Perfected By Girls

Perfected By Girls

Navigating high school isn't easy for Melinda Radford. She’s the lone girl on the Ashton High wrestling team, grappling with opponents who refuse to compete against her, a few who want to crush her, and a coach who's less-than-pleased having a female in his practice room. At home, Mel’s parents forbid her from seeing her new boyfriend, her grandmother insists she start preparing for her future by taking a dreary office internship, and her infuriating older brother, who’s the varsity team captain, flirts with her best friend, Jade. Just when it seems things can't get any more complicated, an off-handed comment puts Mel at odds with her teammates, her brother, and, worst of all, her coach. But through a twist of tragedy and fate, Mel is given an unexpected opportunity to accomplish something no girl in her school's history has ever done—something that just may redeem her in the eyes of her detractors. Is she strong enough to handle the pressure? Alfred C. Martino is the author of two highly-acclaimed young adult novels, Over The End Line and the Jr. Library Guild Selection and Best Books For Young Adults nominee, Pinned. Amateur wrestling has been a part of Alfred's life for over thirty-five years. He has competed on the midget, junior high, high school and collegiate levels, as well as coached Millburn's youth program for nearly a decade. Mr. Martino was born and raised in Short Hills, NJ, and graduated from Millburn High School, where he was captain of school's 1982 wrestling team. He is a graduate of Duke University and The Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He currently lives in Jersey City, NJ. The protagonist has an authentic voice, and readers will empathize with her isolation throughout the school day. Some may gloss over the detailed wrestling descriptions, but the romance and other aspects of Melinda's life will strike a chord with girls, even those who don't participate in athletics. --school Library Journal Melinda's brother is co-captain of Ashton High's wrestling team. She's had to fight hard to join the team, and prove that her intentions are worthy and that she isn't wrestling as a publicity stunt. When she isn't struggling through practices with her less-than-supportive teammates, she's expressing her feminine side with high fashion outfits. Her best friend Jade is encouraging her to blow off a summer job at her grandmother s company, and her new boyfriend is pressuring her to have sex before she s ready. When a reporter calls and asks her if she feels treated fairly by the school s athletics program and her teammates, her impulsive answer gets her into serious trouble with everyone. This is not a formulaic sports book; girls and wrestling for one thing. Also amateur wrestling has been a part of author Martino's life for more than thirty-five years so he knows of what he writes. Those not familiar with wrestling terms will be able to gather the gist of the action with the excellently written context. Unexpected plot twists will also keep listeners wondering what comes next. Narrator Jen Taylor is an actress living on the West Coast. Her voice talents have been used in everything from audiobooks to commercials and video games. Here she does a beautiful semi-voiced reading, distinguishing well between the characters, especially the older and younger ones. There is some sexual content and language, making this most suitable for high school and above. Alfred C. Martino is also the author of two highly-acclaimed young adult novels, Over The End Line and Pinned. --SoundCommentary.com Though wrestling is the heart of the tale, Martino wisely resists heavy-handed and inspirational sports metaphors, letting Mel's actions speak for themselves. There's always a need for more sports stories for girls, and this is a solid addition to the genre. --Kirkus Reviews Alfred C. Martino is the author of two highly-acclaimed young adult novels, Over The End Line and the Jr. Library Guild Selection and Best Books For Young Adults nominee, Pinned. Amateur wrestling has been a part of Alfred's life for over thirty-five years. He has competed on the midget, junior high, high school and collegiate levels, as well as coached Millburn's youth program for nearly a decade. Mr. Martino was born and raised in Short Hills, NJ, and graduated from Millburn High School, where he was captain of school's 1982 wrestling team. He is a graduate of Duke University and The Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He currently lives in Jersey City, NJ.