Fighting Ruben Wolfe

Gr 7 Up—Cameron Wolfe is perfectly happy to be an underdog, as long as he has his family by his side. But things are starting to fall apart for their family: his father lost his job, his mother is working too hard at two jobs, his sister is busy partying, and his oldest brother is planning to move out. Cameron and his other brother, Ruben, have always been the vagabonds of the family, happy to be irresponsible and undependable. Now, though, they both feel a deep responsibility to the family and a need to find their self-respect once again. When offered the chance to earn extra money by boxing, both brothers decide to participate and discover more about themselves than just their ability to fight. Markus Zusak's short, yet hugely insightful book (Arthur A. Levine Bks., 2001) tackles the themes of self-worth, family relationships, and what it really means to be a fighter in life. Stig Wemyss brings Cameron vividly to life with an authentic Australian accent and a teenager's sense of wonder and self-discovery. This heartwarming tale of brothers banding together to keep a family going comes across beautifully in audio format. This is the second title in a trilogy about Cameron Wolfe, but it can stand solidly on its own. A great addition to both public and high school collections in need of contemporary fiction, especially for boys.—Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, West Springfield, MA