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Leverage

by Joshua C. Cohen (Goodreads Author)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 791 ratings · 267 reviews

The football field is a battlefield

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

When a violent, steroid-infused, ever-escalating prank war has devastating consequences, an unlikely friendship between a talented but emotionally dama...more

Hardcover, 425 pages

Published February 17th 2011 by Dutton Juvenile (first published February 1st 2011)

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2011 Debut Authors (Young Adult and Middle Grade Lit.)

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Sep 04, 2011 Lora rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 16+

Shelves: lib-read, g-ya-realistic

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

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

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

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

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

36 likes · like · see review

Sep 24, 2011 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, male-protagonist, sports, realistic-fiction, whoa-that-s-heavy

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

The story is told by two boys who go to the same high school. Danny is a small kid but works his butt off on being an excellent gymnast. Kurtis is a massive guy that stutters,...more This semester I'm taking a physics course and the whole idea of leverage is a cool concept. Oddly enough it makes me see the whole story in a different way. How something on its own may not have the power, but you just add some leverage and man do you see the impact. That great concept is the perfect title for this story.

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

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

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

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

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Oct 11, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

Leverage by Joshua Cohen is told in two heartbreaking voices—Kurt Brodsky and Danny Meehan. Two young, strong athletes trying to carve out a spot in high school and the future with football and gymnastics. With patience and...more Leverage. We all search for it at work, home, and life whether we realize it or not. And we all possess leverage whether we realize it or not. It is how we choose to use that power, influence, and leverage that matters. How we act, respond, and move through life that counts.

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

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

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

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

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

I highly recommend this book.

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Mar 22, 2011 Terri rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

I can't recommend a book more highly!
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Mar 26, 2012 Marita Hansen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, edgy-ya

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Mar 15, 2011 Jess Bierschied rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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

Thi...more

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Sep 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: tear-jerker, young-adult, abuse

4 1/2 stars

Leverage is a story told in 2 different POV's by two boys on the opposite spectrum of the high school popularity chain. Kurt comes from a troubled past but becomes the star football player, Danny is a small fraile gymnaist who keeps to himself. Both boys witness a big prank-gone-wrong bullying scene and they try to bury it within themselves so they also don't get tormented.
This is a story of bullying to extremes and the way football is played up in some high schools, I could totally...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Patricia (Patricia's Particularity) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, favorite, wishlist

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

To start, a basic overview...
Kurt is the new football star at Oregrove High School. Danny is on the Oregrove gymnastics team. Both boys have a past, full of sorrow and p...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Sarah (YA Love) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-debut-author-challenge, bullying, contemporary-ya, more-than-one-pov, read-in-2012, realistic-fiction, young-adult-lit, favorites

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

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

Kelly at Stacked has been telling me to read this for months, but I can’t say why I put it off for so long. I’m actually made at myself for waiting so long to read Leverage. When I told my students about...more Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

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

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

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

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

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

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Mar 03, 2011 BookChic Club rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one REALLY intense book. Like, for reals intense. I had to actually put it down several times because I just needed a breather from it all. Cohen pulls no punches in this 400+ page novel. It's realistic, raw, heartbreaking as well as uplifting (well, in the end), and insanely intense.

If you know me at all, I am not a football fan. Yeah, I have teams I root for (Redskins and Steelers) but that's only based on familial loyalty (Mom is from Pittsburgh) or geographical proximity (I grew up...more This is one REALLY intense book. Like, for reals intense. I had to actually put it down several times because I just needed a breather from it all. Cohen pulls no punches in this 400+ page novel. It's realistic, raw, heartbreaking as well as uplifting (well, in the end), and insanely intense.

If you know me at all, I am not a football fan. Yeah, I have teams I root for (Redskins and Steelers) but that's only based on familial loyalty (Mom is from Pittsburgh) or geographical proximity (I grew up outside DC). So I never really understand why people get so worked up over football- the people playing it, the coaches, the parents. It's just a GAME, not a life or death situation here. What Cohen shows here is a raw look into how far people will go to win and be "strong". Strong is in quotes because what I like about this book is that the football people only view strength in one way- being bulky and huge, winning all the time, being what they deem to be manly. But Cohen shows there is strength in so many other ways, like in different sports (Danny is a gymnast, a sport football looks down on) or even having the courage to speak up when something is seriously wrong.

In the summary, steroids are mentioned. In this story, it's one of those things where people have an idea that it's going on, but don't really care as long as it works and the team wins. Some of the football players take it, but not all. The three who do take it are COMPLETELY messed up in the head and almost become like animals at times. It was interesting for Cohen to really show that in the story and just how these characters were kinda shaped. It felt like they were always kind of like that and the steroids just brought it out more. What bothered me a lot was that the Coach was actually GIVING this stuff to his players. The Coach is a whole other story though- he runs his football team like it's a war zone (he actually calls them "soldiers" several times), and he makes fun of them a lot when they're maybe slacking a tiny bit (calling them ladies and that they need to be wearing dresses). This is where all the problems start- the Coach is making them think they own the school and are gods. The parents aren't much better; one scene later in the novel sticks out to me prominently. Calm the eff down and just have some fun. Football is not THAT important, nor should it be.

I really enjoyed the dual perspective of this novel- it was utilized in such a good way and just really worked for this story. Both characters were exciting and interesting to read, and the secondary characters are mostly fleshed out well. The story was really compelling, and the ending was simply a work of art. I literally didn't put the book down for the last 100 pages. It was amazing. I do wish there had been a bit more but I can live with how it ended.

Overall, a really amazing, realistic, intense debut novel and one I think everyone should read, even if you don't like football (this may actually give you more of a reason to hate football, lol). Although let me say that there is some graphic content in the book (and lots of swears) so keep that in mind when deciding to read this book or when giving it to someone else.(less)

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Feb 16, 2011 Abby Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blogged

Danny's a sophomore gymnast, destined for state championships and scholarships... and resigned to a life of being pushed around by bigger guys. Kurt's a gigantic tank of a football player with major scars, both physical and emotional. When the steroid-infused captains of the football team push bullying to a deadly degree, an unlikely friendship between Kurt and Danny might be the only thing that can set things to rights.

This is a stunning debut. We have two distinctly realistic guy narrators, e...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Kelly added it

Kelly Garwood

Cohen, J. (2011). Leverage. New York, NY: Dutton Books.

Genre: Sports

Award(s): N/A

Format: book

Selection process:
Nilsen, A. P. (Ed.). (2013). Literature for today’s young adults. Boston, MA: Pearson (p. 242).

Review:

Danny Meehan is a high school gymnast, excelling in the high-bar. He is small in size, sticks with his gymnast teammates for friends, and hopes to earn a full-ride sports scholarship to a college. Kurt Brodsky is a transfer student from a rough school, being recruited for...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Claudia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-book-challenge-150, ya-books

Holy...heck. This book has some of the evilest, slithery-est characters I've read in a long time. And unfortunately, they're kids. Football players in a school where football rules, and speaking of rules, they don't apply -- to the players or the coaches.

Told in two voices, Danny, a promising gymnast, and Kurt, a talented football player, Cohen allows us to see the demons that haunt both of the boys. Coaches want wins...coaches cut corners. Steroids, extra spending money. Whatever works, whateve...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Karielle Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog

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

I grew up with Dan Gutman and Mike Lupica, but I think Leverage was probably my first venture into older teen sports fiction, and definitely my first one about football (which, might I add, is my all-time favorite spectator sport). I know by the blurb, it sounds like another Friday Night Lights, another head-butting, sweat-packed story about the...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very well done depiction of high school life, if perhaps a little bit dated, especially as it relates to the dominance of certain sports over others and of certain boys over certain others. In this case, it's a matter of football co-captains, steroid users all, exacting revenge on the gymnastics team whose coach dares to suggest football share the school's weight room. Danny, a sophmore with an unbelievable high bar trick, beats one of the football players in a challenge to see who is stronger....more Very well done depiction of high school life, if perhaps a little bit dated, especially as it relates to the dominance of certain sports over others and of certain boys over certain others. In this case, it's a matter of football co-captains, steroid users all, exacting revenge on the gymnastics team whose coach dares to suggest football share the school's weight room. Danny, a sophmore with an unbelievable high bar trick, beats one of the football players in a challenge to see who is stronger. Since the gymnastics coach picked a lift that focuses on the strength of the core, little Danny beats out the huge football player pitted against him

Soon gymnasts and football players prank each other until the football players take it too far--way too far. Quarterback Scott and his two 'roid rage henchmen assault, sexually and violently, the smallest freshman on the squad all while Danny is paralyzed in fright in the storeroom. The attack could have killed the boy if not for new guy on the football team, Kurt.

Kurt is a child of the system, abused by a sadistic group home leader who actually killed Kurt's best friend and then tried to lay the blame at Kurt's feet. He is an amazing football player, a saving grace considering his stutter and scarred face; but he doesn't much care for the team leaders. Danny is not the only witness to Ronnie's horrible victimization. It's Kurt who physically stops the abuse, but none of the three who know some or all of what happened to Ronnie will acknowledge it when Ronnie reaches out.

The football players believe they are completely off the hook for the crime and the tragedy that ensued from it until Kurt can't quite forget, making all three targets. They have to find a way to speak out and fight back. That's where a kick-ass goth girl who works the jumbotron and refuses to let her foster kid beginnings keep her down steps up and in for the ultimate assist.

Nice plotting and wonderful narration alternating from Danny and Kurt make finishing the book a compulsion. Are the villains a bit one dimensional and so evil that it's hard to believe they've gone under the radar? Maybe, but with first person story telling from two of the people who hate and fear them, whatever backstory or layers they might have just won't make it through.

Sadly, not a book many football players will clamor for, but a good one to recommend to guys in general. Girls who enjoy reading beyond pink books should also enjoy.(less)

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Jan 20, 2013 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

This is a powerful story, but graphic and disturbing. It deals with a lot of issues, but the main one surrounds a sexual assault (as a form of bullying) on a boy. Coming forward is not so easy for him or the witnesses--fear of retribution, loss of manhood, doubt that anyone will believe them (the assailants are football stars and the victim and witnesses are gymnastic geeks), and the desire to pretend nothing happened. Their way of dealing with the attack leads to horrible consequences, but how...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Everyone that is either finished with high-school or still in it knows the feeling. There is no one there for you, you are completely alone, and no one understands you. The book Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen does a great job of showing that these feelings are wrong in a very special way. Yes, it is a sports book, but I truly believe the only thing you need to enjoy this book is an open mind.
The first interesting thing you will notice when you start reading is that it has two main characters that...more

Everyone that is either finished with high-school or still in it knows the feeling. There is no one there for you, you are completely alone, and no one understands you. The book Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen does a great job of showing that these feelings are wrong in a very special way. Yes, it is a sports book, but I truly believe the only thing you need to enjoy this book is an open mind.
The first interesting thing you will notice when you start reading is that it has two main characters that appear to be exact opposites in so many ways. First you meet Danny, a junior in high-school that is in gymnastics and strives to get a full ride scholarship for high bars. Danny is a small quiet boy that keeps all his thoughts to himself. Next you meet Kurt Brodsky. Kurt is an orphan that has moved homes many times; he numbs the pain in his life by going to the weight room and playing football. Kurt was blessed with size and great football talent but is also quiet due to having a bad stutter.
The next thing you will realize about the story is that every chapter switches off view points. The first chapter will be from Danny’s eyes, the next is Kurt, etc. At first I found this a bit odd but after getting used to it I realized that by seeing the same event happening from two different viewpoints the author does a great job of making you really connect with each character differently.
Although the book does progress rather slowly in the beginning I did not mind it. The author does a good job giving you all the details you need before he advances the plot. If you stick with the book during the slow parts you will be glad you did because once it gets going it takes off fast. You quickly learn that in this high-school there is a serious bullying problem where the three football captains “rule” the school and like to let their power be known. You see this multiple times throughout the story in places like the weight room, the locker room, and even in the hall-ways. Teachers at the school seem to just turn their heads and let the football players do what they want.
Kurt watches a gymnastics meet one where he sees Danny on the high bars, impressed by this he approaches Danny the next day and their friendship ignites. Kurt wants to learn how to do a handspring so he can do one as a touchdown celebration during a football game. This results in him attending a gymnastics practice where the football captains just happen to stop by the school and terrorize one of the freshman gymnasts. Put in an extremely hard position Kurt defends the gymnast and loses the trust of the captains of his team. Danny, having watched the whole thing and seeing Kurt stand up for his teammate instantly realizes that he can trust Kurt and that this is a friendship that he needs.
As you read this story you will see an unlikely friendship grow strong, you will learn that it truly isn’t what is on the outside but what is on the inside. A gentle giant and a small but courageous duo try to fight the kids that seem to have all the power in their school, some people join their cause throughout finally getting sick of going to school in terror every day. Leverage has some harsh truth in it that really gets you thinking about life and if you are doing all the right things in it.
Recapping what I said in the intro this book is not just for the sports fan, it is for everyone. I truly believe you need to read a book like Leverage that does not dance around a serious topic and bluntly points out the truth in it. Leverage takes an extremely serious subject and wraps it in a story with two characters that you can connect to with real moments in your life. It shows you the importance of bravery, humbleness, honesty, and so many more qualities. I recommend this book to everyone but be ready for what you are going to read
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Jan 04, 2013 Liz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: tears-spilled, young-adult

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

The horrific plot turning point was very graphic, and after that poin...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Ed added it

Cohen, Joshua C. (2011). Leverage. New York: Penguin Group/Dutton. 304 pp. ISBN 978-0-525-42306-5 (Hard Cover); $17.99.*

A book sure to keep readers riveted to the chair burning through pages, shares many of the same features and issues found in Robert Lipsyte’s Raiders Night. In Leverage, Danny is a small but gifted gymnast; Kurt is a tank of a fullback with a speech impediment. This novel alternates between the two voices. The two stories gradually intersect when Kurt's god-like quarterback tri...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

The rape of a gymnast by three members of his high school's football team is the central event in this disquieting novel of bullying at its most violent. Danny Meehan is a promising gymnast bothered by his small stature and youthful appearance. Kurt Brodsky is a massive, physically talented football player tormented by past abuse he has suffered in the foster-care system and by a pronounced stutter that leads others to believe he is mentally challenged. In alternating chapters, the two boys desc...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow.... Oh my god. Keep this a secret but I'm a 13 year old girl and I think I'm emotionally scarred for LIFE. I was totally fine with every theme.... Until I got to rape and suicide. I even felt guilty about not helping Ronnie speak up, even though I knew in the back of my mind that I couldn't do anything about it. When Kurt rushed Ronnie out of his house. I had a feeling that he was hurting. Just a small little feeling of sympathy and almost a prediction of upcoming events. I probably only fel...more

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May 24, 2012 Monica! rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: manly-man-man-man, your-reality-alarms-me, read-in-2012, reasonably-realistic, i-find-you-strangely-disturbing, i-love-you-for-your-cover, now-youve-read-the-book, this-must-be-what-pain-feels-like

I was introduced to Leverage at a conference I went to earlier this year. Our speaker described it as follows:

"Leverage" is a story about unlikely friends! Kurt is one of the stars of the football team. Danny is the best male gymnast in the school. But when the two teams are forced to share the weight room together, tensions start to rise. Can Kurt and Danny work together to bridge the gap that exists between them?!

So this is great, right? It’s like Freak the Mighty but with gymnasts and muscles...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Christina G rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-ya-ya

Wow, this book was not at all what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting a formulaic sports story along the lines of "high school athletes face challenges at home, are redeemed by sports." That's how sports stories go for older children, and that's kind of what I wanted to read on Superbowl Sunday.

What I got was something less sports-oriented (football and gymnastics were more the setting for the story than the plot), and something much, much more intense and complex.

The story is brutal and...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Curtis rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked the book Leverage. It was a very good book that cought my attenion,and making me want to read more of the book. I liked how the book was on more than one character in the book. I liked that the new kid Kurt was acting up in class. Because then i knew that it was his first day of school because i could tell he was nervous and scared becuase it was his first day of school.

I liked how the book talked about more than one person. It talked about a new kid who didnot really know anybody, and i...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Brenda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Leverage is one of the books that once you start reading, you can not stop and when you are finished, the book and the books characters stay with you. You will find yourself wanting to share the book with others. You will find yourself screaming at the unjust situations the characters had to endure to finally find salvation, hope and courage.

However, this is not a book to share with everyone. The scenes described in the book are raw and very Intense. This is not a book that I would recommend for...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, realistic-fiction

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

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

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

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

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

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Aug 14, 2011 Sherry Thompson rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Jun 18, 2011 Cornmaven rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a very powerful book about the abuse of power, the molding of young minds to perpetuate that abuse, and the difficulty of gathering enough courage to shout that power down, especially if you are a teenager.

The story itself is excellent. However, I kept wondering if the over the top stereotypes of jocks ruling and terrorizing the school and football coaches with full blown steroid pharmacies didn't diminish the theme just a bit. I never questioned Kurt's life history and past abuse, becau...more This is a very powerful book about the abuse of power, the molding of young minds to perpetuate that abuse, and the difficulty of gathering enough courage to shout that power down, especially if you are a teenager.

The story itself is excellent. However, I kept wondering if the over the top stereotypes of jocks ruling and terrorizing the school and football coaches with full blown steroid pharmacies didn't diminish the theme just a bit. I never questioned Kurt's life history and past abuse, because yes, I know that continues to happen. But I kept asking myself how realistic the events were - even here in Texas, where football is the state religion, could there really still be coaches so brazenly dealing roids? Are there really jocks (even with local cop dads) so powerful they could brutally rape a student and think they could get away with it, and could actually say what came out of these guys' mouths? Or was the hyperbole part of the thematic development?

What I really liked was the contrast between the football team and its phony claim of "we're a family" and the gymnastics team which truly showed what it means to be on a team. The key lies in the nature of the sport - a combination of individual and team achievement. Football claims to possess that as well, but we all know it's the stars that matter. I liked how the football team's grab of all of the funds for the stadium Jumbotron came back to haunt them. I liked the different styles of pep talks given by the gymnastics coach and the football coach, with the latter pretty obviously promoting and condoning hatred and violence against anyone and everyone. And the whole town looking at the Friday night football game as the way for the town to "heal" from Ronnie's suicide was so absurd, I am sure Cohen meant it that way. But I wondered if that might not be the way some place like Midland or Odessa or some small Texas town would think - "After a tragedy such as this, the community thirsts for events that help reaffirm their lives, reaffirm the goodness in others, reaffirm that we are allworking toward a higher purpose." Now what that higher purpose would be other than more glorification of football, I will never understand.

Danny's fear and inability to report the incident seemed very real, given the nature of the town, the "leverage" the jocks had in the cop dad, and Danny's physical size. He was put in the same situation as Kurt, i.e. no one in power would believe him. And the wishy-washy teenage brain is very much on display as one minute they want to avoid trouble, and the next minute they are beginning another round of revenge. Danny's question, "Don't you remember how all this started?" was very appropriate.

The one very big scene that just did not seem right was the football coach screaming that they had to go finish the game, right after hearing a taped confession to the rape. I would acknowledge that the guy would naturally not believe it, but I cannot believe that a coach in this day and age would not immediately contact the police, but would rather go finish a football game. I realize his entire life is tied up in football, but come on. This was rape and torture. If one can get past that kind of incongruity, this is an awesome book. The writing was beautiful. And I would love to have HS students read it and tell me whether they think this could happen in their HS. Would make for an interesting discussion about class stratification, bullying, fear, and courage.

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Apr 19, 2011 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: abuse, bullies, drugs, football, grief, multiple-voices, peer-pressure, rape, school, self-esteem, sports, suicide, violence, ya-fiction, gymnastics

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

Danny and his teammate, Bruce are witness to a brutal attack on one of the...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Melanie Goodman added it

Danny is small, but powerful. His diminutive size may keep others in the high school hierarchy from taking him seriously, but in the gymnastics world Danny is well on his way to the top. As a sophomore, he already has his eye on championships and a full-ride scholarship. Danny trains at school, during the off season, and at every optional Saturday practice. What Danny lacks in size he makes up for in will power and dedication.

Kurt is a giant. As a fullback on the football team, he is the not-so-...more Danny is small, but powerful. His diminutive size may keep others in the high school hierarchy from taking him seriously, but in the gymnastics world Danny is well on his way to the top. As a sophomore, he already has his eye on championships and a full-ride scholarship. Danny trains at school, during the off season, and at every optional Saturday practice. What Danny lacks in size he makes up for in will power and dedication.

Kurt is a giant. As a fullback on the football team, he is the not-so-secret weapon. With his stature, it should be easy for him to get respect. However, Kurt’s history of abuse in the foster care system has left him with a fair share of demons and a stutter that makes it difficult for him to express what’s going on in his head. While he earns plenty of admiration on the field, even his teammates give him a hard time in school. Kurt may have the upper hand physically, but he needs to find confidence and mental strength to go with it.

Told in alternating chapters from Danny and Kurt’s perspectives, Joshua Cohen’s debut novel Leverage delves into the rivalry between the high school gymnastics and football teams. The steroid-pumped, bulky football players and the underdog gymnastics competitors get involved in a prank war that goes too far. They engage in bullying that is almost too cruel to believe if not for all the real-life news coverage of similar events (often with video evidence). Leverage shows the action-packed, glory-filled moments of high school athletics, but it also portrays the darker side. Imagine Friday Night Lights, but much, much crueler.

Like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, this book does not shy away from the harsh realities of high school life. Like Speak, it paints a picture of the importance of speaking out against those who bully and abuse you. The alternative is extremely grim. Those looking for a “boy book” for older teens need look no further; Leverage is the kind of book I would love to put in the hands of every high schooler. It is undeniably graphic–some scenes are so stomach churning that they border on vomit inducing–but it is that kind of honest detail that is necessary to make people wake up to the seriousness of the situation.

Leverage is not the sort of book I would normally pick off the shelves. The veins popping from the arm on the cover were a huge turnoff for me; I had to read this book with its dust jacket off just to stand a chance at keeping my food inside my body. I gave it a chance because Kari of A Good Addiction insisted that it was amazing. As always, I had to admit that she was right. I’m glad that I pushed outside my comfort zone, and I hope that other skeptical readers will, too.

Leverage is a mind blowing, dark, gritty, raw, and powerful book that is sure to evoke a visceral reaction. (Seriously, I am not a violent person, but while reading Leverage, I was ready to go kick some ass.) This novel is not all gloom and doom. Though the picture is often grim, it also shows that the big guys are not always the bad guys, nor the little guys always weak, and that people of any size should always speak loudly to demand justice. Leverage is full of characters you will hate, some you will pity, and several you will cheer for until the very end. I can only hope that Joshua Cohen’s emotional debut is the first of many books to come.(less)

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About Joshua C. Cohen

Joshua C. Cohen began writing "Leverage" after reading a news account of a horrific attack by a group of high school seniors on their fellow underclassmen. When the victims reluctantly came forward, instead of receiving offers of help, they were ostracized by the surrounding community for sullying the reputation of the school and causing a cancellation of the football season. Joshua's fascination...more

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Quotes from Leverage

“Being a hero usually isn't much fun. It's terrifying, most of the time, right up until the point you make it out safe. It's being scared to do the right thing and doing it anyway.” — 5 people liked it

“On any given day you have the chance to be a hero or a victim, predator or prey. Most times, circumstances are beyond your control. Other times, you got a choice but you think about it too much and you freeze up. Sometime, though, you're forced to react and it's all instinct. May not make a damn bit of difference in a bad situation. But sometimes instinct squeezes the good out of you, forces you to be a hero before you even realize it.” — 3 people liked it

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