Getting the Girl

Great read. It wasn’t quite what I expected but you get the dynamic of the family and how things work. The ending was a surprise! I enjoy this author very much!

Friday, I read "Fighting Reuben Wolf"...couldn't put it down. Saturday, I read "Getting"...do I need to say more? All I can say, in all truthfulness is: "Write more, Markus and write fast!"

Markus Zusak's GETTING THE GIRL, the sequel to FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE, is a five star effort of YA fiction. The story centers on the life of Cameron Wolfe and his hunger, his desire to get a girl, "the" girl, the one who lives in the house up in Glebe he waits outside of. This coming of age story feels so fresh that I swear my eyes started sweating. Like so many younger brothers, Cameron is trying to grow in the shadow of his brothers, and it's not working for him. Rubes gets all the girls, accomplishes all the heroics, and stands on his own in the world. Cameron can only "want" that. It takes Octavia, not the girl he thought he was waiting for, but the real thing, to enter his life by surprise and plant the seed of strength in Cameron that he didn't know he had soil for. At first, Cameron's secret journal writings feel too advanced for the kid we meet, but he grows into them, or they grow into him. Either way, they work well to add a deeper level to this already emotionally complex novel. They reveal a maturity in Cameron that feels right when the end of the story comes around. If our lives truly are made up of moments, as Cameron says they are, that those moments are the pieces of us, then this story is a piece worth carrying with you, one you'll want to applaud with your noble clapping hands. When the last raindrop has fallen, the question it's asking us might be -- "What moments make up that life of yours?" Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

Cameron Wolfe is crushing hard. Her name is Octavia and, in his mind, she is just about perfect. She's beautiful and caring, and can make a harmonica "howl." Octavia doesn't mind having Cameron around, unlike most of the girls Cameron's brother Ruben brings home. That's the trouble: Ruben brought her home first and, unlike most of the other girls who have come and gone, Octavia is the one who dumps Ruben. Ruben acts as if it's no big deal but, in truth, Octavia is the source of Cameron and Ruben's first real conflict, in which Cameron bears the brunt of Ruben's anger. It is Cameron's sister, Sarah, who helps Cameron see that he can be more than just Ruben's shadow --- he is his own person, smart and sensitive with his own unique vision of the world. Lyrical and evocative, GETTING THE GIRL is not so much about Cameron's crushes as it is about family, self-discovery through writing, and the reality of teen love. Cameron's voice is graceful with a perfect blend of wisdom and naivete, of learning the differences between lusting from afar and real-life dating. Readers will identify with him at the same time they want to strangle him for being so pigheaded, doing things like sitting outside the house of a girl who hates him. The change in Cameron and Ruben's relationship is satisfying and realistic. Those who are looking for a thoughtful yet strong male character will find a perfect match in this elegant sequel to FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE. --- Reviewed by Carlie Kraft

This sequel to Fighting Ruben Wolfe (Arthur K. Levine, 2001) features the two Australian brothers, cocky Ruben and quiet Cam. Cam, a self dubbed loser and perpetual underdog, falls for his brother's girlfriend Octavia. He bides his time; after all, Rube uses and discards women at the rate of one every few weeks. Cam appreciates Octavia's beauty and musical talent, but he wants to get inside her head, not just her pants. His patience pays off and Cam is there when Octavia gets dumped, but once Octavia shows a little interest back, Ruben changes his mind about being bored with her. Will a girl break the fraternal bond?Several supporting characters return, including the neighbor's mangy dog the boys walk as a side job. Ruben's sister comes forward to boost Cam's self esteem and his star football player brother surprises Cam with advice and support. Even more of Cam's poetic soul shines through, and Rube voices just how much his baby brother means to him, but it is too late to salvage their relationship? Written in the same fast paced smart observant style as the prequel, this is another quick book about working class life reminiscent of Chris Lynch's Blue Eyed Son series (Harper, 1996). Zusak is a sharp new voice in young adult literature. He is a skilled writer whose cleverly evocative prose slashes through the pages with an economy of words. Zusak is required reading.

The title, front cover, and inside front jacket of this book led me to believe that it would be a shallow story about a boy who wanted to have sex with his brother's girlfriend. For some reason, I took it out anyway and read it. The first few pages seemed to confirm my theory, but I read on.And changed my mind. Getting the Girl is not the shallow sex story I assumed. It is a moving account of a boy and his life, his relationships--with "the girl", but more importantly, with his family and with himself--and his longing for "okayness." Cameron is a believable character that you will grow to support, ache for, and feel attached to. The supporting characters have depth and truth, the plot is interesting, the setting is not stated but you get a feel for the where and the when. Cameron grows as a person before your eyes as the author shaves off layer after layer to reveal him on the inside.