Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Zus
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2003.
Description
Tired of being the underdog, Cameron Wolfe hungers to become something worthwhile and finally finds a girl with whom he can share his words and feelings--his popular brother Rube's ex-girlfriend.
Original publication date
2001-11-30
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member mrstreme
Wanting to read more beautiful prose by Markus Zusak, I stumbled into the final story of a trilogy for young adult readers. Haven't read the first two, I languished over the insighful Getting The Girl, the story of Cameron Wolfe and his challenges being the youngest brother to popular older
Cameron was a loner, and through Zusak, he comes alive to show the anguish and sometimes-fun of being a teenage boy in Australia. Cameron might have liked to be alone, but he was typical boy - girl crazy, liked sports and wondered what people thought about him. At the end of each chapter, the book changes font, and we get a deeper look into Cameron through his journal writings. It's in these writings that we see the true Cameron.
Admittedly, Getting the Girl can't be loved for its plot - for it really doesn't have one - but it can be appreciated for Zusak's lyrical writing style and showcasing of the human spirit. If my boys were older, I would definitely add this book to their shelves. I hope to read the first two books, The Underdog and Fighting Ruben Wolfe, in order next year. Until then, Getting the Girl was a satisfying read - not in the same class as The Book Thief - but a book that's perfect for young adults who, like Cameron, are struggling to find themselves. Markus Zusak knows how to speak to that generation.
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brothers.Cameron was a loner, and through Zusak, he comes alive to show the anguish and sometimes-fun of being a teenage boy in Australia. Cameron might have liked to be alone, but he was typical boy - girl crazy, liked sports and wondered what people thought about him. At the end of each chapter, the book changes font, and we get a deeper look into Cameron through his journal writings. It's in these writings that we see the true Cameron.
Admittedly, Getting the Girl can't be loved for its plot - for it really doesn't have one - but it can be appreciated for Zusak's lyrical writing style and showcasing of the human spirit. If my boys were older, I would definitely add this book to their shelves. I hope to read the first two books, The Underdog and Fighting Ruben Wolfe, in order next year. Until then, Getting the Girl was a satisfying read - not in the same class as The Book Thief - but a book that's perfect for young adults who, like Cameron, are struggling to find themselves. Markus Zusak knows how to speak to that generation.
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LibraryThing member RyitGrrl
A fantastic look into lonerism in teenaged boys and what its like to long for love from a male perspective. Brilliant, Genius!
Can't fault except to say that I hate the name change.
Other than that I have to say Markus Zusak himself is a lovely and humble man who not only is a literary genius but
Beautiful.
Can't fault except to say that I hate the name change.
Other than that I have to say Markus Zusak himself is a lovely and humble man who not only is a literary genius but
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still takes the time to listen to his readers.Beautiful.
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LibraryThing member brigitte64
I really enjoyed this book. I didn`t mind the cussing it made the story more real. A good look inside how yung men feel and struggle going through life
It`s not as good as the joker or bookthief but still a very powerfull and emotional book.
It`s not as good as the joker or bookthief but still a very powerfull and emotional book.
LibraryThing member MarcusH
Portions of this review were originally posted at LuxuryReading.com:
Getting the Girl continues to focus on Cameron’s youthful struggle to connect with the world around him. Cameron longs to experience love firsthand. He lucks out when an ex-girlfriend of Ruben’s seeks him out. The girl engulfs
As the final book in the Wolfe Brother's Trilogy, Getting the Girl calls upon the readers' memories of their own struggle with understanding love as a teenager.
I highly recommend reading each novel in the series, but this one stands out from the rest.
Getting the Girl continues to focus on Cameron’s youthful struggle to connect with the world around him. Cameron longs to experience love firsthand. He lucks out when an ex-girlfriend of Ruben’s seeks him out. The girl engulfs
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Cameron in a blanket of intense emotion that makes him feel complete in one moment torn apart in another. Through the experiences with the girl, however, Cameron begins to realize his self worth. As the final book in the Wolfe Brother's Trilogy, Getting the Girl calls upon the readers' memories of their own struggle with understanding love as a teenager.
I highly recommend reading each novel in the series, but this one stands out from the rest.
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
The final book in the Underdog trilogy shows us Cameron Wolfe’s evolution from boy to man. He’s constantly trying to figure out who he is and where he fits into the world, but he’s never quite sure. He can’t help comparing himself to his brothers, but he also can’t move forward in his
I think it’s impossible not to see yourself in relation to your family. How can you separate your evaluation of yourself from the lens that you’ve frown up with? Cameron bases his success or failure in life on how he compares to his two brothers, the magnetic and charming Rube and the steady achiever Steve. They are the constant measuring stick he uses on himself.
Cam desperately wants to find a girl who will love him. He watches his older brother discard one after another and it breaks his heart. He may be tough on the outside, but his sensitive heart can’t stand to see those girls get hurt.
The whole series is written as a raw internal monologue and so we see Cameron only through his own eyes. This book provides the opportunity to see Cam through the eyes of those around him. We see how his brothers and his sister view him and these different perspectives give us a more complete picture of Cam and the journey he has to take to gain self confidence.
BOTTOM LINE: A must for any fans of Zusak’s work. This early work obviously isn’t on the same level as The Book Thief, but it is a powerful coming-of-age story. Cameron’s struggle is so honest and vulnerable; it would be hard for any teen not to relate to his struggle to figure out who he is and who he wants to become.
“Very quickly, very suddenly, words fell through my mind. They landed on the floor of my thoughts, and in there, down there, I started to pick the words up. They were excerpts of truth gathered from inside me.”
“‘You ever hear a dog cry, Steve? You know, howling so loud, it’s almost unbearable?’ He nodded. ‘I reckon they howl like that because they’re so hungry it hurts, and that’s what I feel in my every day of my life. I’m so hungry to be somethin’ – to be somebody. You hear me?’”
“I pause a moment and thoughts of death climb onto me. They hang from my shoulders and breathe in my face, and I get to thinking about religion and heaven and hell.”
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life until he lets go of that comparison. He begins to find himself in the words he writes, a passion he doesn’t share with either of his brothers. I think it’s impossible not to see yourself in relation to your family. How can you separate your evaluation of yourself from the lens that you’ve frown up with? Cameron bases his success or failure in life on how he compares to his two brothers, the magnetic and charming Rube and the steady achiever Steve. They are the constant measuring stick he uses on himself.
Cam desperately wants to find a girl who will love him. He watches his older brother discard one after another and it breaks his heart. He may be tough on the outside, but his sensitive heart can’t stand to see those girls get hurt.
The whole series is written as a raw internal monologue and so we see Cameron only through his own eyes. This book provides the opportunity to see Cam through the eyes of those around him. We see how his brothers and his sister view him and these different perspectives give us a more complete picture of Cam and the journey he has to take to gain self confidence.
BOTTOM LINE: A must for any fans of Zusak’s work. This early work obviously isn’t on the same level as The Book Thief, but it is a powerful coming-of-age story. Cameron’s struggle is so honest and vulnerable; it would be hard for any teen not to relate to his struggle to figure out who he is and who he wants to become.
“Very quickly, very suddenly, words fell through my mind. They landed on the floor of my thoughts, and in there, down there, I started to pick the words up. They were excerpts of truth gathered from inside me.”
“‘You ever hear a dog cry, Steve? You know, howling so loud, it’s almost unbearable?’ He nodded. ‘I reckon they howl like that because they’re so hungry it hurts, and that’s what I feel in my every day of my life. I’m so hungry to be somethin’ – to be somebody. You hear me?’”
“I pause a moment and thoughts of death climb onto me. They hang from my shoulders and breathe in my face, and I get to thinking about religion and heaven and hell.”
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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Tight and focused... not much happens, but what does is relevant to teen boys, and is told in masterfully poetic, but fully accessible, language.?� Charming.?á I do feel that Cameron is a real boy, despite other readers claiming that real boys aren't so thoughtful.?á I do have to admit that
This is book three about these brothers, but I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the others first.?á If my sons were not all grown, or if I were a teen girl or boy, I'd now be looking for the others in order to learn more about the species... as is, my Mt. TBR is just too large to add these to it.
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the book reinforces the stereotype that Australians are too permissive with their children, drink too much, and are awfully sexist.?á The biggest negative is that I couldn't figure out Octavia's backstory, or her perspective on things.?á But the focus is on Cam, so ok.This is book three about these brothers, but I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the others first.?á If my sons were not all grown, or if I were a teen girl or boy, I'd now be looking for the others in order to learn more about the species... as is, my Mt. TBR is just too large to add these to it.
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LibraryThing member mtlkch
Quick, easy read.
Pages
261