Markus Zusak

Presents three novels in which two brothers, Ruben and Cameron Wolfe, strive to overcome the limitations of their family's poverty, taking jobs as fighters, and Cameron, the younger brother, tries to find love with his brother's ex-girlfriend.

Underdogs

Laura

I’d like to preface this with the fact that I adore everything Zusak has ever written (I can’t wait for whenever Bridge of Clay comes out because Lord knows I’ve been waiting long enough). But with I’d like to call attention to the little known Underdogs omnibus, consisting of three books, The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl. I know one of the complaints about this series is that they aren’t written exactly like the way I Am the Messenger or The Book Thief is written, but you can still see glimmers of his iconic writing style in the first book, The Underdog. It comes through a lot more in the second book Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and it is definitely present in the last book Getting the Girl (which I believe was originally published as When Dogs Cry). Getting the Girl is actually my favorite book in the omnibus by the way, and I don’t think I’m alone in that opinion. As one Goodreads reviewer writes, that book is when one sees Zusak turn from an amateur author into a brilliant one. I couldn’t agree more. I fell in love with this collection, I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put it down. When I finished, I couldn’t believe that it was over, that I was never going to see Cameron and Ruben Wolfe again, that I was never going to cheer them on during their crazy stunts or see them hit on girls or watch them box again (and I don’t even really like boxing). I will say this, if you like plot driven fiction, this is are not for you. But if you like to follow characters and to get to know and love them, then this omnibus is for you. I believe that this collection exemplifies Zusak’s strongest asset as a writer and that is his ability to write people. Not hollow, two dimensional characters, but real people. I want to know Cameron and Ruben in real life. In fact, I feel like I already do. I care about them just as I cared about Liesel Meminger or Ed Kennedy. He knows how to write flaws without them taking over a character’s personality. He knows how to take unpleasant, messy traits like cowardice or playboy tendencies and yet they are still likeable. You still want to root for them even after they make mistake after mistake. Imagine that, most YA authors out there (especially you “strong female character” writers). This book is honest, sweet, and well worth the read (especially, especially Getting the Girl, though I highly recommend reading the whole thing so you can get attached to all the characters the same way I did). If you think YA and especially YA contemporary is all crap, then please read this book. This year, I was beginning to think that, but this is one of two books that became the reason I couldn’t completely write off the genre. The only reason this omnibus isn’t a solid 9 is because the first book was a bit rough around the edges. My only regret is that I will never be able to read this collection for the first time again. And one last thing- Zusak does have one hell of a gift for opening scenes, doesn’t he?

Read more like this review on my blog, http://www.bookwormbasics.blogspot.com

Underdogs

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