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One Shot Away, A Wrestling Story
It’s senior year and the last season for Diggy, Jimmy, and Trevor on the Molly Pitcher High School varsity wrestling team. And they all want the same thing: to win.
But Diggy’s got to compete with his older brother’s legacy, and now he’s in danger of losing his spot to newcomer Trevor. Jimmy’s got the cops after him, and a girlfriend who looks down on him. Then Diggy does the unthinkable—he betrays a teammate. Can the team forgive him? And can he forgive himself?
Experience the pressure with Diggy, Jimmy, and Trevor as the stakes rise and loyalties splinter. They’ve got just one shot to make weight and get onto the mat. But pinning your opponent is about more than just winning.
But Diggy’s got to compete with his older brother’s legacy, and now he’s in danger of losing his spot to newcomer Trevor. Jimmy’s got the cops after him, and a girlfriend who looks down on him. Then Diggy does the unthinkable—he betrays a teammate. Can the team forgive him? And can he forgive himself?
Experience the pressure with Diggy, Jimmy, and Trevor as the stakes rise and loyalties splinter. They’ve got just one shot to make weight and get onto the mat. But pinning your opponent is about more than just winning.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2012
20 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
T. Glen Coughlin
6 books18 followersCoughlin's first novel, The Hero of New York, was finished when he was 23 years old and explored the dark side of the middle class suburban dream. New York Times reviewer, Dennis Smith (1986) wrote, "The Hero of New York is solid tough-guy entertainment, and Mr. Coughlin's descriptions can be hilarious."
Coughlin’s second novel, Steady Eddie, is a coming-of-age story set in Long Island, New York in 1977. George Needham wrote "Coughlin neatly captures a person's essence in the simplest gesture, but each character is drawn with sympathy and wit, even when the characters themselves lack these attributes. A fine novel."
Harper Collins published Coughlin's first YA novel, ONE SHOT AWAY, A Wrestling Story, which received critical acclaim and has been included in high school reading lists across the country.
Coughlin's fourth novel, and second YA story, I LOST TO A GIRL, A Wrestling Story, was published in October 2020. It is based on a wrestler he met, who over came adversity and many challenges. The novel takes an in-depth look at a girl wrestling on a boy's high school wrestling team. It also offers a philosophy of wrestling techniques and moves on the mat.
Coughlin has published short stories in Doubletake Magazine, the South Dakota Review[3] and DUCTS, an on-line magazine. His story, "The Grief Committee" was analyzed in The Politics of Mourning: Grief Management in a Cross-Cultural Fiction.[5] Coughlin"s poetry has appeared in The Dead Mule – School of Southern Literature and Hanging Moss Journal.
Coughlin’s second novel, Steady Eddie, is a coming-of-age story set in Long Island, New York in 1977. George Needham wrote "Coughlin neatly captures a person's essence in the simplest gesture, but each character is drawn with sympathy and wit, even when the characters themselves lack these attributes. A fine novel."
Harper Collins published Coughlin's first YA novel, ONE SHOT AWAY, A Wrestling Story, which received critical acclaim and has been included in high school reading lists across the country.
Coughlin's fourth novel, and second YA story, I LOST TO A GIRL, A Wrestling Story, was published in October 2020. It is based on a wrestler he met, who over came adversity and many challenges. The novel takes an in-depth look at a girl wrestling on a boy's high school wrestling team. It also offers a philosophy of wrestling techniques and moves on the mat.
Coughlin has published short stories in Doubletake Magazine, the South Dakota Review[3] and DUCTS, an on-line magazine. His story, "The Grief Committee" was analyzed in The Politics of Mourning: Grief Management in a Cross-Cultural Fiction.[5] Coughlin"s poetry has appeared in The Dead Mule – School of Southern Literature and Hanging Moss Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 8, 2012
I'm bumping this one up to a five. The more I look back on it, the more I realize how much more I loved this than I originally thought. I really, really want my own brother. Revised review to come.
--
Kaede is both shocked and happy. So...I might look a bit like this...maybe:
But like, just a teensy bit less cuter.
A wrestling story. Never in my life did I think I'd enjoy a wrestling story. I'm a girl. And a fairly girly one at that. But One Shot Away was so much more than just a wrestling story. One Shot Away is about coming to terms with who you are, what you want to do, and how one thing can affect so many different people in so many different ways.
If there was one thing I didn't expect from this novel was how deep it went. I was all like, "Damn...that's deep yo." Okay...maybe there wasn't a 'yo' in my train of thoughts. But you know...it adds some good effect...right?
But anyway.
So where was I? Oh, yes. The deepness. Mhm hmm. So with Coughlin's first teen novel, we explore the lives of three main male (score one for Mr. Coughlin!) characters: Diggy, Trevor, and Jimmy. With Diggy, we watch and see as he struggles to make a name for himself in the wrestling world that won't be overshadowed by his older brother's legacy. With Trevor, we watch as he tries to come to terms with his father's sudden death and Harry London's unwanted presense. With Jimmy, the boy has the cops after him for something his dad did. The cops. And his father's messed up, like Diggy's is.
The book is told in third perspective, rotating between the three boys' life. Coughlin's writing style is very readable, and his descriptions are great. However, sometimes the writing doesn't flow and starts getting a bit choppy. I don't think this necessarily has anything to do with Coughlin, it's just the fact that third perspective limits how much emotion and feelings you can get across for your characters. I didn't mind that too much...it just seemed oddly out of place.
And oh my God was some of the families messed up. We have Randy, who refuses to let his sons Diggy and Nick call him dad. He likes to be referred to as "Coach Randy." And plus, he's nothing more than just a fat-ass prick of a jerk who told his wife to shut up. Now that definitely bothered me. No self-respecting female should ever have to take that from her husband. But Diggy's mom did. She just shrugged it off like it was nothing. Me? I would've punched the lazy jerk's head off.
Oh and, for the record, Harry London isn't much better. Maybe richer, yes. But not much better in other places.
Jimmy and his mother recently lost an important figure in their life. For Jimmy, he lost a dad. For his mother, she lost a husband. And smart little Harry London decides to swoop in at that time, offering Jimmy's mother a chance to work at a suspicious motel (it's quality should be around a 2-Star hotel. *shivers*) he recently opened up. It's just wrong to set your eyes on a prey that recently experienced such a lost. Just...no.
And before I forget, did I mention there was a Twilight reference in this book? Twilight and wrestling, huh? Two things I never thought would ever belong in the same sentence. The world is a strange place...
I don't know whether to be amused or horrified. I really don't.
I'm going with amused.
One Shot Away has elements that is sure to appeal to male readers as much as female ones. There were times when the wrestling talk had me going, "Wait, whaa?", but I throughly enjoyed the writing and the characters' stories. This isn't a book you'll want to miss, especially for fans of wrestling.
--
Kaede is both shocked and happy. So...I might look a bit like this...maybe:
But like, just a teensy bit less cuter.
A wrestling story. Never in my life did I think I'd enjoy a wrestling story. I'm a girl. And a fairly girly one at that. But One Shot Away was so much more than just a wrestling story. One Shot Away is about coming to terms with who you are, what you want to do, and how one thing can affect so many different people in so many different ways.
If there was one thing I didn't expect from this novel was how deep it went. I was all like, "Damn...that's deep yo." Okay...maybe there wasn't a 'yo' in my train of thoughts. But you know...it adds some good effect...right?
But anyway.
So where was I? Oh, yes. The deepness. Mhm hmm. So with Coughlin's first teen novel, we explore the lives of three main male (score one for Mr. Coughlin!) characters: Diggy, Trevor, and Jimmy. With Diggy, we watch and see as he struggles to make a name for himself in the wrestling world that won't be overshadowed by his older brother's legacy. With Trevor, we watch as he tries to come to terms with his father's sudden death and Harry London's unwanted presense. With Jimmy, the boy has the cops after him for something his dad did. The cops. And his father's messed up, like Diggy's is.
The book is told in third perspective, rotating between the three boys' life. Coughlin's writing style is very readable, and his descriptions are great. However, sometimes the writing doesn't flow and starts getting a bit choppy. I don't think this necessarily has anything to do with Coughlin, it's just the fact that third perspective limits how much emotion and feelings you can get across for your characters. I didn't mind that too much...it just seemed oddly out of place.
And oh my God was some of the families messed up. We have Randy, who refuses to let his sons Diggy and Nick call him dad. He likes to be referred to as "Coach Randy." And plus, he's nothing more than just a fat-ass prick of a jerk who told his wife to shut up. Now that definitely bothered me. No self-respecting female should ever have to take that from her husband. But Diggy's mom did. She just shrugged it off like it was nothing. Me? I would've punched the lazy jerk's head off.
Oh and, for the record, Harry London isn't much better. Maybe richer, yes. But not much better in other places.
Jimmy and his mother recently lost an important figure in their life. For Jimmy, he lost a dad. For his mother, she lost a husband. And smart little Harry London decides to swoop in at that time, offering Jimmy's mother a chance to work at a suspicious motel (it's quality should be around a 2-Star hotel. *shivers*) he recently opened up. It's just wrong to set your eyes on a prey that recently experienced such a lost. Just...no.
And before I forget, did I mention there was a Twilight reference in this book? Twilight and wrestling, huh? Two things I never thought would ever belong in the same sentence. The world is a strange place...
I don't know whether to be amused or horrified. I really don't.
I'm going with amused.
One Shot Away has elements that is sure to appeal to male readers as much as female ones. There were times when the wrestling talk had me going, "Wait, whaa?", but I throughly enjoyed the writing and the characters' stories. This isn't a book you'll want to miss, especially for fans of wrestling.
December 19, 2012
Amidst all the fantasy and paranormal books it is always great to settle down and find a book focused around sports. Being an athlete and sports enthusiast myself, I appreciate a well-written book on the topic. One Shot Away is an interesting story about three wrestlers and their journey through their senior year as wrestlers. This being his third novel, T. Glen Coughlin does a pretty good job of combining the lives of the three main characters to create an intriguing storyline.
For example, one great aspect of the book, is that there is not a true protagonist in the novel. Ultimately, none of the main characters are perfect. All three characters have their flaws and inner demons, which leads to exciting drama throughout the novel. At a school and community living off of wrestling, three seniors begin their final season. Trevor Crow, the guy nobody saw coming, has a lot to prove. Not only to himself but also to his deceased father. Next, Jimmy O’shea whose high expectations and criminal like father, often cause trouble and turmoil in his life.
Finally, Diggy Masters, the guy who seems to have it all, but whose life is a little more on the dark side. Coughlin does a really good job of making his characters seem realistic. In addition in no shape or form are they perfect. The style and voice that Coughlin uses embodies a very modern and urban personality. They storyline is truly clever along with being a little edgy. Overall I think this piece did a fantastic job of delving into the hardships and drama of a teenage athlete. As one one myself, I can relate to the struggles of playing a sport. I definitely recommend this book to any guy that loves sports.
For example, one great aspect of the book, is that there is not a true protagonist in the novel. Ultimately, none of the main characters are perfect. All three characters have their flaws and inner demons, which leads to exciting drama throughout the novel. At a school and community living off of wrestling, three seniors begin their final season. Trevor Crow, the guy nobody saw coming, has a lot to prove. Not only to himself but also to his deceased father. Next, Jimmy O’shea whose high expectations and criminal like father, often cause trouble and turmoil in his life.
Finally, Diggy Masters, the guy who seems to have it all, but whose life is a little more on the dark side. Coughlin does a really good job of making his characters seem realistic. In addition in no shape or form are they perfect. The style and voice that Coughlin uses embodies a very modern and urban personality. They storyline is truly clever along with being a little edgy. Overall I think this piece did a fantastic job of delving into the hardships and drama of a teenage athlete. As one one myself, I can relate to the struggles of playing a sport. I definitely recommend this book to any guy that loves sports.
May 15, 2018
Very intreaging book.
May 8, 2017
One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin is about the senior year of 3 wrestler at Molly Pitcher High School. Diggy Masters, Jimmy O'Shea, and Trevor Crow all have the same goal of winning a state title and getting their name on the infamous Wall of State Champions. Diggy Masters is the younger brother of a former state champion wrestler from Molly Pitcher. He believes it is his responsibility to win a state title just like his brother did. Jimmy O’Shea is a close friend of Diggy’s and is also on the wrestling team. Jimmy is one of the best wrestlers on the team, but one night he takes a trip with his dad who steals a load of lumber and results in detectives investigating both of them for the crime. Trevor Crow was a junior varsity nobody his junior year, but he changed that throughout the offseason by getting stronger and better at wrestling.
Diggy’s main conflict occurs when Trevor takes his spot in a wrestle off. Diggy has interesting character traits and has a very selfish mindset. He decides to take Trevor’s puppy one night when he sees the dog on a leash outside the motel where Trevor stays. This sets a major conflict in the story between these two characters and Trevor is heartbroken when he discovers his dog missing. Trevor soon receives a call from Diggy’s brother Nick, who is back in town for the week, informing him that Diggy has Trevor’s puppy. Trevor and Jimmy soon ride over to Diggy’s house, and once there, Trevor unleashes on Diggy and lets all of his anger out on him. However, Diggy pushes Trevor through the pool cover and Trevor almost dies from drowning in the small pool. Diggy soon quits the team and realizes that the only reason he wrestled was for his dad and not for himself.
Jimmy has a separate conflict between himself and the police. He is constantly looking out for when they will come to ask him questions. At the same time he is trying to keep a good image for his girlfriend who comes from a family with a high status. Soon the detectives catch up to Jimmy and his father and after a few weeks of investigating come back to the O’Shea’s house and arrest Jimmy’s father. Jimmy then puts the responsibility on himself to supply for his mother and younger brother by finding a job as a cashier to pay the bills while his dad is in jail. However, my favorite character in this book was Trevor because he showed that even though he wasn’t the greatest in the sport his junior year he can still take Diggy’s spot just through hard work and determination over the off season.
I can relate to all of the characters in the story through wrestling. I know how Diggy felt when he lost his spot because I have experienced losing in a match before. These characters represent the different views of life as well as of wrestling.
I enjoyed this book because I could relate to the characters. My favorite part of the book is when Trevor takes Diggy’s spot in the wrestle off because it shows how hard work can beat talent when the person with talent doesn't work hard. My least favorite part of the book is when the puppy is ran over by the truck because I thought it was dead at first, however, the puppy did live after getting hit by the truck. The author portrayed each character’s emotions and perspectives really well, but he could have added a better ending to the story.
I recommend this book to any wrestler that is looking for a good book to read. It is very interesting and all wrestlers can relate to the book in some way. It was a great read and I hope that many other people will read this book and see the determination it takes to be a wrestler.
Diggy’s main conflict occurs when Trevor takes his spot in a wrestle off. Diggy has interesting character traits and has a very selfish mindset. He decides to take Trevor’s puppy one night when he sees the dog on a leash outside the motel where Trevor stays. This sets a major conflict in the story between these two characters and Trevor is heartbroken when he discovers his dog missing. Trevor soon receives a call from Diggy’s brother Nick, who is back in town for the week, informing him that Diggy has Trevor’s puppy. Trevor and Jimmy soon ride over to Diggy’s house, and once there, Trevor unleashes on Diggy and lets all of his anger out on him. However, Diggy pushes Trevor through the pool cover and Trevor almost dies from drowning in the small pool. Diggy soon quits the team and realizes that the only reason he wrestled was for his dad and not for himself.
Jimmy has a separate conflict between himself and the police. He is constantly looking out for when they will come to ask him questions. At the same time he is trying to keep a good image for his girlfriend who comes from a family with a high status. Soon the detectives catch up to Jimmy and his father and after a few weeks of investigating come back to the O’Shea’s house and arrest Jimmy’s father. Jimmy then puts the responsibility on himself to supply for his mother and younger brother by finding a job as a cashier to pay the bills while his dad is in jail. However, my favorite character in this book was Trevor because he showed that even though he wasn’t the greatest in the sport his junior year he can still take Diggy’s spot just through hard work and determination over the off season.
I can relate to all of the characters in the story through wrestling. I know how Diggy felt when he lost his spot because I have experienced losing in a match before. These characters represent the different views of life as well as of wrestling.
I enjoyed this book because I could relate to the characters. My favorite part of the book is when Trevor takes Diggy’s spot in the wrestle off because it shows how hard work can beat talent when the person with talent doesn't work hard. My least favorite part of the book is when the puppy is ran over by the truck because I thought it was dead at first, however, the puppy did live after getting hit by the truck. The author portrayed each character’s emotions and perspectives really well, but he could have added a better ending to the story.
I recommend this book to any wrestler that is looking for a good book to read. It is very interesting and all wrestlers can relate to the book in some way. It was a great read and I hope that many other people will read this book and see the determination it takes to be a wrestler.
April 24, 2013
Wrestling is not a big deal where I live. I know my school has a wrestling team, but I could not name one person on it or the results of any match. Really the only time I've heard about our wresting team was during the ringworm epidemic of 2011. The point in telling you this is that I enjoyed this "wresting novel" even though I know nothing about the sport.
Admittedly, it did take me a while to get into this book. The book is told by a third person limited narrator, which each chapter centering around one of the team members. I took me a couple of chapters to really get a feel for the characters. But once I understood the dynamics of the relationships, I was really interested in seeing what happened next. While I was a bit bored at the beginning because I could not visualize the wrestling, by the end on the novel my heart was racing during the matches. The author does a great job at pulling in readers who, like me, know nothing about the sport.
Before I referred to this novel as a "wrestling book" and I put those quotations in for a reason. Although this novel does center around the sport, it is much more about team dynamics and internal motivation. Anyone who has been on a team for anything or has pushed him or herself to reach a certain goal can relate to the struggles faced by the characters of this novel. That is what I love about contemporary novels, the troubles and struggles faced by the characters are almost always universally applicable.
I mentioned that the novel is told from the third person point of view of multiple characters, each chapter featuring a different member of the varsity wrestling team. What I did not yet mention is that the story is further broken down into parts. The earlier parts feature the sport much more than the later, which I found intriguing. By the later parts, many of the characters find themselves in life changing situations. This novel is far from squeaky clean: there are detectives, federal and misdemeanor crimes, a prostitute, and plenty of explicit wordings. It is real and it is gritty.
I personally love novels that feature male POV's, and Coughlin did it well. Perhaps it is because unlike many YA novels featuring male POV's, the author actually is a male... Regardless, if you are like me and love to read male POV's, this is a good one to check out. One Shot Away is not just about wrestling. It is about teenage struggles and pressures while on the threshold of adulthood - something very real and difficult and not to be dismissed.
Admittedly, it did take me a while to get into this book. The book is told by a third person limited narrator, which each chapter centering around one of the team members. I took me a couple of chapters to really get a feel for the characters. But once I understood the dynamics of the relationships, I was really interested in seeing what happened next. While I was a bit bored at the beginning because I could not visualize the wrestling, by the end on the novel my heart was racing during the matches. The author does a great job at pulling in readers who, like me, know nothing about the sport.
Before I referred to this novel as a "wrestling book" and I put those quotations in for a reason. Although this novel does center around the sport, it is much more about team dynamics and internal motivation. Anyone who has been on a team for anything or has pushed him or herself to reach a certain goal can relate to the struggles faced by the characters of this novel. That is what I love about contemporary novels, the troubles and struggles faced by the characters are almost always universally applicable.
I mentioned that the novel is told from the third person point of view of multiple characters, each chapter featuring a different member of the varsity wrestling team. What I did not yet mention is that the story is further broken down into parts. The earlier parts feature the sport much more than the later, which I found intriguing. By the later parts, many of the characters find themselves in life changing situations. This novel is far from squeaky clean: there are detectives, federal and misdemeanor crimes, a prostitute, and plenty of explicit wordings. It is real and it is gritty.
I personally love novels that feature male POV's, and Coughlin did it well. Perhaps it is because unlike many YA novels featuring male POV's, the author actually is a male... Regardless, if you are like me and love to read male POV's, this is a good one to check out. One Shot Away is not just about wrestling. It is about teenage struggles and pressures while on the threshold of adulthood - something very real and difficult and not to be dismissed.
April 17, 2013
This was my first wrestling story and I really enjoyed it! Actually, this year, I've learned a lot about wrestling, as a couple of my students are wrestlers on our high school team (I recommended this book to them, btw. They were pretty darned excited that there was a book about their sport out there! Of course, there are some others but they're few and far between.).
ONE SHOT AWAY follows the trials and tribulations (of which there are many!) of three young wrestlers, Diggy, Jimmy and Trevor. They fiercely competitive, driven to succeed not just by themselves but by those around them. Their home lives are not perfect (uhg, there was one parent I wanted to smack upside the head multiple times!) and that makes their school and competitive lives more difficult.
I loved the reality of this story. The school I teach in is pretty rough and our students have difficulties and pressures outside the classroom which really effect their performance and self-esteem (actually, this goes for all students, no matter where they go to school and what background they might have). So, I particularly appreciated these flawed characters who did the best with what they had. More books like this, please!
ONE SHOT AWAY follows the trials and tribulations (of which there are many!) of three young wrestlers, Diggy, Jimmy and Trevor. They fiercely competitive, driven to succeed not just by themselves but by those around them. Their home lives are not perfect (uhg, there was one parent I wanted to smack upside the head multiple times!) and that makes their school and competitive lives more difficult.
I loved the reality of this story. The school I teach in is pretty rough and our students have difficulties and pressures outside the classroom which really effect their performance and self-esteem (actually, this goes for all students, no matter where they go to school and what background they might have). So, I particularly appreciated these flawed characters who did the best with what they had. More books like this, please!
November 18, 2014
I read One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin. This realistic fiction book was about 3 high school wrestlers during their senior year. As they fight for spots and to make weight you see the lengths people will go to to win. The book also shows the pressures of high school and how mean some people can be. There is a lot of pressure in being and staying the best and you see how the teens cope with this and various family and personal problems. Jimmy lost one time last year and predicted to have a great season, that is if he doesn't get arrested first. Diggy is a lifetime star wrestler but is living in his older brothers shadow. The only thing his father cares about is wrestling. And Trevor tries to take his spot. What will Diggy do to defend his spot? Trevor won't give up without a fight either.
One of the lessons the characters learn throughout the season is to always think about the consequences of your actions. I wish all of the wrestlers could have a happy ending but based on their decisions that is not possible. In the end i think all the characters got what they deserved or worked for. I really recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars. I think any teen would like this book not just wrestlers.
One of the lessons the characters learn throughout the season is to always think about the consequences of your actions. I wish all of the wrestlers could have a happy ending but based on their decisions that is not possible. In the end i think all the characters got what they deserved or worked for. I really recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars. I think any teen would like this book not just wrestlers.
April 29, 2013
One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin was a really unique read. It is the perfect blend and will appeal to both guys and gals. There is so much of real life in One Shot Away - T. Glen Coughlin really captured what high school is like and did so in a unique way, through the eyes of wrestlers.
I loved T. Glen Coughlin's choice of wrestling - It is the perfect sport to illustrate the fact that guys have some of the same issue girls do, but they get highlighted much less. Watching the boys struggle with eating - it's the decision to feel good or make weight for a sport. Each of the boys in One Shot Away had such a compelling story and while they weren't pretty, they were important to tell.
The one place where One Shot Away fell short for me was with the characters. They didn't differ enough in my mind and I had issues telling them apart. I never really remember which story went with which character.
One Shot Away was very different from most books I read, yet books with a sports premise are always of interest to me. T. Glen Coughlin is a talented writer who chose a very unique, but important to tell.
I loved T. Glen Coughlin's choice of wrestling - It is the perfect sport to illustrate the fact that guys have some of the same issue girls do, but they get highlighted much less. Watching the boys struggle with eating - it's the decision to feel good or make weight for a sport. Each of the boys in One Shot Away had such a compelling story and while they weren't pretty, they were important to tell.
The one place where One Shot Away fell short for me was with the characters. They didn't differ enough in my mind and I had issues telling them apart. I never really remember which story went with which character.
One Shot Away was very different from most books I read, yet books with a sports premise are always of interest to me. T. Glen Coughlin is a talented writer who chose a very unique, but important to tell.
October 13, 2015
I really like this book because it is about wrestling and has a lot of problems that people have everyday. Trevor's dad died and he is ready to join his dad all because of what another teammate did. Diggy is faced with the problem of someone taking his spot on the team and being as good as his brother. Jimmy is the team captain but is afraid he will lose everything because of something he and his father did. the book is really interesting and makes you want to keep reading but in the beginning it is a little confusing because it follows different characters. I recommend this book to someone who likes wrestling, or likes reading about teen issues.
November 4, 2014
I really liked this book. The characters Diggy, Trevor, and Jimmy are just like me and my friends. They live in a small town and all they want to do is wrestle. The most exciting part in the book is when Diggy and Trevor get in a fight. You don't know if Trevor is going to live. The fight and wrestling ruin their friendships with eachother and the team.
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April 26, 20173 guys on a wrestling team compete for there spot on the varsity roster. Diggy is in the shadow of his older brother who was the star wrestler on the team. But when he is pressed to fight for his spot on the roster with a new comer named Trevor. After he gets in trouble with the cops and turns on he's team he has to earn his way back.
May 6, 2013
Wrestling book. Wasn't sure I'd like it, but it wasn't bad. Had to read it for ROYAL. I think some of the high school guys will enjoy reading it. Talks about three different guys, their problems, their dreams, their hunger for wrestling title.
January 22, 2016
Very good High School sports book. There were a lot of characters and a lot of angles to read. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of, but it comes together in the end.
March 21, 2022
The book that I've read is called One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin. I really enjoyed this book because of the suspense it has between all of the characters and the ways they react to their problems. I didn’t really enjoy the ending of the book, it just ends without giving you a real explanation on what happened. What this book has that I enjoyed the most was the storyline, the ways it changes and keeps it going is what I liked the most about it, it really just leaves you there thinking about what happened at that moment. Another reason that I liked this book was because of the development of the characters. Each of the characters started off on a good start to their senior year in high school, then things just started to go downhill after that and just kept getting worse and worse.
The book starts off with one of the main characters called Trevor, he is on the wrestling team trying to get the 152 pound spot against another main character, a senior called Diggy. Diggy’s brother was a state champ wrestler that has had a season ending injury and was being called a failure by their dad. Next is the final character called Jimmy. Jimmy was sleeping and was suddenly woken up by his dad and said “Jimmy I need your help with some important business.” Jimmy’s dad drives them to a wood yard and Jimmy thought they were just going to go and get some wood for his dad's work, but instead of buying the wood, Jimmy’s dad stole the wood and throughout the book Jimmy had the police trying to investigate them and figuring out what happened that night.
Toward the middle and end of the book the characters start to face consequences for their actions. Diggy loses his wrestle off and has his dad all over his back and that makes him crack. The next time Diggy went out with one of his friends, they stopped at Trevor's house to pull a so-called prank with his friend that wants no part in it. Trevor left his dog outside that night when it was cold, so Diggy pulled him to their apartment and saw the dog sitting outside and Diggy said “if I had a puppy, he wouldn’t be chained in the cold.” Diggy walks to the dog and unhooks its chain from the pole and puts him in his car. Gino asks “what are you doing?” And Diggy said “keep him for a while.” That’s when everything starts going downhill for Diggy. Diggys’s brother Nick finds out that Diggy took Trevor’s dog, he instantly tells Diggy to bring him back. Diggy refused to do so and later Nick called Trevor anonymously that Diggy found his dog. Once Trevor goes to Diggy’s house and sees him hanging out with his dog Trevor starts to feel hatred and gets mad at Diggy and starts to attack him. They both fell into Diggy’s pool, Diggy makes it out, but Trevor is still almost drowning and is sent to the hospital.
The suspense that the book had made me feel concerned about the characters and what would happen to them while the chapters would change and leave it at that until the next one about them. This book was really entertaining to read and I would read it a second time if I could.
The book starts off with one of the main characters called Trevor, he is on the wrestling team trying to get the 152 pound spot against another main character, a senior called Diggy. Diggy’s brother was a state champ wrestler that has had a season ending injury and was being called a failure by their dad. Next is the final character called Jimmy. Jimmy was sleeping and was suddenly woken up by his dad and said “Jimmy I need your help with some important business.” Jimmy’s dad drives them to a wood yard and Jimmy thought they were just going to go and get some wood for his dad's work, but instead of buying the wood, Jimmy’s dad stole the wood and throughout the book Jimmy had the police trying to investigate them and figuring out what happened that night.
Toward the middle and end of the book the characters start to face consequences for their actions. Diggy loses his wrestle off and has his dad all over his back and that makes him crack. The next time Diggy went out with one of his friends, they stopped at Trevor's house to pull a so-called prank with his friend that wants no part in it. Trevor left his dog outside that night when it was cold, so Diggy pulled him to their apartment and saw the dog sitting outside and Diggy said “if I had a puppy, he wouldn’t be chained in the cold.” Diggy walks to the dog and unhooks its chain from the pole and puts him in his car. Gino asks “what are you doing?” And Diggy said “keep him for a while.” That’s when everything starts going downhill for Diggy. Diggys’s brother Nick finds out that Diggy took Trevor’s dog, he instantly tells Diggy to bring him back. Diggy refused to do so and later Nick called Trevor anonymously that Diggy found his dog. Once Trevor goes to Diggy’s house and sees him hanging out with his dog Trevor starts to feel hatred and gets mad at Diggy and starts to attack him. They both fell into Diggy’s pool, Diggy makes it out, but Trevor is still almost drowning and is sent to the hospital.
The suspense that the book had made me feel concerned about the characters and what would happen to them while the chapters would change and leave it at that until the next one about them. This book was really entertaining to read and I would read it a second time if I could.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2022
My book is One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin. The story takes place in Molly Pitcher highschool. The school is in a town in New Jersey. The book has 3 main characters. Their names are Diggity, Jimmy, and Trevor. I found this book in my school library to use for a project. Usually, I wouldn't say I like reading but I really enjoyed this book. I was looking for a book to read and I went to the sports section and found the book. I picked this book because I am a wrestler and there usually are no books about wrestling.
The story started off during the off-season. It started from Diggity's point of view and he was overweight for his division. He needed to cut ten pounds to be at his weight division. His family is having trouble meeting rent for their building and his dad asks him to go help steal lumber so they can get money. They run into a police officer on the way to get rid of the wood. They make up a story and they get away with it for the moment. Then the story goes to the first wrestle-off. Diggity has to wrestle the new wrestler, Trevor. Trevor beats Diggity in a close match but, Trevor purposely injured him. Diggity has to wrestle two divisions up now. He lost his first match because he didn’t weigh enough to beat the guy. So because Diggity was talking crap about Trevor, Trevor took Diggity’s dog. Diggity was looking for his dog and one of Trevor's friends told Diggity that he had taken the dog. He went to Trevor's house and knocked him out. He fell into the pool. He was knocked unconscious so Trevor's friend got him out and his mom called the police. Diggity didn't get into trouble. Then the next day the police picked him up from school to question him about his dad. He didn't say anything to them. His dad was arrested and went to jail. At the end of the book, he went to Atlantic city college for wrestling.
The book ended well. They solved all the problems including the dad stealing. I wish they would have told us rather or not he wrestled in college or if he just did school. The most important quote in the book is “if you are down 10 points you can still get a win”. This shows that no matter what is happening you could always come back and win.
I really liked this book because it was almost fully accurate about wrestling. Not many people would like this book except for wrestlers. It tells about the struggles and benefits of wrestling. It is a really good book and i’d rate it a 5 star.
The story started off during the off-season. It started from Diggity's point of view and he was overweight for his division. He needed to cut ten pounds to be at his weight division. His family is having trouble meeting rent for their building and his dad asks him to go help steal lumber so they can get money. They run into a police officer on the way to get rid of the wood. They make up a story and they get away with it for the moment. Then the story goes to the first wrestle-off. Diggity has to wrestle the new wrestler, Trevor. Trevor beats Diggity in a close match but, Trevor purposely injured him. Diggity has to wrestle two divisions up now. He lost his first match because he didn’t weigh enough to beat the guy. So because Diggity was talking crap about Trevor, Trevor took Diggity’s dog. Diggity was looking for his dog and one of Trevor's friends told Diggity that he had taken the dog. He went to Trevor's house and knocked him out. He fell into the pool. He was knocked unconscious so Trevor's friend got him out and his mom called the police. Diggity didn't get into trouble. Then the next day the police picked him up from school to question him about his dad. He didn't say anything to them. His dad was arrested and went to jail. At the end of the book, he went to Atlantic city college for wrestling.
The book ended well. They solved all the problems including the dad stealing. I wish they would have told us rather or not he wrestled in college or if he just did school. The most important quote in the book is “if you are down 10 points you can still get a win”. This shows that no matter what is happening you could always come back and win.
I really liked this book because it was almost fully accurate about wrestling. Not many people would like this book except for wrestlers. It tells about the struggles and benefits of wrestling. It is a really good book and i’d rate it a 5 star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2024
This is One shot away by Glen Coughlin. It is about two wrestlers Diggy and Trevor fighting for a spot on the wrestling mat.
The conflict is Trevor and Diggy fighting for a spot at the 165 pound weight class. Also Trevor getting his stolen and what he ends up doing to get his revenge. Trevor is a very humble person and a good kid. Diggy on the other hand is a very rude and bad kid. Diggy likes to party and get with a lot of girls. Trevor tried getting with a girl and Diggy took her right out of Trevor's hands. Diggy turned his back on his team and went on another path then his team.
In conclusion trevor lives from almost drowning. And Diggy faces his consequences after all the things hes been threw. My favorite quote is how the book ends when the whole teams is at the end of the year party and Diggy says “got any of those 5 pound oranges” then Greco the coach squeeze’s his arm and thee book end’s.
In my opinion this was one of the best books I have read in a while. It was very intense and kind of fit me. Because it was a wrestling book and I really like wrestling. If you also wrestle and are a little bit more mature then you would like this book.
The conflict is Trevor and Diggy fighting for a spot at the 165 pound weight class. Also Trevor getting his stolen and what he ends up doing to get his revenge. Trevor is a very humble person and a good kid. Diggy on the other hand is a very rude and bad kid. Diggy likes to party and get with a lot of girls. Trevor tried getting with a girl and Diggy took her right out of Trevor's hands. Diggy turned his back on his team and went on another path then his team.
In conclusion trevor lives from almost drowning. And Diggy faces his consequences after all the things hes been threw. My favorite quote is how the book ends when the whole teams is at the end of the year party and Diggy says “got any of those 5 pound oranges” then Greco the coach squeeze’s his arm and thee book end’s.
In my opinion this was one of the best books I have read in a while. It was very intense and kind of fit me. Because it was a wrestling book and I really like wrestling. If you also wrestle and are a little bit more mature then you would like this book.
May 4, 2018
I can connect with this book because the main characters were wrestlers and I am a wrestler. Jimmy, the varsity captain was going through his senior year of high school and was hoping to win the districts tournament. I can relate to this because last year was my final year of club wrestling. I was hoping to make it down to the state tournament. Instead of just making it, I became an Illinois state finalist, and was actually the first finalist in our clubs history.
I really enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, it was worth reading. I liked the action and suspense that came up during the book. There were times where I couldn’t stop reading because I was so interested in finding out what would happen next. I enjoyed the action because the story talked about the wrestlers matches and instead of saying if they won or lost, it went into detail about what happened during the matches. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to others.
I really enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, it was worth reading. I liked the action and suspense that came up during the book. There were times where I couldn’t stop reading because I was so interested in finding out what would happen next. I enjoyed the action because the story talked about the wrestlers matches and instead of saying if they won or lost, it went into detail about what happened during the matches. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to others.
July 1, 2024
There’s a lot I could say about this book. It was trying to be a lot of things at once. There’s moments where we see it has a really good idea of masculinity and coming of age in masculinity, the three main characters all have separate issues based around their father’s, they all are obsessed with getting laid and they’re all angry. I didn’t like though that at times it got melodramatic. I would say I’m surprised this actually hasn’t been optioned yet. Kind of perfectly made for a Netflix one season show or a CW teen drama type like a “one tree hill” or “all American” Maybe I’ll option it one day. I just kinda didn’t like how Diggy went from complicated young man to complete super villain and in the end we’re just supposed to kinda hate him it felt like.
January 22, 2019
One Shot Away was a great wrestling story with a lot of action from the beginning to the end of the novel. One Shot Away is fulfilling to those audiences who love wrestling. I liked how the main character's life describes a lot to some people in our society. I recommend this novel to people who like intense and funny books. I will warn you this book has some strong language and should be read by someone around thirteen and older.
April 20, 2013
I’ve been really interested in reading One Shot Away after finding out that it was a story about wrestling. Even though I am a teenage girl I have done a bit of wrestling and while I didn’t exactly adore the training and repetitive movements that all aim at the pin—I did adore reading One Shot Away by author T. Glen Coughlin. It was a fun read that I got into almost instantly. Wrestling does sound like more of a boy sport and a novel that focuses on it should sound like a novel that is meant more for guys and manly men than female readers. Stop! Right there! I don’t care what gender you are, if you can get your hands on One Shot Away… you better get it.
One Shot Away tells the story of three different high school seniors who are all on the same wrestling team at Molly Pitcher High School. Out of these three boys they all want the same thing: To be the best wrestler on the team, get the pin and get a scholarship a.k.a. a one way ticket out of their town. This wrestling season looks like the toughest one yet for main characters Diggy, Jimmy and Trevor. Diggy wants to keep his spot at the 152 weight class and wrestle his way to the top, but it looks like his teammate Trevor is threatening everything he’s ever worked for. Diggy is struggling to make weight, his complicated relationship with Jane “the Stain” is getting him trouble he doesn’t need and Trevor seems to be doing everything in his power to take his weight class. How is it that just one year was all it took to make Trevor the varsity wrestler he is this year?
Jimmy is trying to keep the cops of off his back after his father digs them both into a never-ending hole. Now the police are hassling Jimmy about what really happened the night that he and his father were both driving away with stolen supplies. Jimmy’s girlfriend Roxanne is looking down on him over the whole situation and all he wants is to stay on the team, get his scholarship and leave before his situation gets messier than it already is. Then there’s Trevor a half Native-American boy whose father just died and whose mother seems to already be moving on. Wrestling was something that Trevor and his father used to bond over, but without his father Trevor is on his own and wants to use the varsity team to prove something to himself and to everybody in school that bugs him about his heritage. But with Diggy constantly bothering him and trying to bully Trevor out of the 152 weight class, Trevor’s finding that being on the team is harder than he anticipated.
Then Diggy does the unthinkable and betrays Trevor—and the team – nobody believes that they can trust Diggy after what he did. Even Diggy knows that after what he’s done everything he has ever worked for could be down the drain.
I definitely think that One Shot Away is a novel that I will always have a soft spot for in my heart. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how there should be more YA novels about combative sports and One Shot Away filled the spot in my mind that has been aching for a good novel about sports that I enjoy. Despite being about Wrestling, One Shot Away is also the story about the struggles that these three boys have to go through and the physical hardships that come with having to make weight and perform efficiently. There are also the mentality problems that come from overbearing coaches and people who expect you to be able to get out there and win like it’s no problem at all. Honestly I could write paragraphs among paragraphs about the three main characters in the novel, they’ve left me with so much to think about and enjoy.
What I really enjoyed about the writing in this novel is how it’s in the third person and written in the present tense. Now, I don’t see that too often when I read, so it was very refreshing form the common third person, past tense scene. What makes the present tense so awesome for this novel is when it comes to the matches. It made every single scene feel so realistic and made the emotions and thoughts that the characters experience very believable. Every action describing takedown attempts, grips and techniques was seriously awesome. As somebody who knew what every word meant, I found it really easy to imagine the wrestling matches. To somebody who doesn’t know very much about wrestling, you may find it really hard to imagine, just a note.
As the novel progressed there were a lot of moments where I would have to sit there wide-eyed. I mean honestly, from the start of the novel to the end things do spiral out of control for almost every character. They go through things that either make or break them and I do have to admit that by the time the novel concluded I sat there and felt a bit sad. After all the emotions that were conjured up inside of me, after finally getting to experience everything with the cast of characters, I couldn’t believe the novel’s ending. How final it felt, but also how nicely it summed up the entire novel. The more I think about it, I really did love this book.
I’d recommend One Shot Away to fans of sports novels but mainly to readers who enjoy wrestling. Readers that are looking for a novel that will pull them in and never let go will probably love One Shot Away, definitely one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It’ll be hard for anybody and any novel to top One Shot Away after reading it.
One Shot Away tells the story of three different high school seniors who are all on the same wrestling team at Molly Pitcher High School. Out of these three boys they all want the same thing: To be the best wrestler on the team, get the pin and get a scholarship a.k.a. a one way ticket out of their town. This wrestling season looks like the toughest one yet for main characters Diggy, Jimmy and Trevor. Diggy wants to keep his spot at the 152 weight class and wrestle his way to the top, but it looks like his teammate Trevor is threatening everything he’s ever worked for. Diggy is struggling to make weight, his complicated relationship with Jane “the Stain” is getting him trouble he doesn’t need and Trevor seems to be doing everything in his power to take his weight class. How is it that just one year was all it took to make Trevor the varsity wrestler he is this year?
Jimmy is trying to keep the cops of off his back after his father digs them both into a never-ending hole. Now the police are hassling Jimmy about what really happened the night that he and his father were both driving away with stolen supplies. Jimmy’s girlfriend Roxanne is looking down on him over the whole situation and all he wants is to stay on the team, get his scholarship and leave before his situation gets messier than it already is. Then there’s Trevor a half Native-American boy whose father just died and whose mother seems to already be moving on. Wrestling was something that Trevor and his father used to bond over, but without his father Trevor is on his own and wants to use the varsity team to prove something to himself and to everybody in school that bugs him about his heritage. But with Diggy constantly bothering him and trying to bully Trevor out of the 152 weight class, Trevor’s finding that being on the team is harder than he anticipated.
Then Diggy does the unthinkable and betrays Trevor—and the team – nobody believes that they can trust Diggy after what he did. Even Diggy knows that after what he’s done everything he has ever worked for could be down the drain.
I definitely think that One Shot Away is a novel that I will always have a soft spot for in my heart. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how there should be more YA novels about combative sports and One Shot Away filled the spot in my mind that has been aching for a good novel about sports that I enjoy. Despite being about Wrestling, One Shot Away is also the story about the struggles that these three boys have to go through and the physical hardships that come with having to make weight and perform efficiently. There are also the mentality problems that come from overbearing coaches and people who expect you to be able to get out there and win like it’s no problem at all. Honestly I could write paragraphs among paragraphs about the three main characters in the novel, they’ve left me with so much to think about and enjoy.
What I really enjoyed about the writing in this novel is how it’s in the third person and written in the present tense. Now, I don’t see that too often when I read, so it was very refreshing form the common third person, past tense scene. What makes the present tense so awesome for this novel is when it comes to the matches. It made every single scene feel so realistic and made the emotions and thoughts that the characters experience very believable. Every action describing takedown attempts, grips and techniques was seriously awesome. As somebody who knew what every word meant, I found it really easy to imagine the wrestling matches. To somebody who doesn’t know very much about wrestling, you may find it really hard to imagine, just a note.
As the novel progressed there were a lot of moments where I would have to sit there wide-eyed. I mean honestly, from the start of the novel to the end things do spiral out of control for almost every character. They go through things that either make or break them and I do have to admit that by the time the novel concluded I sat there and felt a bit sad. After all the emotions that were conjured up inside of me, after finally getting to experience everything with the cast of characters, I couldn’t believe the novel’s ending. How final it felt, but also how nicely it summed up the entire novel. The more I think about it, I really did love this book.
I’d recommend One Shot Away to fans of sports novels but mainly to readers who enjoy wrestling. Readers that are looking for a novel that will pull them in and never let go will probably love One Shot Away, definitely one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It’ll be hard for anybody and any novel to top One Shot Away after reading it.
February 26, 2025
the stories behind the sport
Sports isn’t about the score. It’s about the athletes and how they turn what they learn in practice into becoming better humans.
One Shot Away gets this from the first page and keeps it at the heart of a fast paced engaging story.
Definitely worth the read.
Sports isn’t about the score. It’s about the athletes and how they turn what they learn in practice into becoming better humans.
One Shot Away gets this from the first page and keeps it at the heart of a fast paced engaging story.
Definitely worth the read.
April 13, 2022
I liked this book because it is a fun fast book and is just a great overall book. my favorite character is Diggy who is a young high school kid with an abusive father and his way to winning state.
February 21, 2022
This book was fun. I enjoyed reading about how he wrestled. it was interesting.
Read
March 14, 2025I liked it. It never got boring; it was continuously getting better as it continued. I recommend it to anyone who likes wrestling or sports.
October 30, 2018
this is a very good book for kids that like wrestling and book with lots of problems
April 8, 2013
Being a big sports fan, I love seeing sports themed YA books. I think there needs to be more. T. Glen Coughlin's One Shot Away isn't a book I'd normally find myself picking up, even though I just said I love sports. Reading a story about 3 different senior guys who all wrestle didn't sound appealing at first, but there was something about this story that made me want to read it. What a great story it was. T. Glen Coughlin wrote a fabulous contemporary for guys! Each of his unique characters, and the over all storyline was engaging, realistic, and hard to put down.
There's something to be said about a well written sport story. No I didn't wrestle, but one of my brothers did and I had friends who did in high school, so I at least understood the wrestling part of this story. But, this story isn't just about wrestling. It was far more than just three different guys all trying to content for a spot on the varsity squad. T. Glen Coughlin introduces readers to three not so perfect characters who are doing the best they can given the situations they are in. Well, I can say two of them are, and one of them takes a bit of a darker turner than the rest of them. One of the things I liked about this story is how relatable these guys are. They're not perfect, but flawed, well written characters who connect with their reader on some level.
I liked how this story is told from three different points of views, Trevor, Jimmy, and Diggy. Each character's voice is distinct. They each come from different back grounds, and each teen is dealing with something different, yet all three have a common ground in wrestling. I liked that this story wasn't a sugar coated story. The struggles the teens are dealing with are very realistic. Trevor Crowe, the underdog no one saw coming has the most to prove. He has struggled in the past with being made fun because of his mixed heritage embraces his Native American heritage, learns to move on from his father's death, and the new changes his mother's new job brings them. Jimmy, the wrestling star is dealing with his father's mistakes and trying to stay afloat while his father's criminal activity is catching up to him and his family. Then there's Diggy, who is struggling to live in the shadow of his brother's wrestling records, an abusive father, and trying to make a name for himself, but in the process makes some stupid choices that cost him more than he thought.
It wasn't hard for me to cheer on some of these characters. Though I will say I was a bit shocked over the stupidity and bad decision that cost one of the characters. While I didn't relate to what each of the teens where dealing with, I did relate to that stage in life they're in, where they're on the verge of freedom from school, trying to figure out what to make of their life after graduation, trying to make the best of the situation they're in, and figuring out where they stand in the world. Aside from Trevor, Jimmy and Diggy, is a great cast of supporting characters who all play a huge role in their lives. From their parents to their friends, their wrestling Coach and team mates.
Coughlin's writing was fantastic. He doesn't shy away from the struggles teen athletes deal with, and the drama and hardships that come along with playing a team sport. He delivers a great YA book with three different, yet strong male voices that guys will enjoyed reading. This story felt like I was reading a documentary on three wrestling team mates, their lives, and how they got to where they did (at the end of the story). Over all, I think this is a book readers will enjoy. It's a gritty, realistic portrayed story, and one I think guy readers will enjoy.
There's something to be said about a well written sport story. No I didn't wrestle, but one of my brothers did and I had friends who did in high school, so I at least understood the wrestling part of this story. But, this story isn't just about wrestling. It was far more than just three different guys all trying to content for a spot on the varsity squad. T. Glen Coughlin introduces readers to three not so perfect characters who are doing the best they can given the situations they are in. Well, I can say two of them are, and one of them takes a bit of a darker turner than the rest of them. One of the things I liked about this story is how relatable these guys are. They're not perfect, but flawed, well written characters who connect with their reader on some level.
I liked how this story is told from three different points of views, Trevor, Jimmy, and Diggy. Each character's voice is distinct. They each come from different back grounds, and each teen is dealing with something different, yet all three have a common ground in wrestling. I liked that this story wasn't a sugar coated story. The struggles the teens are dealing with are very realistic. Trevor Crowe, the underdog no one saw coming has the most to prove. He has struggled in the past with being made fun because of his mixed heritage embraces his Native American heritage, learns to move on from his father's death, and the new changes his mother's new job brings them. Jimmy, the wrestling star is dealing with his father's mistakes and trying to stay afloat while his father's criminal activity is catching up to him and his family. Then there's Diggy, who is struggling to live in the shadow of his brother's wrestling records, an abusive father, and trying to make a name for himself, but in the process makes some stupid choices that cost him more than he thought.
It wasn't hard for me to cheer on some of these characters. Though I will say I was a bit shocked over the stupidity and bad decision that cost one of the characters. While I didn't relate to what each of the teens where dealing with, I did relate to that stage in life they're in, where they're on the verge of freedom from school, trying to figure out what to make of their life after graduation, trying to make the best of the situation they're in, and figuring out where they stand in the world. Aside from Trevor, Jimmy and Diggy, is a great cast of supporting characters who all play a huge role in their lives. From their parents to their friends, their wrestling Coach and team mates.
Coughlin's writing was fantastic. He doesn't shy away from the struggles teen athletes deal with, and the drama and hardships that come along with playing a team sport. He delivers a great YA book with three different, yet strong male voices that guys will enjoyed reading. This story felt like I was reading a documentary on three wrestling team mates, their lives, and how they got to where they did (at the end of the story). Over all, I think this is a book readers will enjoy. It's a gritty, realistic portrayed story, and one I think guy readers will enjoy.
March 28, 2013
Actual rating: 3.5 stars - I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. It covers the senior years of three wrestlers - Jimmy, Trevor, and Diggy. All three have messed-up family lives. Jimmy's wrestling obsessed dad is a criminal who is trying to rope Jimmy into helping him steal lumber (even though it puts Jimmy's wrestling career and scholarship dreams in jeapordy). Native American Trevor's loving father was tragically killed in a freak car accident. His grieving and financially strapped mother clings to the first man who shows an interest, which leads her to move herself and Trevor into the new boyfriend's motel (yuck) for work and free rent. Of all the fathers in the story, Diggy's is the most obsessed with wrestling. He's had Diggy training to be a wrestler since he could walk. Diggy is cocky, disrespectful, entitled, and just generally messed up due to his father's (lack of) parenting. All three are trying to have the wrestling season of their lives, even if it means going after each other.
This story will obviously appeal to those who are interested in the sport (I mean, look at the cover), but it will also appeal to those who just like a good drama-filled high school story. My only disappointment was the size of the book. At 328 pages, it's probably not going to be the go-to sports book for non-reading boys. If I can get that boy to read it, though, I know he'll love it.
This story will obviously appeal to those who are interested in the sport (I mean, look at the cover), but it will also appeal to those who just like a good drama-filled high school story. My only disappointment was the size of the book. At 328 pages, it's probably not going to be the go-to sports book for non-reading boys. If I can get that boy to read it, though, I know he'll love it.
September 21, 2015
I chose One Shot Away because I enjoy sports and my family wrestles so I thought I could relate to this book. It is realistic fiction because it is a situation that any wrestler could go through. It shows all the bad decisions people make and that working hard will pay off in the end. In this book Trevor who was always just a jv wrestler worked extremely hard over the summer to get the 152 varsity spot which was currently taken over by Diggy who would be tough to beat and had a brother that went undefeated in high school. When Trevor beat Diggy in the wrestle off Diggy got very upset. Diggy's has a dad that was very hard on him but was never an actual dad to him. After the wrestle off Diggy stole Trevor's new puppy and had kept him until Trevor found out and came and beat him black and blue. Diggy was then forced to apologize to the whole team but instead he quit which upset his dad a lot. Though out the book you learn what a lot of families are going through. For instance Trevor had lost his dad a year ago and hated the new guy his mom was with, Diggy's dad was a jerk, Jimmy's dad had just gone to jail for stealing and selling things, and Roxanne's parents didn't like her boyfriend and put a lot of pressure on her to go to a good college. I liked this book because it was never leaving you bored. It is a little confusing because each chapter is a different person's perspective but otherwise I really enjoyed this book.
November 6, 2014
I like this book for many reasons. One reasons why I like this book is because This book tells about the real life problems that teenagers have. This is important to have any your story because people love to read books about real life problems that people can relate to. people like problems that people can relate to because they can find out how to solve their problem and they would love to know that other people go through the same problems that they are going through.
Another reason why I like this book is because this book is about wrestling and I love to wrestle. New wrestlers will love this book because they can learn a thing or two. Non wrestlers will still like this book because they can see the dedication and what wrestlers do on a daily basis.
The final reason why i like this book is because there is many conflicts between many characters. Like for jimmy him and his dad have commented a crime and now Jimmy's wrestling career on the line. Trevor has his own problems to like losing his father and having to move to a 1 star hotel. Diggy also has problems like having to fight for his weight class with Trevor and Diggy is having some girl problems too. Relationship's are important to have in any story because it causes drama and people love to read about drama. This is a couple of reasons why I like this book.
Another reason why I like this book is because this book is about wrestling and I love to wrestle. New wrestlers will love this book because they can learn a thing or two. Non wrestlers will still like this book because they can see the dedication and what wrestlers do on a daily basis.
The final reason why i like this book is because there is many conflicts between many characters. Like for jimmy him and his dad have commented a crime and now Jimmy's wrestling career on the line. Trevor has his own problems to like losing his father and having to move to a 1 star hotel. Diggy also has problems like having to fight for his weight class with Trevor and Diggy is having some girl problems too. Relationship's are important to have in any story because it causes drama and people love to read about drama. This is a couple of reasons why I like this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2013
3.5 STARS
This was a wrestling book that didn't actually contain much wrestling. For that, I am kind of glad, because for someone like me who doesn't know a thing about the sport, the book was still easy to follow.
The novel is told in alternating chapters of three senior wrestlers: Diggy, Trevor, and Jimmy. Diggy's dad never lets up and never believes he will live up to the legacy of his brother. Trevor's dad has recently passed away, and Trevor has found a new drive to be a wrestler. Jimmy is undefeated, but his senior season may be on the line if he gets implicated in his dad's crimes.
Every boy has his own drama, but they often cross on the mat. I can't say too much without giving away main plot points, but some bad decisions are made, people go too far, and there are far reaching implcations that change the characters' lives.
It's not that this was a bad or boring book, it just never really had an "OMG this is an amazing story" moment for me. The writing was nice, but I just had trouble connecting with the characters. Maybe it's because of the alternating chapters, or the third person POV.
I think this is a novel that lots of high school boys would be into, and that's always a good thing.
This was a wrestling book that didn't actually contain much wrestling. For that, I am kind of glad, because for someone like me who doesn't know a thing about the sport, the book was still easy to follow.
The novel is told in alternating chapters of three senior wrestlers: Diggy, Trevor, and Jimmy. Diggy's dad never lets up and never believes he will live up to the legacy of his brother. Trevor's dad has recently passed away, and Trevor has found a new drive to be a wrestler. Jimmy is undefeated, but his senior season may be on the line if he gets implicated in his dad's crimes.
Every boy has his own drama, but they often cross on the mat. I can't say too much without giving away main plot points, but some bad decisions are made, people go too far, and there are far reaching implcations that change the characters' lives.
It's not that this was a bad or boring book, it just never really had an "OMG this is an amazing story" moment for me. The writing was nice, but I just had trouble connecting with the characters. Maybe it's because of the alternating chapters, or the third person POV.
I think this is a novel that lots of high school boys would be into, and that's always a good thing.
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