Title: Perfected by Girls
Author: Alfred C. Martino
Publisher: Coles Street Publishing
Format: eBook
Source: Author
Description: 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?
Review: Alfred C. Martino’s Perfected by Girls is a fascinating young adult novel revolving
around girls and sports.
Melinda
Radford just wants to wrestle for her high school team, but getting onto the
team seems the beginning of her troubles. The boys either don’t want to wrestle
her or feel her up when they do. The captain and her own brother don’t seem
pleased to have her there. Then, a comment to a reporter put her at odds with
the entire team. She has to find a way to bring her life into control while
continue doing what she loves.
Perfected by Girls has a wonderful, fairly authentic female
teen voice. The characters and conflict seemed realistic. I love how the simple
act of being a female wrestler showed people’s character, whether they
supported her or not. I found it interesting to learn about the Greco-Roman
style wrestling, how there are women’s teams, and how a woman deals with being
on a predominately male team. The novel is fast-paced, and I wanted to keep
reading until the very last word.
If you’re
looking for a great contemporary young adult novel, then look no further than Perfected by Girls by Alfred C. Martino.
It’s a great read that’ll wrestle you to the page and keep you reading until
the end.
