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Jump to navigationJump to searchFighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak (view source)
Revision as of 13:05, 20 December 2009
, 13:05, 20 December 2009no edit summary
And then Rube gets into a fight at school in defence of Sarah's good name. Word gets around and a man who runs fighters in an underground boxing league gets in touch. He wants both Wolfe brothers. At fifty dollars a fight, it might help them break out of this cycle of despair. But soon, it's about more than the money. It's about fighting for who they are, for dignity, for a future; about not getting put down over and over again...
You'll remember Markus Zusak for [[The Book Thief by Markus Zusak|The Book Thief]], a dazzling story of Nazi Germany and the way in which words have the power to set you free. ''Fighting Ruben Wolf'' is a much earlier book, getting a fresh cover and a welcome reissue by Definitions. It's also a very different book. Short where ''The Book Thief'' was long, sharp and realistic where ''The Book Thief'' was dense and stylised - there's a huge gulf between them. But the understanding and use of words is exactly the same - affecting, arresting and full of power.
It's a top notch kitchen sink drama, with moments of savage humour and pure pathos. Ruben is the better fighter but he has an anger in him that threatens to take over. Cameron is the dreamy and gentle one, but he fights anyway, for his brother and for hope. While Ruben berates himself for lacking his brother's humanity, Cameron wants to live up to his brother's ability to put himself on the line in such a visceral way. But it's the bond between them that will save them, and by extension, save their family too.
