and Cameron, two very different brothers who both have a lot of fight in them, their fight to be understood, their fight to be accepted. Ruben is offered the opportunity to box for money, and Cameron is asked too, they need the money to help their proud parents, who won’t accept help, especially their Dad, so the brothers take the step to box and find out more about themselves, what they mean to each other and their family.

I en...more

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Apr 20, 2010 Audrey (holes In My brain) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up because of the author, Markus Zusak, who wrote The Book Thief, which is written incredibly well.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe is above all, a story of brothers. Cameron Wolfe is the younger, shy boy with all the heart and cares about everything. He loves his brother, he's tough like a survivor, he'll get back up after getting beat down. Ruben Wolfe is the tough one, the one doing the beating up, the one with a perfect record, who can drop anyone. The bond of brotherhood between them...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 01, 2011 adri patamoma rated it 4 of 5 stars

são pouquíssimas as vezes em que, ao ler algo, penso: 'puxa vida, queria escrever assim'! mas é exatamente isso que acontece quando leio algo do zusak. ele sabe contar uma história como ninguém, e tem umas sacadas muito geniais sobre como abordar os assuntos, os acontecimentos, e os personagens. adoro sempre! preciso reler outros livros dele, aliás! é sempre uma delícia ler as coisas do markus. este livro só não ganha 5 estrelas porque é curtinho demais -- não deu pra chegar nem perto de satisfa...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Marianne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fighting Ruben Wolfe is the second in the Wolfe Brothers series by Australian author, Markus Zusak. Quite a bit has changed in the Wolfe household in the last year: Cliff was injured at work, now has no jobs coming in and is feeling inadequate as the breadwinner; Mrs Wolfe, with two jobs, is working harder than ever; Steve is leaving home as his parents’ pride won’t allow them to take a contribution from him; Sarah is taking her break-up with Bruce hard, drinking too much and getting a less-than...more

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Sep 10, 2011 Claire rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-420

This book has a younger YA feel to it than the last two books by this author that I have read (The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger). I would feel much safer recommending it to a teenager because it has a little cleaner language and the narrative is also a little more simplistic. Although it wasn't quite as quirky as The Book Thief, I still thought that a lot of the language was really fun and descriptive and I think that kids would like it, especially boys. Since it is about two brothers that...more

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Jan 29, 2010 Jenny / Wondrous Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

The fantastic Mr. Zusak is back, with a long-awaited UK reprint of his early novel Fighting Ruben Wolfe, which was first published in Australia in the year 2000. It's not quite in the same league as The Book Thief, but his excellent writing and characterisation still shines through in true Zusak style.

Brothers Cameron and Ruben Wolfe head up this gritty tale of family and fighting, and show just what determination and a sense of pride can achieve. When their father loses his job and starts strug...more The fantastic Mr. Zusak is back, with a long-awaited UK reprint of his early novel Fighting Ruben Wolfe, which was first published in Australia in the year 2000. It's not quite in the same league as The Book Thief, but his excellent writing and characterisation still shines through in true Zusak style.

Brothers Cameron and Ruben Wolfe head up this gritty tale of family and fighting, and show just what determination and a sense of pride can achieve. When their father loses his job and starts struggling to pay the bills, the brothers know they have to do something. An underground boxing ring provides the perfect way to make quick cash, and vent some anger at the same time.

Zusak's depiction of the Wolfe family is so realistic it's hard to remember you're reading about fictional people. They face the prospect of going on the dole, vicious rumours about their daughter's sexual promiscuity and the worrying need for more money. It's refreshing to read about everyday problems like these, rather than exaggerated situations that are impossible to relate to. I don't know whether any of these plot lines stem from personal experience on the author's behalf, but whatever the reason for their inclusion, I'm just glad they're there.

Ruben's fight scenes, though quite harrowing, are action-packed and suspenseful. They'll no doubt be a big hit with the boys, and will give girls an insight into a very male-orientated sport. The same can be said for the male narration. It's such a nice change to be in a guy's head, and to see what they really think about girls, school and life in general.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe is a story about pride, strength and that unbreakable bond between two brothers. It takes a simple premise and gives it depth and emotion, while never straying from the authenticity of the situation. I only wish it was longer, which would have allowed for more development and more time with the Wolfe family. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the sequel, Getting the Girl, will be released here one day, as I need another new Zusak fix as soon as possible. (less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Wolfe family is struggling. Cameron’s father is unemployed, his mother is working overtime to keep the family afloat, his sister is recovering from a broken heart by partying all night and his eldest brother Steve has decided to get a place of his own. Meanwhile Cameron and his brother Ruben join a local boxing league and are duking it out to make some extra money.

There’s so much more to this story than boxing or teenage angst. At its core it’s a poignant story of the bond between brothers....more

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Aug 11, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who comes from a family of fighters

Recommended to Jennifer by: Ed Kennedy

Shelves: read-2010

Reading the Zusak oeuvre almost backwards ( I am the Messenger followed by The Book Thief, Getting the Girl, and finally Fighting Ruben Wolfe ) works surprisingly well. Though this novel and its sequel (GTG) are not as strong as his next two, you can see Zusak working the themes and the language that he will handle masterfully in his later works. [Can you tell I'm a fan?:]

This novel concerns the Wolfe brothers, Ruben and Cameron (our narrator), who fight each other at home but fight for each oth...more

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Aug 05, 2009 Sara ♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, young-adult, action-adventure

I liked the book quite a lot. Probably in the 3.5 star range. I didn't bump it up to 4 stars because it just didn't draw me in like I Am the Messenger did. Maybe it's not fair to compare the two, since this was Markus Zusak's first book (meaning that it makes sense that the later books would be better), but there it is!

I think the book was just... too short! It felt like a flushed-out outline. The storyline was there, but it was missing substance... I wanted more details about the boys... more i...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 03, 2011 Autumn Doughton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm actually reading the three Wolfe books as a compilation of one but I wanted to review them individually because each book is unique and has it's own tone and deserves to be read as a stand-alone.
The first book in the series (The Underdog) was just okay. I didn't really connect well with Cam or Ruben, but it was short and fast and over before I knew it.
When I moved onto book two the pace and feel were completely different. This is the Mark Zusak I recognize from the Book Thief. There is an i...more

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Mar 14, 2011 Momo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading I am the Messenger (Zusak’s third published book), I vowed to read everything that Markus Zusak has ever written. Reading this book was me keeping that promise to myself. Fighting Ruben Wolfe is one of his earliest works and it shows. There were still signs of his capabilities as a writer but those talents had yet to fully bloom.

One thing that I truly admire about him as a writer is his writing style. It’s very unique, very “Markus Zusak”, and in this book the flame of talent was o...more After reading I am the Messenger (Zusak’s third published book), I vowed to read everything that Markus Zusak has ever written. Reading this book was me keeping that promise to myself. Fighting Ruben Wolfe is one of his earliest works and it shows. There were still signs of his capabilities as a writer but those talents had yet to fully bloom.

One thing that I truly admire about him as a writer is his writing style. It’s very unique, very “Markus Zusak”, and in this book the flame of talent was only just sparking. I found it to be choppy and difficult to read; which was a striking contrast to the smooth creativity of his third book.
I feel that the story itself lacked excitement. There was a lot of potential given the plot line, but things minimally built and never reached a climax. Many obstacles could have caused struggle, and many dangers were on the horizon, but none of them ever presented themselves. Though the back cover promised an “ultimate face-off deep in an underground illegal boxing scam,” I saw no trace of any of these things. The story focused mostly on the changing relationship between two brothers, which was still enjoyable, but not what had been advertised.

I found a similar problem with the delivery of his characters. Aside from Cameron and Ruben, the rest of the Wolfe family seemed like cardboard cutouts; two-dimensional imposters. Had Zusak gone further with the characters, the story would have seemed more well-rounded and believable.

In the end, I just think that this story fell short of being something grand. Zusak is a phenomenal writer and there are many traces of that in this book, but had this been the first story of his I’d devoted my time too, I may have never known that he’d soon master the art of storytelling. In the end, I gave this book a 3 star rating because it was a decent story with certain parts that were very well written. Also, I love Markus Zusak, and nothing he ever writes could be considered 'bad' in my eyes. Overall, this was slightly forgettable, but I’d recommend it to young readers who are getting their sea legs in the world of reading.
(less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Gabe Neph rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a story about two brothers that are just trying to make it by in life. Their family is struggling for money because their father just lost his job. After Rube hits a kid in the mouth at school for saying things about their sister, a man is waiting for them outside of their house. I recommend this book for everyone, this book is outstanding.
The plot is this book was extremely exciting. Markus Zusak knows how to write a book that everyone loves. When Rube and Cam go into an undergr...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Christina rated it 2 of 5 stars

"Fighting Ruben Wolfe" is a story of two brothers who struggle to fight for their family, pride, and identity. The Wolfe brothers, Rube and Cameron, are fed up with their life's struggles. Their father has been physically damaged, and he is out of a job. Rube and Cameron are determined to find a way to support their family. When the two meet a fight promoter, they are told they can make extra money by fighting in boxing matches. But the matches are the toughest thing the two brothers have faced....more

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Jan 09, 2012 Rena rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really don't know what it is about Markus Zusak's writing that really gets to me, but I love it. I started this series of three stories with this book, which is the second of the three. I instantly connected with the story and all of the characters. I can't even say which character I liked better because I loved them all. The story is about strength in the face of adversity, family standing by and up for each other, and the bond between brothers. Boxing was a great way to show the strengths an...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Paul rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As a massive "Book Thief" fan, I was looking forward to reading one of Zusak's earlier books. I was disappointed in Fighting Rube Wolfe. Although Zusak's customary free-flowing language is spot-on again and glides you through the book, I found it as a story unoriginal and cliched.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 01, 2013 Colleen Stone added it

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

This is a powerfully written young adult novel. I had the misfortune to have to 'teach' it to a class of adolescent girls. I assumed it would not be their cup of tea at all. Thank you Brad Pitt, for giving them a frame of reference (Fight Club) and the visual image of a tragic (and crush-worthily gorgeous) hero to base their insights on.

The novel was a success in the classroom which, believe me, was a huge relief. All too often worthy books (and this one is VERY worthy) have been killed by teac...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Manas Barpande rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

"Smile stubborn. Smile with instinct, then lick your wounds in the darkest of dark corners. Trace the scars back to your own fingers and remember them."

This quote from the book explains everything. This book is something which should be read by young and old alike.

It is the story about two brothers, Ruben and Cameron Wolfe. This book is second part of the series after the Underdog. Though I disliked the first part, this one made up for it. This book is not just about brothers, or boxing, but t...more "Smile stubborn. Smile with instinct, then lick your wounds in the darkest of dark corners. Trace the scars back to your own fingers and remember them."

This quote from the book explains everything. This book is something which should be read by young and old alike.

It is the story about two brothers, Ruben and Cameron Wolfe. This book is second part of the series after the Underdog. Though I disliked the first part, this one made up for it. This book is not just about brothers, or boxing, but the whole significance of life; of winning and losing, but more importantly, Fighting.
Just like the first part, it starts with the problems faced by Cameron- girls, self respect and courage. The fears which trouble him as an adolescent.

"...Then there is only the sickness I feel from looking at legs I can't touch, or at lips that don't smile at me. Or hips that don't reach for me. And hearts that don't beat for me."

Soon it revolves around the problems faced by the whole family.
Shortly after this, owing to a chance fight, both of them enters the Illegal Boxing. One finds himself beaten down, while the other knocks down every opponent. And thus starts the journey of fighting; fighting with others, and fighting with oneself, and finding oneself. What started as a means for earning income, soon transforms into the odyssey of acquiring self respect and courage. Some lines I loved -

"There is only so long you can win for, because someone can always beat you. On the other hand if you learn how to fight, you can fight forever, even when you get belted."
"Anyone can stop you being a winner. Only you yourself can make you stop fighting."

I started this series as I totally loved Markus Zusak's other two books- I am The Messanger and The Book Thief. When I got to know about this series, which he wrote at a young age and which started his career as a writer, I had to order this series. I'm on the third part, and I must say Markus has been awesome. His famous prose style, rough and poetic at the same time, gets to you. Moreover, these books are short, around 220-240 pages, and you just feel sorry for completing it so fast. One can easily see how much Markus has improved as a writer. As it is said, "The more you write, the better you get."
Happy Reading...!!(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Lynnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book had more plot than the first book in this series, Underdogs, and it also had a lot more heart. The Wolfes are messed up, unemployed, delinquent, and loyal to the core. In an effort to find out who they really are, two of the Wolfe brothers, Ruben & Cameron, take their backyard game of "One Punch" up a notch and test themselves, both as men and brothers.

The energy in this book repeatedly reminded me of the S.E. Hinton book TEX, that I read over & over as a young girl. The stori...more

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Mar 22, 2009 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was a little reluctant to read this book. The plot involved a couple of brothers fighting in an underground boxing ring and I am not all that interested in people pounding the crap out of each other (although, that being said, if someone had offered to pay me for beating up my own brother when we were kids I would have been all over that).

It's narrated by Cameron Wolfe, the younger of the two main Wolfe brothers, so the language is a little pedestrian and the flow is a bit stilted, which both...more

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Mar 09, 2010 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Firstly, I LOVED 'The Book Thief' - I thought it was great.
So, 'Fighting Ruben Wolfe'... I did think it was a good book and I enjoyed what there was of it..I just felt that it was a good storyline which could have been developed much further, I thought it was too short. I honestly think that if the plot had carried on I would have been rating it the same as 'The Book Thief'. I finished it in less than 24 hours and that's with a full nights sleep and a full day at work in between - I am a quick...more

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Oct 26, 2009 Annalisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, coming-of-age, contemporary

While not his best work, by the end Zusak found that prose I so love and the characters became the ones I love in Getting the Girl. It gave me my Zusak fix.

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Apr 30, 2012 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

With each new novel in the series, I fall more in love with Cameron Wolfe, Zusak's tender-hearted idealistic alter ego. This second novel finds Zusak on firmer ground in terms of plotting and story arc; his characters are strong, dialogue is good, and he's experimenting with form, which continues in the third novel (and definitely is something that works for him in The Book Thief). This is a great novel for boys, which is a plus, but you don't have to be a teen boy to enjoy it. Again, there are...more

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About Markus Zusak

Markus Zusak is the author of five books, including the international bestseller, The Book Thief, which has topped bestseller lists ranging from the New York Times in America, the Sunday Times in the UK, as well as countries in Europe, South America and Asia.

His first three books, The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and When Dogs Cry, released between 1999 and 2001, were all published international...more

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Quotes from Fighting Ruben Wolfe

“It's funny, don't you think, how time seems to do a lot of things? It flies, it tells, and worst of all, it runs out.” — 67 people liked it

“But neither of us knows, because a fight's worth nothing if you know from the start that you're going to win it.” — 46 people liked it

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avg rating	preview: Fighting Ruben Wolfe Goodreads rating: 3.84 (1273 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19065.Fighting_Ruben_Wolfe?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328869335l/19065.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19065.Fighting_Ruben_Wolfe?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak[/url]

Fighting Ruben Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers #2)

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