Customer Rating:  
Summary: A rare work of fiction about high school wrestling
Comment: Pinned is a rare work of fiction for young adults devoted to the subject of high school wrestling. It has authentic plot lines and character development and deals realistically with the struggles high wrestlers face on and off the mat. It is set in New Jersey and follows the senior wrestling season the books two protagonists - Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane.
They are described on the book's jacket as "... from different back grounds, they have different lifestyles, and they each have very different ways of looking at the world. Yet both of these high school seniors have the drive, determination, and willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes to become a champion".
The book is well written and easy reading. It is also deals accurately with the technical aspects of wrestling, although one dual meet bout ends in a tie. I think it has been a long time since high school bouts were not decided in overtime in the event of a tie. Also, I would have preferred less emphasis on the ordeal that high school wrestlers go through to make weight. I do not think it reflects well on the sport and I believe that the current environment emphasizes a more rational approach to proper wrestling weight determination and management.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a wrestler's review
Comment: Pinned is the brilliant conquest of two wrestlers determined to be state champions. Alfred Martino captures the hardships, and triumphs that a true wrestler faces, when he archives the wrestling season of the two best 129 pound wrestlers in New Jersey. Bobby Zane, and Ivan Korske. Both wrestlers have made wrestling their primary focus, and everything else just revolves around it.
Alfred Martino tells the stories of both wrestlers' wrestling season, with great lucidity. Chapter one begins Ivan Korke's story, and chapter two begins bobby Zane's. The chapters alternate between characters. The reader learns that Bobby and Ivan come from completely different backgrounds, and situations, and the only likeness they share is their fixation on the state title.
Ivan Korske lives in a more rural farming town with his father. They are still in the grieving process since the passing of Ivan's mother who was a big part of the family. Still, Ivan focuses on his goal, but the byproduct of his loss, is anger, which he unleashes on everyone besides his neighbor, Shelly. They have a friendly relationship, which really helps Ivan, but with the stress of winning state, for everyone in the community, he begins to make the relationship complicated. Is he better off without her?
Bobby Zane on the other hand, comes from a rich family, although he also has mother troubles. His mother is bound to her demanding job by long hours away from home. His high school is known through out the state for winning nearly every meet. Bobby spends a lot of time with his girlfriend, Carmelina. Just when he thinks it's time to dump her, so he can focus on wrestling, their relationship (and lives for that matter,) take a HUGE turn.
In the final stages of the book, as everyone expected, the state finalists are Bobby Zane, and Ivan Korske. As the reader now loves both wrestlers, this is a gut wrenching moment for the reader, because they know one must lose.
I read this book during my wrestling season, and I was so impressed by the true wrestler's experience that went into making a book. It is impossible to replicate the emotion of a wrestling season, unless you have been through them yourself. Alfred Martino and I know, we're wrestlers. We put our bodies and souls through so much, it hurts. But nothing compares, in any other worldly happening, to winning a wrestling match, and having the ref raise your hand. Pinned does a stellar job at capturing this feeling, and sharing the experience.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Potential 5 star book but the end was dissapointing
Comment: The book traveled the lives of two boys, Ivan Korkse and Bobby Zane. They're both trememendous wrestlers whose lives are all wrestling. Both have dreams of being state champion but only one could be able to say they're state champ. Ivan had a devastating loss the previous year of the states finishing third. Ivan's school(Lennings) is not really known as a winning school while Bobby's(Millburn) is. Both cruise into the state tournament with Bobby losing one match to Rampart while Ivan is undefeated. In their bracket Ivan is placed first, while Bobby is third. The book really satisfies the reader and really gives great detail and description in every chapter. There are some great twists and turns you could say, with Bobby getting his former girlfriend pregnant and Bobby's parents splitting up. The book really explains the components of life and how to deal with them. Ivan, on the other hand, has been tormented by his mother's passing his senior year. It really affects him drastically. To make matters worse, Ivan now has to win the state title to get accepted into the college of Western Arizona. This really brings some drama and excitement into the book. Now, onto the ending. I'm not going to try to spoil the ending but you can say it's a dissapointment. The book just ends abruptly and there is no sequal. If not for the ending, I would've definitely gave this book 5 stars. Well, there you have it. A great book that is an exciting read.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Real Situations in a Wrestling Experience
Comment: Pinned, a novel by Alfred C. Martino tells the story of two wrestlers and the challenges they must overcome to become a champion. The first of the two teens introduced is Ivan Korske. Ivan comes from a poverty stricken town whose only hope it to earn a scholarship to leave his current life behind. Second is Bobby Zane who is facing family and relationship problems unlike any he has faced before. The story peeks into the life of a wrestler. You learn about cutting weight, long tiring practices and the pressures to succeed.
Throughout the novel, it's apparent that Alfred Martino has a true natural writing ability and knowledge of wrestling. But through all the talent and knowledge the novel still lacks many things, including and appropriate ending. Most of the book is spent building up to one match, the state finals, yet the story ends with no outcome. If there was a sequel then the current ending would have been perfect, leaving the reader wanting more, but since there was no other book the ending was a let down.
Even though the ending was a disappointment, overall the book was pleasing. I was able to relate the book and the struggles of both characters faced. I come from a wrestling background of 11 years and have struggled to make weight and deal with the pressure just like those in the book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome Realism
Comment: "Wrestling devotees will appreciate the work ethic of Ivan and Bobby as they perfect their moves throughout the season. Those readers who have not previously been exposed to the mat sport will be amazed at Martino's vivid descriptions of a wrestler's total devotion: the sultry, sweating practices, the workouts and running after practice, and the dieting. It is a committed wrestler's daily routine in his quest for a state championship... and every bit of it is authentic."
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