Rating: 
Summary: Wrestling Sturbridge
Review: If there is any story that I can relate to that includes falling in love and participating in sports at the same time, that story is Wrestling Sturbridge by Rich Wallace. As a athlete myself, I can relate to this story, and the main character is Ben. He is the second best 135 -pound wrestler at his school. He wants to be state champion but it won't be easy for Ben because he has to wrestle-off against the first best 135-pound wrestler Al, who is ranked #1 in his weight class in Pennsylvania. Ben not only wants to be state champion but he also falls in love in this story with a girl name Kim. Ben has friends also who are in the wrestling team. There names are Digit and Hatcher. Ben's life is hard in and out of wrestling; he really wants the 135-pound spot to be his and he thinks about it everyday. It is Ben's goal to be State Champion, but he has to go through his wrestle off with Al for it. Ben has never beaten Al and there were times where he was close to beating Al but never got there. My favorite part of the story was the final wrestle-off between Ben and Al. It was so intense and it was in the big gym at their school. Everyone was their including Ben's father. Even though Ben didn't win his wrestle-off against Al he tried his best throughout the whole season to get to the state championship. Ben still got the girl in the end. I thought that was cool because at least he still got something he really wanted. Its like a movie where a guy falls in love with girl and guy gets the girl in the end. What Ben learned from this story is that even though he didn't get his spot for the 135-pound he learned that working hard could get you through a lot of things. I recommend this book to anyone who likes sports. This is a great book that you can read over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: A clean pinfall
Review: In 'Wrestling Sturbridge', Rich Wallace accomplishes what Hemingway himself so rarely achieved; the distillation of the English language to it's purest essence. With starkly simple prose and dialogue one can appreciate as a haiku by snaring the random paragraph, and it's bare bones plot about a group of high school wrestlers bound and torn by their common camaraderie and competition, Wallace has more to say about the condition of the young (and not so young) American male than any writer working today (paging Susan Faludi). Reading it from the vantage point of adulthood, one soon yearns even for the most painful moments of male adolescence.My only complaint is the libel of the book's mislabeling. It is not a novel about wrestling and it is not a young adult novel. It is plainly and simply, a great American novel.
Rating:
Summary: A clean pin fall
Review: In 'Wrestling Sturbridge', Rich Wallace accomplishes what Hemingway rarely achieved; the distillation of language to it's purest essence. With bluntly simple prose and dialogue one can appreciate as one would a haiku, and the book's bare bones plot about high school wrestlers bound and torn by camaraderie and competition, Wallace has more to say about the young (and not so young) American male than any writer working today (paging Susan Faludi). Reading it from the vantage point of adulthood, makes one yearn even for the pains of adolescence. My only complaint is the book's mislabeling. It is not a novel about wrestling. It is not a young adult novel. It is simply, a great American novel
Rating:
Summary: Being the Best
Review: Listed as a book for young adults, "Wrestling Sturbridge" is a novel that is great for fans of all ages. I was 19 when I read it, and I still got a kick out of it. You will not be able to put this book down as you get engulfed in the story of a High School Senior who is looking to make his mark in a town that is wrestling crazy. The only thing that stands in the way of glory is his teammate and friend. The most entertaining read since "Vision Quest,"
Rating:
Summary: Good Wrestling story for fans of all ages
Review: Listed as a book for young adults, "Wrestling Sturbridge" is a novel that is great for fans of all ages. I was 19 when I read it, and I still got a kick out of it. You will not be able to put this book down as you get engulfed in the story of a High School Senior who is looking to make his mark in a town that is wrestling crazy. The only thing that stands in the way of glory is his teammate and friend. The most entertaining read since "Vision Quest,"
Rating:
Summary: You won't be able to put it down!
Review: Take it from a high school student who comes from a town where football and wrestling are big. This book tells it how it is. You feel like you're right there with Ben as he makes his way through the ups and downs of the wrestling season of his Senior year. Whether you love wrestling or not, you'll still get into this book. It grabs your attention right away and keeps it through the whole book.
Rating:
Summary: A first novel that ranks alongside Cormier!
Review: The review hype on the jacket is absolutely justified. Wrestling Sturbridge is a masterful first novel--hypnotic in its atmospheric language and compelling in its forward-moving storyline. Rich Wallace has accomplished something quite difficult; he writes about high school jocks without stereotype. His characters, even supporting, are alive--so believable. The writing is so masterful that I almost wish this weren't classified as a "young adult novel," as it deserves a wider audience. (I'm 32, and I loved it!
Rating:
Summary: A book that you don't want to put down.
Review: This book is the kind of book that you do not want to put down. It grabs you from the second you start reading and keeps you in it until the end. It you know anything about the sport Wrestling or just like sports books in general, this is definity the book for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting look at small-town America ...
Review: This is from a high-school student who has lived all of his life in an urban environment and has played little or no sports. In fact, I hate most sports and know nothing about wrestling, which I've always thought was brutal and confusing. But I sort of liked this book anyway ... it's short, won't take much time to read, and allows a not often heard segment of the population -- a small-town sports hero -- to have a voice. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Solid and Entertaining Book
Review: This is the kind of book that makes you want to be back in high school. It's a simple book and a fast read but well worth the time it takes to read. I loved the lists that preceded every chapter and the imagery is fantastic. Would have given it 5 stars except the author refers to riding time and there is no riding time in high school.
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