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Wolfe Brothers #1-3
Underdogs
From the bestselling author of THE BOOK THIEF
Before THE BOOK THIEF, Markus Zusak wrote a trilogy of gritty, funny, and at times heart-breaking novels about the Wolfe brothers: THE UNDERDOG, FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE, and GETTING THE GIRL. We're proud to present these novels together in one volume for the first time, and to be introducing American readers to THE UNDERDOG, never before published in the United States. Fans of THE BOOK THIEF won't want to miss reading the novels that launched Markus Zusak's stellar career.
501 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2011
116 people are currently reading
2781 people want to read
About the author
Markus Zusak
36 books40.9k followersMarkus Zusak is the author of five books, including the international bestseller,
The Book Thief
, which spent more than a decade on the New York Times bestseller list, and is translated into more than forty languages – establishing Zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of Australia.
To date, Zusak has held the number one position at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, the New York Times bestseller list, as well as in countries across South America, Europe and Asia.
His books, The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, When Dogs Cry (also titled Getting the Girl ), The Messenger (or I am the Messenger ) and The Book Thief have been awarded numerous honours ranging from literary prizes to readers choice awards to prizes voted on by booksellers.
Zusak’s much-anticipated new novel, Bridge of Clay , is set for release in October 2018 in the USA, the UK and Australia, with foreign translations to follow.
To date, Zusak has held the number one position at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, the New York Times bestseller list, as well as in countries across South America, Europe and Asia.
His books, The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, When Dogs Cry (also titled Getting the Girl ), The Messenger (or I am the Messenger ) and The Book Thief have been awarded numerous honours ranging from literary prizes to readers choice awards to prizes voted on by booksellers.
Zusak’s much-anticipated new novel, Bridge of Clay , is set for release in October 2018 in the USA, the UK and Australia, with foreign translations to follow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
December 31, 2014
Markus Zusak is arguably one of the best contemporary YA authors, as evidenced by his internationally acclaimed bestseller, The Book Thief. It was a pleasure to read this trilogy as it chronicles the first three works of the author before his literary fame.
The Underdog is the shortest story of the three, and while lacking in some aspects it is an intriguing first act of Underdogs trilogy and whets the reader’s appetite for a taste of the resilient Wolfe Family. Fighting Ruben Wolfe delves deeply into the relationship between two brothers and best friends; Zusak's scenes of the urban working class and disaffected youths are painful in their unflinching honesty. It is in the last book of this trilogy however, Getting the Girl, that one is able to see the transition of Zusak from an amateur author into a brilliant one. His style becomes more defined and fluid, he frequently interchanges writing styles from narrative to poetry with great effect, and the desperation of his underdog (Cameron Wolfe) to fight for his survival and glory is palpable.
This was a wonderful read and gives tremendous insight to the man who would go on to write unforgettable characters like Rudy Steiner, Liesel Meminger, and Death itself in The Book Thief.
The Underdog is the shortest story of the three, and while lacking in some aspects it is an intriguing first act of Underdogs trilogy and whets the reader’s appetite for a taste of the resilient Wolfe Family. Fighting Ruben Wolfe delves deeply into the relationship between two brothers and best friends; Zusak's scenes of the urban working class and disaffected youths are painful in their unflinching honesty. It is in the last book of this trilogy however, Getting the Girl, that one is able to see the transition of Zusak from an amateur author into a brilliant one. His style becomes more defined and fluid, he frequently interchanges writing styles from narrative to poetry with great effect, and the desperation of his underdog (Cameron Wolfe) to fight for his survival and glory is palpable.
This was a wonderful read and gives tremendous insight to the man who would go on to write unforgettable characters like Rudy Steiner, Liesel Meminger, and Death itself in The Book Thief.
January 1, 2014
Originally posted on my blog, Read Love
The Book Thief was no fluke. It was the culmination of years of work and growth from a gifted writer. When I began reading the first book in Underdogs, fearful that it would prove to be vastly inferior to The Book Thief (one of my all-time favorite books), I found real and rapid assurance that the hand that authored that masterpiece also wrote these words. In The Underdog, originally published in 1999 (and his first work), Markus Zusak's talent and unique style, and the poetic beauty that shapes The Book Thief, are already present.
It's nice to see all three titles about the Wolfe brothers -- The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl -- bound in one volume. This makes for a great reading experience as the novellas seamlessly connect to form one unified work. And you'll find that the writing is so good you'll gobble up each piece whole. So it's a relief not to have to hunt down another book or wait for another release to read more about Cameron and Ruben. It's also worth noting that this publication is the first time American readers can get their hands on Zusak's first book, The Underdog. (An observant reader might notice that the Australian version of Getting the Girl is titled When Dogs Cry. This is not just repackaging or marketing by the publisher. They bear different titles for good reason: Getting the Girl is actually a rewrite of When Dogs Cry. But I'll talk more about this later.)
Let me tell you what I love about Markus Zusak's writing: His characterization. He writes about real people. These aren't heroic renderings of polished, perfect humans like you'll find on TV. Cameron and Ruben, their family, and the other folks who inhabit their world, are dirty, flawed, messy, and raw. And it's their sloppiness, their imperfections and vulnerabilities, these very human qualities, that give them life. Any time you read a Zusak book, you come away feeling like you know the characters, as if they are real people. And you feel you should be able to look out your window and find them walking in the streets. You know and understand them, and most importantly, you care about them.
I won't tell you too much about the plot. A plot synopsis or book jacket will never entice you to read a Zusak book anyway. His books generally don't have out-of-this-world-I-wonder-what-this-could-be-about premises. Instead, they are about ordinary people living ordinary lives. But there is extraordinary beauty in every day life, and that's what Zusak is so gifted at revealing. When you read about Cameron and Ruben Wolfe, you'll read about Loyalty. Family. Honor. Fear. Pain. Forgiveness. Longing. Hunger. Love. Pride. Fighting. Winning. And by watching Cameron learn to live his life, you'll learn about Living.
I love this book, or rather, these books, more than I could express. In fact, when I read The Underdog, I was busy and got away from it. Not wanting to cheat the book or lose the emotion, I started again at the beginning and became so engrossed that I read the entire thing without pause. The next night, I did the same with Fighting Ruben Wolfe. With each tale, my emotional connection to the characters grew. By the end, I loved Cameron. I had laughed with and at him, ached and cried for him. And I was happy for and proud of him, too. It was difficult to say goodbye when the final story ended.
I didn't need to say an abrupt farewell, though. After reading a note on Markus' Facebook page, I discovered that there was a significant difference in the third book. Markus explains in this note (I wouldn't recommend reading it until after you've read the book) that the American publisher requested a change in When Dogs Cry (which would be renamed Getting the Girl). I was curious as to how the book was altered and wanted to know what Zusak's original vision was. I had to get my hands on a copy of the Aussie version. Luckily, Markus pointed readers to a couple of booksellers, and I was able to download an epub from an online store. (Now, this is the beauty of e-books! No need to wait for (and pay for) international shipping!) Once I had put the ebook on my Nook, I read it in one sitting. Then I re-read the last 100 pages of Getting the Girl. I was surprised at how the same story can be told so differently. As Zusak says, "It was a change that would take it on a different course to arrive at almost an identical ending." However, while both titles end at the same place, with essentially the same final chapter, they are very different. I'm still trying to digest those differences. The emotional experience has changed. I don't want to ruin it, but if you read Underdogs, I would encourage you to read When Dogs Cry. And if you've already read When Dogs Cry, you might want to get a copy of Underdogs or Getting the Girl to compare.
By all means, though, you MUST read Underdogs. You need to find out for yourself why I love Cameron Wolfe. Boy do I! Forget Team Edward or Team Jacob or Team Fill-in-the-blank-boy-heartthrob. I'm Team Cameron. And more than that, I'm Team Wolfe. Pick up this book, meet this family, and experience the beauty of Cameron's heart, soul, and words.
The Book Thief was no fluke. It was the culmination of years of work and growth from a gifted writer. When I began reading the first book in Underdogs, fearful that it would prove to be vastly inferior to The Book Thief (one of my all-time favorite books), I found real and rapid assurance that the hand that authored that masterpiece also wrote these words. In The Underdog, originally published in 1999 (and his first work), Markus Zusak's talent and unique style, and the poetic beauty that shapes The Book Thief, are already present.
It's nice to see all three titles about the Wolfe brothers -- The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl -- bound in one volume. This makes for a great reading experience as the novellas seamlessly connect to form one unified work. And you'll find that the writing is so good you'll gobble up each piece whole. So it's a relief not to have to hunt down another book or wait for another release to read more about Cameron and Ruben. It's also worth noting that this publication is the first time American readers can get their hands on Zusak's first book, The Underdog. (An observant reader might notice that the Australian version of Getting the Girl is titled When Dogs Cry. This is not just repackaging or marketing by the publisher. They bear different titles for good reason: Getting the Girl is actually a rewrite of When Dogs Cry. But I'll talk more about this later.)
Let me tell you what I love about Markus Zusak's writing: His characterization. He writes about real people. These aren't heroic renderings of polished, perfect humans like you'll find on TV. Cameron and Ruben, their family, and the other folks who inhabit their world, are dirty, flawed, messy, and raw. And it's their sloppiness, their imperfections and vulnerabilities, these very human qualities, that give them life. Any time you read a Zusak book, you come away feeling like you know the characters, as if they are real people. And you feel you should be able to look out your window and find them walking in the streets. You know and understand them, and most importantly, you care about them.
I won't tell you too much about the plot. A plot synopsis or book jacket will never entice you to read a Zusak book anyway. His books generally don't have out-of-this-world-I-wonder-what-this-could-be-about premises. Instead, they are about ordinary people living ordinary lives. But there is extraordinary beauty in every day life, and that's what Zusak is so gifted at revealing. When you read about Cameron and Ruben Wolfe, you'll read about Loyalty. Family. Honor. Fear. Pain. Forgiveness. Longing. Hunger. Love. Pride. Fighting. Winning. And by watching Cameron learn to live his life, you'll learn about Living.
I love this book, or rather, these books, more than I could express. In fact, when I read The Underdog, I was busy and got away from it. Not wanting to cheat the book or lose the emotion, I started again at the beginning and became so engrossed that I read the entire thing without pause. The next night, I did the same with Fighting Ruben Wolfe. With each tale, my emotional connection to the characters grew. By the end, I loved Cameron. I had laughed with and at him, ached and cried for him. And I was happy for and proud of him, too. It was difficult to say goodbye when the final story ended.
I didn't need to say an abrupt farewell, though. After reading a note on Markus' Facebook page, I discovered that there was a significant difference in the third book. Markus explains in this note (I wouldn't recommend reading it until after you've read the book) that the American publisher requested a change in When Dogs Cry (which would be renamed Getting the Girl). I was curious as to how the book was altered and wanted to know what Zusak's original vision was. I had to get my hands on a copy of the Aussie version. Luckily, Markus pointed readers to a couple of booksellers, and I was able to download an epub from an online store. (Now, this is the beauty of e-books! No need to wait for (and pay for) international shipping!) Once I had put the ebook on my Nook, I read it in one sitting. Then I re-read the last 100 pages of Getting the Girl. I was surprised at how the same story can be told so differently. As Zusak says, "It was a change that would take it on a different course to arrive at almost an identical ending." However, while both titles end at the same place, with essentially the same final chapter, they are very different. I'm still trying to digest those differences. The emotional experience has changed. I don't want to ruin it, but if you read Underdogs, I would encourage you to read When Dogs Cry. And if you've already read When Dogs Cry, you might want to get a copy of Underdogs or Getting the Girl to compare.
By all means, though, you MUST read Underdogs. You need to find out for yourself why I love Cameron Wolfe. Boy do I! Forget Team Edward or Team Jacob or Team Fill-in-the-blank-boy-heartthrob. I'm Team Cameron. And more than that, I'm Team Wolfe. Pick up this book, meet this family, and experience the beauty of Cameron's heart, soul, and words.
January 18, 2012
Magnificent!
I know THE BOOK THIEF is the one that all kiddies rave about, and don't get me wrong: that is a brilliant book and I love it. But then I discovered GETTING THE GIRL, which led me to find FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE, which brings us here, to the first US publication of THE UNDERDOG, contained in this omnibus of all three Wolfe brothers books. If you don't, from the first chapter of THE UNDERDOG (or any of the other two, really), fall madly in love with the endearingly awkward and yet strangely beautiful Cameron Wolfe, then something is terribly wrong with you. Cameron's voice is so clear, so poetic, and so raw, that I could literally read about him all day, every day. Cameron feels like a friend, an intimate friend, like your brother even. The things that happen in these books are heartbreaking, yet not without humor, and not without (most importantly) hope. So many authors (particularly in YA) don't seem to understand that human beings need that ray of hope to carry on. The characters need it to feel real, and like their lives will continue beyond the pages of the book, and the reader needs it in order to feel good about the book after they close the covers.
These books are proof that Zusak is a born writer. Each book here is separate, and yet each is a part of the same magnificent story. THE UNDERDOG, has a beautiful, clear naivete. FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE is raw and powerful, and GETTING THE GIRL is like a burst of light. Read them separately, read them all at once, I don't care! JUST READ THEM!
And if I ever start a band, our name is going to be Bloody Miffy.
I know THE BOOK THIEF is the one that all kiddies rave about, and don't get me wrong: that is a brilliant book and I love it. But then I discovered GETTING THE GIRL, which led me to find FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE, which brings us here, to the first US publication of THE UNDERDOG, contained in this omnibus of all three Wolfe brothers books. If you don't, from the first chapter of THE UNDERDOG (or any of the other two, really), fall madly in love with the endearingly awkward and yet strangely beautiful Cameron Wolfe, then something is terribly wrong with you. Cameron's voice is so clear, so poetic, and so raw, that I could literally read about him all day, every day. Cameron feels like a friend, an intimate friend, like your brother even. The things that happen in these books are heartbreaking, yet not without humor, and not without (most importantly) hope. So many authors (particularly in YA) don't seem to understand that human beings need that ray of hope to carry on. The characters need it to feel real, and like their lives will continue beyond the pages of the book, and the reader needs it in order to feel good about the book after they close the covers.
These books are proof that Zusak is a born writer. Each book here is separate, and yet each is a part of the same magnificent story. THE UNDERDOG, has a beautiful, clear naivete. FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE is raw and powerful, and GETTING THE GIRL is like a burst of light. Read them separately, read them all at once, I don't care! JUST READ THEM!
And if I ever start a band, our name is going to be Bloody Miffy.
September 24, 2011
Come on, people, this is Zusak we're talking about and while, yes, I love his entirely unique writing style, I adore his beautifully honest stories with their sweet messages even more. This little story doesn't have some huge event or a climactic ending, it doesn't have some whirling plot that keeps us turning pages but will be forgotten not long after the last page is read. It's about life, and the lessons we can glean from it. Sure, Cameron couldn't talk to girls and Ruben and he were pretty useless criminals. Sure Cameron doesn't get the girl and Ruben can't win at soccer; Steve gets hurt and Sarah loses her boyfriend, but the sweet lesson of Cameron's "underdog dream" seemed, to me, to be the whole point. Life is going to keep shoving you down, but you have to keep getting up and fighting back. I found myself just as touched and comforted reading this one as any of his others and I consider myself very lucky to have finally had the pleasure. Plus it had this little gem:
"...you don't learn anything unless you can find the patience to read." page 22
"...you don't learn anything unless you can find the patience to read." page 22
March 12, 2023
Book interrupted.
The story of the Wolfe brothers, Ruben and Cameron, two underdogs living in a poor and forgotten neighborhood, trying to overcome an almost marginal existence. They will fight to live, and they will live to fight. In school, in life, in love, and in the ring. Sometimes together, and sometimes against each other.
A trilogy that goes from lesser to greater, starting with an almost forgettable first, moving to an enjoyable second, and finishing with a very memorable last. This trilogy should be considered as a single book divided into three parts. "Underdog", "Fighting Ruben Wolfe", and "Getting the Girl". Three books that individually lack identity, but together gain personality.
The Wolfe brothers are two complementary and antithetic characters. Cameron and Octavia clearly the more likable ones, but two that would mean Little or nothing without Ruben to contrast them with. A lot of moments and quotes to remember by, like everything Zusak writes. Especially the last two books.
Enjoyable and memorable, although pales greatly in comparison with his other works, like “The Book Thief”, or “The Messenger”. Two unforgettable books of pure perfection that I always carry within my heart, and would love to reread like the first time, specially the last one.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[2011] [501p] [Young Adult] [3.5] [Recommendable] [“He’s fighting the world.” “Can he win?” I asked.] [“Words are my life.”] [“Don’t lose your heart, Rube.” “I’m not trying to lose it, Cam. I’m trying to find it.”] [“Sometimes you get the girl. Sometimes the girl gets you.”] [“Okayness. The funny thing is that this word is not even a real word. It's not in the dictionary. But it's real in me.”] [“Moments is what we are.”]
-----------------------------------------------
★★☆☆☆ 1. "Underdog."
★★★☆☆ 2. "Fighting Ruben Wolfe."
★★★★☆ 3. "Getting the Girl."
-----------------------------------------------
Libro interrumpido.
La historia de los hermanos Ruben y Cameron Wolfe, dos marginados viviendo en un barrio pobre y olvidado del mundo, tratando de sobrellevar una existencia cuasi marginal. Lucharán para vivir, y vivirán para luchar. En la escuela, en la vida, en el amor, y en el cuadrilátero. A veces juntos, y a veces uno contra otro.
Una trilogía que va de menor a mayor, empezando por una primera casi olvidable, pasando a una segunda disfrutable, y terminando con una última muy memorable. Esta trilogía debería considerarse como un único libro dividido en tres partes: “El Marginado”, “Peleando con Ruben Wolfe” y “Consiguiendo la Chica”. Tres libros que individualmente carecen de identidad, pero que juntos adquieren personalidad.
Los hermanos Wolfe son a la vez dos personajes complementarios y antitéticos. Cameron y Octavia claramente los más entrañables, pero que significarían poco y nada sin Ruben como contraste. Muchos momentos y citas para el recuerdo, como todo lo que escribe Zusak. Especialmente los dos últimos libros.
Disfrutable y memorable, aunque palidece mucho en comparación con sus otras obras, como “La ladrona de libros”, o “Cartas cruzadas”. Dos libros inolvidables de pura perfección que llevo siempre en el corazón, y que quisiera volver a leer como la primera vez, especialmente el último.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[2011] [501p] [Joven Adulto] [3.5] [Recomendable] [“Está luchando contra el mundo.” “Puede ganar?” Pregunté.] [“Las palabras son mi vida.”] [“No pierdas tu corazón, Rube.” “No estoy tratando de perderlo, Cam. Estoy tratando de encontrarlo.”] [“A veces consigues la chica. A veces la chica te consigue a vos.”] [“Lo gracioso es que esta palabra no es una palabra real. No está en el diccionario. Pero es real en mí.”] [“Momentos es lo que somos.”]
-----------------------------------------------
The story of the Wolfe brothers, Ruben and Cameron, two underdogs living in a poor and forgotten neighborhood, trying to overcome an almost marginal existence. They will fight to live, and they will live to fight. In school, in life, in love, and in the ring. Sometimes together, and sometimes against each other.
A trilogy that goes from lesser to greater, starting with an almost forgettable first, moving to an enjoyable second, and finishing with a very memorable last. This trilogy should be considered as a single book divided into three parts. "Underdog", "Fighting Ruben Wolfe", and "Getting the Girl". Three books that individually lack identity, but together gain personality.
The Wolfe brothers are two complementary and antithetic characters. Cameron and Octavia clearly the more likable ones, but two that would mean Little or nothing without Ruben to contrast them with. A lot of moments and quotes to remember by, like everything Zusak writes. Especially the last two books.
Enjoyable and memorable, although pales greatly in comparison with his other works, like “The Book Thief”, or “The Messenger”. Two unforgettable books of pure perfection that I always carry within my heart, and would love to reread like the first time, specially the last one.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[2011] [501p] [Young Adult] [3.5] [Recommendable] [“He’s fighting the world.” “Can he win?” I asked.] [“Words are my life.”] [“Don’t lose your heart, Rube.” “I’m not trying to lose it, Cam. I’m trying to find it.”] [“Sometimes you get the girl. Sometimes the girl gets you.”] [“Okayness. The funny thing is that this word is not even a real word. It's not in the dictionary. But it's real in me.”] [“Moments is what we are.”]
-----------------------------------------------
★★☆☆☆ 1. "Underdog."
★★★☆☆ 2. "Fighting Ruben Wolfe."
★★★★☆ 3. "Getting the Girl."
-----------------------------------------------
Libro interrumpido.
La historia de los hermanos Ruben y Cameron Wolfe, dos marginados viviendo en un barrio pobre y olvidado del mundo, tratando de sobrellevar una existencia cuasi marginal. Lucharán para vivir, y vivirán para luchar. En la escuela, en la vida, en el amor, y en el cuadrilátero. A veces juntos, y a veces uno contra otro.
Una trilogía que va de menor a mayor, empezando por una primera casi olvidable, pasando a una segunda disfrutable, y terminando con una última muy memorable. Esta trilogía debería considerarse como un único libro dividido en tres partes: “El Marginado”, “Peleando con Ruben Wolfe” y “Consiguiendo la Chica”. Tres libros que individualmente carecen de identidad, pero que juntos adquieren personalidad.
Los hermanos Wolfe son a la vez dos personajes complementarios y antitéticos. Cameron y Octavia claramente los más entrañables, pero que significarían poco y nada sin Ruben como contraste. Muchos momentos y citas para el recuerdo, como todo lo que escribe Zusak. Especialmente los dos últimos libros.
Disfrutable y memorable, aunque palidece mucho en comparación con sus otras obras, como “La ladrona de libros”, o “Cartas cruzadas”. Dos libros inolvidables de pura perfección que llevo siempre en el corazón, y que quisiera volver a leer como la primera vez, especialmente el último.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[2011] [501p] [Joven Adulto] [3.5] [Recomendable] [“Está luchando contra el mundo.” “Puede ganar?” Pregunté.] [“Las palabras son mi vida.”] [“No pierdas tu corazón, Rube.” “No estoy tratando de perderlo, Cam. Estoy tratando de encontrarlo.”] [“A veces consigues la chica. A veces la chica te consigue a vos.”] [“Lo gracioso es que esta palabra no es una palabra real. No está en el diccionario. Pero es real en mí.”] [“Momentos es lo que somos.”]
-----------------------------------------------
October 22, 2011
I am not afraid. I will admit it. I have a new book crush. His name is Cameron. He is geeky and shy and he has a heart of gold. What is not to love? I will add that in the intro Mr. Zuzak admitted he is Cameron so by default I guess my crush also carries to him (Who are we kidding... I love Markus too. I mean who can resist an accent?)
What is it about Aussie writers? Even in their earlier books that are not as polished (such as this one) they have you laughing one minute and wanting to bawl your eyes out the next? This book is no exception. While I could tell during my read that this was a set of first novels it sure the heck beats a lot of books out there. I think the bottom line with the Aussie writers that I love that they just keep it real. They write about real people and real emotions and make you feel less alone. You feel like these crazy emotions and thoughts have happened to other people in other places and times and that despite the distance across the oceans we are all the same deep down. We are all human.
What is it about Aussie writers? Even in their earlier books that are not as polished (such as this one) they have you laughing one minute and wanting to bawl your eyes out the next? This book is no exception. While I could tell during my read that this was a set of first novels it sure the heck beats a lot of books out there. I think the bottom line with the Aussie writers that I love that they just keep it real. They write about real people and real emotions and make you feel less alone. You feel like these crazy emotions and thoughts have happened to other people in other places and times and that despite the distance across the oceans we are all the same deep down. We are all human.
May 10, 2014
I finished this at last! And over all, I really enjoyed it. The first book of the anthology was a bit rough and uneventful, but I thought the second and third books were a lot better, and I could definitely see Markus Zusak's writing improve over the course of the trilogy. There were times when I thought the style (especially the dialogue) got kind of pretentious/annoying, but for the most part I loved the way they were written. And by the end I felt very attached to the Wolfe family and felt like I knew them all quite well.
I'll probably write a more detailed review of this at some point; also I'm going to review the three books separately, and I'll add a link to those once I'm done reviewing them.
I'll probably write a more detailed review of this at some point; also I'm going to review the three books separately, and I'll add a link to those once I'm done reviewing them.
September 2, 2013
A very short, simple little book but it shows that Marcus Zusak has what it takes to be a really good author and later he proved this with The Book Thief. Underdogs is not really my kind of book but I enjoyed it for what it was.
August 16, 2011
On TCM there’s a segment where Peter O’Toole reflects upon his experiences working with David Lean in Lawrence of Arabia. O’Toole remembers one particular scene where Lean asks him to complete five minutes of mime for the scene where Lawrence tries on, for the first time, that white robe in the desert. Not knowing what to do, O’Toole thinks about it, and then remembers the dagger he has sheathed on his waist. As the film starts rolling, O’Toole uses the dagger as a mirror to look at himself and then looks at his shadow on the sand, lifting his arms up in the air, letting the wind turn the white robe into wings. After the five minutes were up, Lean yells, “Cut!” O’Toole then recalls hearing Lean murmur, “Clever boy….”
While reading Zusak’s prose, coming across his poetic lines and brief moments of personification which play with the mind, evoking poignant imagery that heightens the mood of a particular scene, I kind of feel like David Lean when he murmurs that phrase about Peter O’Toole… “Clever boy.”
I’m glad these three novels are being published together. On their own, they’re certainly fine works, especially Getting the Girl. However, when put together they truly become something special… allowing the reader to see how the structure of the first story The Underdog, with those dream reflections, complements the structure of Getting the Girl, through those sections of free verse, Cam’s “Words,” that are found at the end of each chapter. As well, the growth of Cam as a narrator becomes all the more apparent. Progressing from book to book, Cam’s narrative style becomes tighter and more reflective, truly putting his essence in the words he’s composing instead of just reporting facts and details and describing a few amusing anecdotes. All of those emotions—loyalty, fear, love, anger, happiness, the feeling of being torn apart and that all important feeling of “hunger”—are placed into focus as Cam becomes more introspective, figuring out what really makes up Cameron Wolfe.
As well, reading all three books in tandem provides a better picture of the city, as well as Cam’s family—his mother, father, Steve, Sarah and Ruben—each story giving more details, allowing the reader to piece together all of those little elements, painting a more complete image in the mind’s eye when reading along.
All in all, the picturesque quality of Cameron’s words and the personal nature of his stories create so many lasting visual images that I can’t help but love them.
While reading Zusak’s prose, coming across his poetic lines and brief moments of personification which play with the mind, evoking poignant imagery that heightens the mood of a particular scene, I kind of feel like David Lean when he murmurs that phrase about Peter O’Toole… “Clever boy.”
I’m glad these three novels are being published together. On their own, they’re certainly fine works, especially Getting the Girl. However, when put together they truly become something special… allowing the reader to see how the structure of the first story The Underdog, with those dream reflections, complements the structure of Getting the Girl, through those sections of free verse, Cam’s “Words,” that are found at the end of each chapter. As well, the growth of Cam as a narrator becomes all the more apparent. Progressing from book to book, Cam’s narrative style becomes tighter and more reflective, truly putting his essence in the words he’s composing instead of just reporting facts and details and describing a few amusing anecdotes. All of those emotions—loyalty, fear, love, anger, happiness, the feeling of being torn apart and that all important feeling of “hunger”—are placed into focus as Cam becomes more introspective, figuring out what really makes up Cameron Wolfe.
As well, reading all three books in tandem provides a better picture of the city, as well as Cam’s family—his mother, father, Steve, Sarah and Ruben—each story giving more details, allowing the reader to piece together all of those little elements, painting a more complete image in the mind’s eye when reading along.
All in all, the picturesque quality of Cameron’s words and the personal nature of his stories create so many lasting visual images that I can’t help but love them.
August 18, 2011
The first thing to note is that this is an omnibus of The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl. The second thing to note is that they're Markus Zusak's very first novels. The writing style we all loved in The Book Thief didn't just spring magically from a first effort, and Underdogs is definitely representative of the journey this author's writing grew through.
The biggest issue with The Underdog is that it's plot-less. This leaves it all up to Cameron to capture our interest, which he does, effortlessly. The portrayal of a regular teenaged boy with fears, wishes and hopes has never been truer. The longing he feels for the girls he meets also highlights this unique perspective; the plethora of female POVs may cause us to forget that, yes, boys do wish to be in love too. The fluid prose and realistic relationships still don't make up for the absense of a plot, though, and The Underdog has a wandering feel to it.
Fighting Ruben Wolfe continues Cameron's heartfelt narration with Zusak's (now-)trademark stylish prose. Relationships are redefined and delved into in this second book, and the whole family is drawn and redrawn. The love/hate Cameron and Ruben go through will be identifiable for anyone with a sibling. A gritty picture of life in the Aussie boonies is revealed to the reader through the situations the two closest Wolfe brothers get themselves into. Emotions and boxing intermingle, bringing out the best and worst in each to make for a moving story.
Humanity's favourite subject is the focus of Getting the Girl. Cameron's puppy-like approach to girls has already been introduced in the previous two books, but Ruben's love-em-and-leave-em style is developed, contrasted to his brother's style and made into an excellent source of conflict between the two. Cameron's "unmanly" habit of writing is perhaps a bit cliché, but the relationship he strikes up with the love interest, Octavia, is refreshingly tentative and tender. The cause of the eventual discord between them still eludes me, but it does offer a chance to build up the brotherly relationship again. (It should be noted that the US version of Getting the Girl differs in content from the Australian version -- read more here.)
A common element to all three novels is a specific type of passage to end the chapter (e.g., in The Underdog, it's a dream), adding to the eloquence. Well, all the eloquence a fifteen-year-old can get. It's an eloquence which Markus Zusak clearly grew upon.
The biggest issue with The Underdog is that it's plot-less. This leaves it all up to Cameron to capture our interest, which he does, effortlessly. The portrayal of a regular teenaged boy with fears, wishes and hopes has never been truer. The longing he feels for the girls he meets also highlights this unique perspective; the plethora of female POVs may cause us to forget that, yes, boys do wish to be in love too. The fluid prose and realistic relationships still don't make up for the absense of a plot, though, and The Underdog has a wandering feel to it.
Fighting Ruben Wolfe continues Cameron's heartfelt narration with Zusak's (now-)trademark stylish prose. Relationships are redefined and delved into in this second book, and the whole family is drawn and redrawn. The love/hate Cameron and Ruben go through will be identifiable for anyone with a sibling. A gritty picture of life in the Aussie boonies is revealed to the reader through the situations the two closest Wolfe brothers get themselves into. Emotions and boxing intermingle, bringing out the best and worst in each to make for a moving story.
Humanity's favourite subject is the focus of Getting the Girl. Cameron's puppy-like approach to girls has already been introduced in the previous two books, but Ruben's love-em-and-leave-em style is developed, contrasted to his brother's style and made into an excellent source of conflict between the two. Cameron's "unmanly" habit of writing is perhaps a bit cliché, but the relationship he strikes up with the love interest, Octavia, is refreshingly tentative and tender. The cause of the eventual discord between them still eludes me, but it does offer a chance to build up the brotherly relationship again. (It should be noted that the US version of Getting the Girl differs in content from the Australian version -- read more here.)
A common element to all three novels is a specific type of passage to end the chapter (e.g., in The Underdog, it's a dream), adding to the eloquence. Well, all the eloquence a fifteen-year-old can get. It's an eloquence which Markus Zusak clearly grew upon.
September 29, 2011
G'day, mates. This here's the story of Cameron Wolfe. OK, THREE stories of Cameron Wolfe. Once upon a time they were little known novels by a little known YA writer from Down Under. Title of the books? The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl. Title of the author? Markus Zusak. Reason that sounds familiar? The Book Thief.
And that's the reason Scholastic has put together these three books -- Zusak's sensational success with the Holocaust sleeper, The Book Thief. Some of the books in UNDERDOGS had gone out of print, at least here in the States, but no more. And they logically go together, anyway. All have as a protagonist Cameron Wolfe, a sensitive kid who wants to be a writer. He's tough enough, though, being mentored like he is by middle brother Ruben. Ruben the Fighter. Ruben the Ladies Man. Ruben the brother Cameron will never be though he worships at the Altar of Wannabe.
The writing is fundamental. If you're looking for an intricate plot or some of the technical flourishes seen in The Book Thief (narrated by Death, of all things), forget it. Stylistically, these early works are rather raw. But you can see signs of Zusak coming on, especially his word play and his love for personification.
Book One establishes character. Book Two focuses on fighting. Book Three focuses on love (need? craving?). But in all cases, it's the character card that wins the game. If you don't like Cam, you won't like the book(s). Simple as that. No plot is going to ride over the hill like a cavalry come to rescue the reader. It's all characterization.
Fortunately, Zusak's good at it. I cheered the kid all the way and felt sure, in the end, that he'd succeed some day. I guess Zusak himself is living proof of that. Recommended -- especially for reluctant-reading boys.
And that's the reason Scholastic has put together these three books -- Zusak's sensational success with the Holocaust sleeper, The Book Thief. Some of the books in UNDERDOGS had gone out of print, at least here in the States, but no more. And they logically go together, anyway. All have as a protagonist Cameron Wolfe, a sensitive kid who wants to be a writer. He's tough enough, though, being mentored like he is by middle brother Ruben. Ruben the Fighter. Ruben the Ladies Man. Ruben the brother Cameron will never be though he worships at the Altar of Wannabe.
The writing is fundamental. If you're looking for an intricate plot or some of the technical flourishes seen in The Book Thief (narrated by Death, of all things), forget it. Stylistically, these early works are rather raw. But you can see signs of Zusak coming on, especially his word play and his love for personification.
Book One establishes character. Book Two focuses on fighting. Book Three focuses on love (need? craving?). But in all cases, it's the character card that wins the game. If you don't like Cam, you won't like the book(s). Simple as that. No plot is going to ride over the hill like a cavalry come to rescue the reader. It's all characterization.
Fortunately, Zusak's good at it. I cheered the kid all the way and felt sure, in the end, that he'd succeed some day. I guess Zusak himself is living proof of that. Recommended -- especially for reluctant-reading boys.
February 3, 2019
I read Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl years ago and didn't remember much about them, but I must have liked the first enough to seek out and read the second. I think I appreciated Zusak's style much more this time around having just finished the amazing Bridge of Clay. Underdog was apparently Zusak's first published work, but it was not released in the US when I read the other two. I feel it is the weakest of the three, but I think having it present in this omnibus greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the other two. This was clearly how I was supposed to be introduced to the Wolfe family. The middle story is still my favorite - no surprise as this part focuses almost exclusively on the relationship between Cameron and Ruben
- and their relationship is fascinating and real and touching - highly recommended for anyone who enjoys books about brothers. The last part is not quite as good, but Wolfe Brothers 1-3 taken together is primarily a coming of age story, and Cam does not fully come into his own until the last part. "Getting the Girl" provides a satisfying conclusion to the whole trilogy. All together is definitely the best way to enjoy these early Zusak works, and only a small part of that is due to the awesome cover of this edition. I do love the cover though. I mean, look at it!
- and their relationship is fascinating and real and touching - highly recommended for anyone who enjoys books about brothers. The last part is not quite as good, but Wolfe Brothers 1-3 taken together is primarily a coming of age story, and Cam does not fully come into his own until the last part. "Getting the Girl" provides a satisfying conclusion to the whole trilogy. All together is definitely the best way to enjoy these early Zusak works, and only a small part of that is due to the awesome cover of this edition. I do love the cover though. I mean, look at it!
to-read-someday
August 4, 2012All three books in one volume? YES!!!
October 1, 2011
I don’t know what it is with me and omnibuses… omnibusseses… omnibi? Anything that’s packaged as a complete set, be it made up of novels or comics, tends to attract my attention these days. This particular omnibus appeared to me out of nowhere, and didn’t do anything for me at first. Somewhere between when I started it and when I finished it, though, it crept up on me and became one of my favorite recent reads. It’s a meandering, quirky coming-of-age story that is funny and heartbreaking by turns, and will definitely touch a chord in anybody who has been a teenage boy before.
This is a collection of Markus Zusak’s first published works, before his recent fame for writing The Book Thief. The trilogy, comprised of The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl, is narrated by a teenager named Cameron Wolfe. Cameron is the youngest son in a blue-collar family trying to make ends meet in an Australian suburb, and the books are a mesh of his stream of consciousness and his poetic writings as he attempts to navigate through his daily existence. The first book, The Underdog, introduces the Wolfe family and follows Cam through an aimless period in his young life where he tries to reconcile who he wants to be with the reality of who he is. Fighting Ruben Wolfe offers a bit more of a linear story: feeling like they should somehow contribute to the family, which is facing increasingly dire straits, Cam and his older brother Ruben get mixed up in clandestine, amateur boxing. As they fight, though, Cam realizes that Ruben is fighting for something other than money, and that he might be fighting for something deeper, himself. The third book, Getting the Girl, brings the themes of the first two into a familiar focus: first love and its consequences, which refines and changes everything that Cameron thought he had knew about himself.
At first, I wasn’t so impressed. I have a consciousness that streams just fine on its own, and so I tend to get annoyed by fiction that doesn’t have a point. But the Wolfe family makes an indelible impression, and Cam in particular is intensely likeable in all his quiet nobility and earnest insecurity. Once I got accustomed to the tone of this particular slice of life (which, with all of its Australian mannerisms and references, took me a bit to do), the narrative began to solidify a little, first into an exploration of the fraught relationship between close siblings, and then into a time-tested story of love and frustration. The character development is particularly excellent, and gets more nuanced throughout the books. Fighting Ruben Wolfe’s themes of sibling rivalry and family bonds build directly on Cam’s observations from The Underdogs, while the messy relationships in Getting the Girl spring from the character development in Fighting Ruben Wolfe. Taken as a whole, the story arc is subtle, and brilliant.
Getting the Girl particularly resonated with me. It could have easily been another entry in a somewhat crowded genre: horny teen boy learns a lesson about healthy relationships! As funny and enjoyable as books in that vein can be, they don't usually do too much for me. Perhaps it’s because most of those stories only touch the surface of what it’s like to have an adult’s sex drive but a child’s impulse control, and I don’t harbor any particular nostalgia for the situations that arise from that. But Zusak’s take on this particular form of teen angst struck home. While reading this, I occasionally mused that girlfriends and mothers should give these books a spin to gain some insight into the teen boy’s brain. Cameron struggles with the conflict between his hormones (sex with any female that looks his way, and proving once and for all that he isn’t a loser) and his heart (the little-boy desire of wanting to be nurtured and loved, and the manliness of being perceived as honorable and chivalrous). The results are the same insecurity, shame, and tendency towards self-defeat that almost every boy has to go through while growing up, and find inventive ways to cope with. His sexual fantasies are constant, and he accepts their inevitability. He also can’t help but fall in love at the drop of a hat, desperate to find something noble that gives those fantasies meaning, which makes him even more self-conscious. And best of all, this is not a motif that show up fully formed in the third book, even though the story itself stands alone. Rather, it is the result of Cameron’s character growth up to that point. It is beautifully understated, and cathartic to read, at least for me.
The only complaint I have with this book is the same complaint I have with every omnibus edition I read, and it has to do with the cognitive dissonance of reconciling the chapters of a collection to actual standalone books. As I mentioned, my infatuation with this book was a slow burn, since I was a little nonplussed by The Underdog and didn’t warm up to it until well past the halfway mark. If I were reading the standalone novel instead of this compilation, I don’t think I would have hung around for the following books, and that would have been a terrible loss. But as always, I can’t decide whether that speaks to a failure in the writing, or with me being psyched out by reaching the end of the “book” even though I have hundreds of pages left to read in the volume I’m holding. Suffice it to say that the first book is considerably more freeform and light on actual plot than the other two, so it pays off to stick it out if that bothers you.
But besides that small issue, this is a fantastic little smorgasbord of coming-of-age vignettes. It effortlessly brought me back to my own struggles with my self-worth as a young man, and it has the mark of a truly great read: the more I ruminate on it after finishing it, the more I love it. I would particularly recommend this to teen guys, who I suspect would not object to a little stealth introspection hidden amongst a tale of girls, fighting, and making fun of stupid little yappy dogs.
This is a collection of Markus Zusak’s first published works, before his recent fame for writing The Book Thief. The trilogy, comprised of The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl, is narrated by a teenager named Cameron Wolfe. Cameron is the youngest son in a blue-collar family trying to make ends meet in an Australian suburb, and the books are a mesh of his stream of consciousness and his poetic writings as he attempts to navigate through his daily existence. The first book, The Underdog, introduces the Wolfe family and follows Cam through an aimless period in his young life where he tries to reconcile who he wants to be with the reality of who he is. Fighting Ruben Wolfe offers a bit more of a linear story: feeling like they should somehow contribute to the family, which is facing increasingly dire straits, Cam and his older brother Ruben get mixed up in clandestine, amateur boxing. As they fight, though, Cam realizes that Ruben is fighting for something other than money, and that he might be fighting for something deeper, himself. The third book, Getting the Girl, brings the themes of the first two into a familiar focus: first love and its consequences, which refines and changes everything that Cameron thought he had knew about himself.
At first, I wasn’t so impressed. I have a consciousness that streams just fine on its own, and so I tend to get annoyed by fiction that doesn’t have a point. But the Wolfe family makes an indelible impression, and Cam in particular is intensely likeable in all his quiet nobility and earnest insecurity. Once I got accustomed to the tone of this particular slice of life (which, with all of its Australian mannerisms and references, took me a bit to do), the narrative began to solidify a little, first into an exploration of the fraught relationship between close siblings, and then into a time-tested story of love and frustration. The character development is particularly excellent, and gets more nuanced throughout the books. Fighting Ruben Wolfe’s themes of sibling rivalry and family bonds build directly on Cam’s observations from The Underdogs, while the messy relationships in Getting the Girl spring from the character development in Fighting Ruben Wolfe. Taken as a whole, the story arc is subtle, and brilliant.
Getting the Girl particularly resonated with me. It could have easily been another entry in a somewhat crowded genre: horny teen boy learns a lesson about healthy relationships! As funny and enjoyable as books in that vein can be, they don't usually do too much for me. Perhaps it’s because most of those stories only touch the surface of what it’s like to have an adult’s sex drive but a child’s impulse control, and I don’t harbor any particular nostalgia for the situations that arise from that. But Zusak’s take on this particular form of teen angst struck home. While reading this, I occasionally mused that girlfriends and mothers should give these books a spin to gain some insight into the teen boy’s brain. Cameron struggles with the conflict between his hormones (sex with any female that looks his way, and proving once and for all that he isn’t a loser) and his heart (the little-boy desire of wanting to be nurtured and loved, and the manliness of being perceived as honorable and chivalrous). The results are the same insecurity, shame, and tendency towards self-defeat that almost every boy has to go through while growing up, and find inventive ways to cope with. His sexual fantasies are constant, and he accepts their inevitability. He also can’t help but fall in love at the drop of a hat, desperate to find something noble that gives those fantasies meaning, which makes him even more self-conscious. And best of all, this is not a motif that show up fully formed in the third book, even though the story itself stands alone. Rather, it is the result of Cameron’s character growth up to that point. It is beautifully understated, and cathartic to read, at least for me.
The only complaint I have with this book is the same complaint I have with every omnibus edition I read, and it has to do with the cognitive dissonance of reconciling the chapters of a collection to actual standalone books. As I mentioned, my infatuation with this book was a slow burn, since I was a little nonplussed by The Underdog and didn’t warm up to it until well past the halfway mark. If I were reading the standalone novel instead of this compilation, I don’t think I would have hung around for the following books, and that would have been a terrible loss. But as always, I can’t decide whether that speaks to a failure in the writing, or with me being psyched out by reaching the end of the “book” even though I have hundreds of pages left to read in the volume I’m holding. Suffice it to say that the first book is considerably more freeform and light on actual plot than the other two, so it pays off to stick it out if that bothers you.
But besides that small issue, this is a fantastic little smorgasbord of coming-of-age vignettes. It effortlessly brought me back to my own struggles with my self-worth as a young man, and it has the mark of a truly great read: the more I ruminate on it after finishing it, the more I love it. I would particularly recommend this to teen guys, who I suspect would not object to a little stealth introspection hidden amongst a tale of girls, fighting, and making fun of stupid little yappy dogs.
February 9, 2018
To tell you the truth I was a bit skeptical about this book at first, but as it was by Markus Zusak I wanted to read it.
This book is compiled of three short stories about Cameron Wolfe.
I loved how at the end of each chapter is either a dream, a conversation with his brother or WORDS (as Cameron calls them)
This book was amazing, and about battle of Cameron Wolfes every day teenage life. The last book I found was the best, and it made me cry to see it all come together.
This book is compiled of three short stories about Cameron Wolfe.
I loved how at the end of each chapter is either a dream, a conversation with his brother or WORDS (as Cameron calls them)
This book was amazing, and about battle of Cameron Wolfes every day teenage life. The last book I found was the best, and it made me cry to see it all come together.
February 3, 2021
I really liked the trilogy. The Underdog moved a little slow, but it was needed to layer in the characters. Fighting Ruben Wolfe and getting the girl were fantastic.
I would like to now go stand in front of his house and wait for his next book to come out.
I would like to now go stand in front of his house and wait for his next book to come out.
March 8, 2018
Nice to see an evolution of a good writer. The first book of the bunch is really rough but by the end of Getting the Girl you can see Zusak carving a niche with his unique sense of prose.
December 21, 2024
only Zusak can somehow make standing outside someone's house not that creepy
March 21, 2017
I liked this book very much. In the beginning I was very skeptical because the plot seemed to be going nowhere but as it got going, it progressed greatly. This story is just one of those feel good books, in the end the little man gets what he wants and triumphs over the big man. My favorite character in the book is Reuben, he is the one everyone likes but still doesn't show it in his day to day life. He is also nice to his brother Cameron, even though Cameron is not as good of a boxer as he. This book is also very relatable in that it covers topics very common today such as poverty, crime, drugs and alcohol, girls and most of all hope. My favorite part is when Reuben and Cameron finally get what they both deserve and want and come to terms with each other. I highly recommend the book to people who love boxing and any other of the author's books.
August 31, 2024
2.5 took way too long.. great story but so hard to stay focused and keep my interest. can definitely tell this is his first work
January 29, 2012
Underdogs is an omnibus volume of Markus Zusak;s three novels about the Wolfe brothers, Ruben and young narrator Cameron.
The first novel - The Underdog - is noticeably the weakest of the three, and was in fact Zusak's first novel. There's really little to say about it, except that so little happens in it that I am a bit surprised that it was even published. It basically sets the stage for the two novels that follow.
But it is followed by Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and that is a horse of another (extremely vivid) color. Ruben and Cameron, perennial losers and screw-ups, are recruited by an organizer of illegal boxing matches, and suddenly Ruben is no longer a loser like his little brother. As Ruben's successful bouts mount up, Cameron 's worries increase - his brother is turning into someone he can hardly recognize. The denouement made my eyes burn and my throat hurt - and I'm not sure if it was the emotional punches or the physical ones that affected me most.
Getting The Girl, the third novel, is a satisfying closer to the series. I loved the intensely loyal, love-lorn Cameron, and I loved the relationship between the two boys.
So bottom line: read The Underdog if you like a nice long setup before you get to the meat of the story; otherwise, skip straight to Fighting Ruben Wolfe and go on from there. You won't be sorry you did.
The first novel - The Underdog - is noticeably the weakest of the three, and was in fact Zusak's first novel. There's really little to say about it, except that so little happens in it that I am a bit surprised that it was even published. It basically sets the stage for the two novels that follow.
But it is followed by Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and that is a horse of another (extremely vivid) color. Ruben and Cameron, perennial losers and screw-ups, are recruited by an organizer of illegal boxing matches, and suddenly Ruben is no longer a loser like his little brother. As Ruben's successful bouts mount up, Cameron 's worries increase - his brother is turning into someone he can hardly recognize. The denouement made my eyes burn and my throat hurt - and I'm not sure if it was the emotional punches or the physical ones that affected me most.
Getting The Girl, the third novel, is a satisfying closer to the series. I loved the intensely loyal, love-lorn Cameron, and I loved the relationship between the two boys.
So bottom line: read The Underdog if you like a nice long setup before you get to the meat of the story; otherwise, skip straight to Fighting Ruben Wolfe and go on from there. You won't be sorry you did.
May 1, 2014
Would want to be a fighter? This book is a story about two brothers that always get into fights. They're not that close with their other siblings but themselves. One day a street boxing promotor heard about Ruben Wolfe beating up a guy in school for calling his sister inappropriate names. When the promotor talked with Ruben to get him to fight, Ruben also told him about his brother Cameron Wolfe that he should fight too. Ruben starts taking this seriously because he wants to be a fighter even though Cameron is pretty scared. Read more to find out if they will make a name for themselves.
I think this book is amazing. I thank my teacher for recommending this book for me. My favorite character is Ruben because he always puts his family first and will fight for them, like when he beat a guy for calling his sister inappropriate names. This book is great because it really kind of changed the way I think of things it inspired me to be always on my family's side and even take a bullet for them if had to. I suggest this book to kids in junior high because it has a little inappropriate stuff in it.
I think this book is amazing. I thank my teacher for recommending this book for me. My favorite character is Ruben because he always puts his family first and will fight for them, like when he beat a guy for calling his sister inappropriate names. This book is great because it really kind of changed the way I think of things it inspired me to be always on my family's side and even take a bullet for them if had to. I suggest this book to kids in junior high because it has a little inappropriate stuff in it.
February 22, 2012
I'm going to do a three part review for this book, because I read all three novels at different times. The first one is for Underdog: Out of all of the Markus Zusak books I've read, this one was my least favorite. I felt like it didn't have as much direction as his other books, and there was no "wow" factor for me. But, nevertheless, this is Markus Zusak we're talking about, and he is a beautiful writer, so I enjoyed reading it.
Fighting Ruben Wolfe: I had the awesome experience of reading this the same week that I actually met Markus Zusak, so it made the book even better! I am definitely not into boxing, but just because of how beautifully Markus Zusak writes, I was completely enthralled with this book. It was another great one by Markus Zusak.
Getting the Girl: I have one word to describe Markus Zusak's writing: beautiful. This book started out a little too dirty for me, and I was going to not finish reading it, but then it turned into a beautiful story with beautiful characters and beautiful moments. I loved it.
Fighting Ruben Wolfe: I had the awesome experience of reading this the same week that I actually met Markus Zusak, so it made the book even better! I am definitely not into boxing, but just because of how beautifully Markus Zusak writes, I was completely enthralled with this book. It was another great one by Markus Zusak.
Getting the Girl: I have one word to describe Markus Zusak's writing: beautiful. This book started out a little too dirty for me, and I was going to not finish reading it, but then it turned into a beautiful story with beautiful characters and beautiful moments. I loved it.
December 7, 2014
I could relate to this story right from the beginning. Though the main character is 15, the things he is going through right now sort of relate to any average teenager (love, relationships etc). I really like how the story talks about the main character (Cameron)'s brother and how they are still having fun together even after they have fights and arguments (that was mostly what related to me). This book is good for people who want to know what it is like going through a teen's life but it goes into some negative relationships and how it is like to have the worst things happened to you and watching Cameron go through these struggles was really interesting. So overall it was a good book and I recommend it to people who who want to know what teen relationships are between siblings parents and others. :)
September 25, 2015
Это история про :
миссис Вульф
мистера Вульфа
Стива
Сару
Руба
Кэмерона
Октавию
Пушка
про поиски себя
про голод
про дружбу
про семью
про любовь
— Ты можешь утонуть во мне, когда захочешь, Кэмерон, — сказала она и, как тогда, прикоснулась губами к моим губам и плавно потекла через мой рот. Листки оставались у меня в руках, прижатые к ее бедрам, и я чувствовал, как, нависнув сверху, она вдыхает меня.
Мистера Зусака и его героев не возможно не любить. Пишет Зусак красиво, просто и трогательно. Книгу можно разобрать на цитатки. Они местами мрачные, но такие душевные. Могу с уверенностью могу сказать что "Братья Вульф" попадут в мою десятку лучших книг 2015 :)
миссис Вульф
мистера Вульфа
Стива
Сару
Руба
Кэмерона
Октавию
Пушка
про поиски себя
про голод
про дружбу
про семью
про любовь
— Ты можешь утонуть во мне, когда захочешь, Кэмерон, — сказала она и, как тогда, прикоснулась губами к моим губам и плавно потекла через мой рот. Листки оставались у меня в руках, прижатые к ее бедрам, и я чувствовал, как, нависнув сверху, она вдыхает меня.
Мистера Зусака и его героев не возможно не любить. Пишет Зусак красиво, просто и трогательно. Книгу можно разобрать на цитатки. Они местами мрачные, но такие душевные. Могу с уверенностью могу сказать что "Братья Вульф" попадут в мою десятку лучших книг 2015 :)
June 9, 2015
Simply put, Zusak is a genius at writing and that was the main force to keep me reading. Out of the three books I liked the third one the most. However, the more I read the more meaningful and different the book became. My actual rating is 3.5. If you're a fan of the book thief and/or the messenger then you may want more Zusak in his beginning years. Warning: Peculiar, but worthy
November 1, 2011
All three Wolfe novels. The last, Getting the Girl is by far my favorite, though the tidiness of the resolution bothered me just a little. But I was invested enough in Cameron at that point to not really mind. [Oct. 2011]
March 31, 2016
I could have counted this as three separate books, as they were written. However, to really feel the full effect, this needs to read as one continuous novel. Zusak speaks of layers from life experiences and every one of his books shows pieces of his layers. Audible version really good.
May 22, 2018
read in 2012 - during australian phase - better review to come (add three book ratings)
5 stars
5 stars
August 12, 2017
I'd read Fighting Ruben Wolfe before, so when I saw this collection of all three books (that one being the middle one) I grabbed it. It was a slow read for me for some reason, but I did enjoy it. I got to meet Cameron Wolfe for the first time (again) in the first story, "The Underdog," and really get to know him. And I got to see him really come into his own in the third story, "Getting the Girl." Born into a working class family, Cameron has a lot of hopes of making something of himself, but is way too realistic to think that any of them will pan out. He really wants to be his own man. He really wants to be a good guy. And he really wants to get a girl. There are a lot of ups and downs for poor Cameron. But he definitely grows stronger by the end of the collection. And at the end of each chapter, he shares his thoughts with the reader in the form of writing--they're sort of prose poems. They're raw and symbolic and beautiful thoughts.
Cameron is actually a pretty deep thinker, and I'd expect nothing less from Markus Zusak. As I was reading, I marked a few pages with quotes I especially liked:
I had to decide what I was going to do, and what I was going to be.
I was standing there, waiting for someone to do something, till I realized the person I was waiting for was myself.
When I look in the mirror, I see the color of awkwardness and uncertainty and longing.
If there was an expert amongst these pages, they'd say that I just want to belong somewhere.
But the truth is, I'm not sure I want to belong.
Not like everyone else.
That's what scares me.
The thing is, I think we're all perverts. All men. All women.
What is it about the sound of clapping hands?
It's only skin against slapping skin, so why can it make a tide turn in you? Why can it break on top of you and lift you up at the same time?
Maybe it's because it's one of the most noble things humans do with their hands.
I mean, think about it.
Humans make fists with their hands.
They use them to fight, to steal things, to hurt each other.
When people clap, it's one of the few times they stand together and applaud other people.
I can move on now, because here, at this moment, no matter how fragile it might be, I can feel okayness growing inside me.
The funny thing is that okayness is not a real word. It's not in the dictionary.
But it's in me.
"Don't worry, brother. I don't need you to tell Sal that I'm not a loser.... I don't need you to say it to me either. I know what I am. I know what I see. Maybe one day I'll tell you a little more about me, but for now, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'm nowhere near what I'm going to be..."
Cameron is actually a pretty deep thinker, and I'd expect nothing less from Markus Zusak. As I was reading, I marked a few pages with quotes I especially liked:
I had to decide what I was going to do, and what I was going to be.
I was standing there, waiting for someone to do something, till I realized the person I was waiting for was myself.
When I look in the mirror, I see the color of awkwardness and uncertainty and longing.
If there was an expert amongst these pages, they'd say that I just want to belong somewhere.
But the truth is, I'm not sure I want to belong.
Not like everyone else.
That's what scares me.
The thing is, I think we're all perverts. All men. All women.
What is it about the sound of clapping hands?
It's only skin against slapping skin, so why can it make a tide turn in you? Why can it break on top of you and lift you up at the same time?
Maybe it's because it's one of the most noble things humans do with their hands.
I mean, think about it.
Humans make fists with their hands.
They use them to fight, to steal things, to hurt each other.
When people clap, it's one of the few times they stand together and applaud other people.
I can move on now, because here, at this moment, no matter how fragile it might be, I can feel okayness growing inside me.
The funny thing is that okayness is not a real word. It's not in the dictionary.
But it's in me.
"Don't worry, brother. I don't need you to tell Sal that I'm not a loser.... I don't need you to say it to me either. I know what I am. I know what I see. Maybe one day I'll tell you a little more about me, but for now, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'm nowhere near what I'm going to be..."
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