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The Crush
Fifteen-year-old Matthew Cassidy is an up-and-coming rugby league star. The talent scouts are circling him, his school team has reached the finals for the first time ever and he's determined to one day play professional. It's not bad for a down-to-earth guy from the poor side of town who lives with his mum above a fish 'n' chip shop.
But despite being the team captain, his prowess and the embarrassing popularity among his mates, Matt really only wants one thing in life - a Dad.
All his mates have one, so why can't he?
His Mum had fallen pregnant at 14 at a drunken party and never heard from his Dad again.
However, the old adage 'Be careful of what you wish for' comes true.
Matt receives an anonymous card on his 15th birthday. It's not from his Mum, his grandmother or one of his mates. The only clue is handwriting that matches a dozen letters he accidentally finds in his mother's bedroom - threatening letters about him.
Matt tracks down the mysterious writer and discovers he had another grandmother - his paternal grandmother.
And that his Dad is alive. His mother has been lying to him for 15 years.
And her reason for doing so was to protect him from the truth: that his Dad's in jail.
Meanwhile, Matt is facing another dilemma: a crush.
Blue-eyed Kelly Sinclair is gorgeous, rich and friendly. The only problem is her boyfriend, Aaron Blackwell. Captain of an opposing side and Matt's mortal enemy, he regularly beats up Kelly out of spite, jealousy or plain boredom. She never leaves him, though, because 'deep down he's a nice guy.'
'Nice guy' or not, Matt knows Kelly is protecting Aaron from the police and tries to rescue her from a cycle of domestic abuse.
Except this is not as simple as it seems, as he tries to fight his own feelings for Kelly and the violent nature of her boyfriend.
But despite being the team captain, his prowess and the embarrassing popularity among his mates, Matt really only wants one thing in life - a Dad.
All his mates have one, so why can't he?
His Mum had fallen pregnant at 14 at a drunken party and never heard from his Dad again.
However, the old adage 'Be careful of what you wish for' comes true.
Matt receives an anonymous card on his 15th birthday. It's not from his Mum, his grandmother or one of his mates. The only clue is handwriting that matches a dozen letters he accidentally finds in his mother's bedroom - threatening letters about him.
Matt tracks down the mysterious writer and discovers he had another grandmother - his paternal grandmother.
And that his Dad is alive. His mother has been lying to him for 15 years.
And her reason for doing so was to protect him from the truth: that his Dad's in jail.
Meanwhile, Matt is facing another dilemma: a crush.
Blue-eyed Kelly Sinclair is gorgeous, rich and friendly. The only problem is her boyfriend, Aaron Blackwell. Captain of an opposing side and Matt's mortal enemy, he regularly beats up Kelly out of spite, jealousy or plain boredom. She never leaves him, though, because 'deep down he's a nice guy.'
'Nice guy' or not, Matt knows Kelly is protecting Aaron from the police and tries to rescue her from a cycle of domestic abuse.
Except this is not as simple as it seems, as he tries to fight his own feelings for Kelly and the violent nature of her boyfriend.
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Scott Monk
11 books16 followersScott Monk (born 14 June 1974) is an Australian author. Monk was born in Macksville in New South Wales before moving to South Australia to join The Advertiser as a cadet journalist. In 1999 he won South Australia's Young Journalist of the Year Award.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 17, 2015
Matt's Mongrels are up against the prestigious Lions team from Princes Boys College. After a bloody on-field battle, they scrape home by a narrow margin.
So begins the intense rivalry between Matt Cassidy and Aaron Blackwell - the captain of the Lions.
Both teams are headed for the finals and it's shaping up to be a grudge match as they progress through the last heats. It becomes savage when Blackwell and his friends seriously beat up Matt for refusing to throw a game.
And then, as if things aren't bad enough, Matt falls for Blackwell's girl and begins to counsel her to leave the abusive relationship.
Matt nearly loses his captaincy when drugs are found in his school locker. He's been framed, he's sure it's Blackwell behind it. But he won't squeal. There are rules of engagement you just gotta keep.
To make a terrible situation even worse, Matt discovers his mum has been lying to him most of his life. His dad isn't dead: he's in prison. And his dad's mum - his grandmother - is so desperate to get access to him, she's threatening to sue.
Life's getting more and more complicated. Matt's not sure who to trust. Who to believe. Where to turn.
His dream of being spotted by a talent scout and being asked to play for a major Sydney club is turning to ashes. As is the rest of his life.
Should he play fair and lose the grand final against Princes? Or should he play as dirty as they are and lead the Mongrels to a storming victory?
This book is about taking risks, breaking away from easy options, believing in yourself. It's another winner. Monk scores again.
So begins the intense rivalry between Matt Cassidy and Aaron Blackwell - the captain of the Lions.
Both teams are headed for the finals and it's shaping up to be a grudge match as they progress through the last heats. It becomes savage when Blackwell and his friends seriously beat up Matt for refusing to throw a game.
And then, as if things aren't bad enough, Matt falls for Blackwell's girl and begins to counsel her to leave the abusive relationship.
Matt nearly loses his captaincy when drugs are found in his school locker. He's been framed, he's sure it's Blackwell behind it. But he won't squeal. There are rules of engagement you just gotta keep.
To make a terrible situation even worse, Matt discovers his mum has been lying to him most of his life. His dad isn't dead: he's in prison. And his dad's mum - his grandmother - is so desperate to get access to him, she's threatening to sue.
Life's getting more and more complicated. Matt's not sure who to trust. Who to believe. Where to turn.
His dream of being spotted by a talent scout and being asked to play for a major Sydney club is turning to ashes. As is the rest of his life.
Should he play fair and lose the grand final against Princes? Or should he play as dirty as they are and lead the Mongrels to a storming victory?
This book is about taking risks, breaking away from easy options, believing in yourself. It's another winner. Monk scores again.
February 4, 2015
This was the first Scott Monk book I read and I will always cherish it. The cover interested me at first because I love rugby. It was the first novel I read from start to finish back in high school and I finished it in a few days and spent nights staying up late finding it too difficult to put down. I love Scott Monk and I love The Crush. It let's girls get inside boys heads and shows that they really do have feelings
April 25, 2013
Great for year 9 boys
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews