Jones, Patrick. The Main Event.

Jones, Patrick.    The Main Event.                   Millbrook Press/21st Century/Copper Beech  64p           $31.93  978-0-7613-8635-3          2013                        ms/jr                       VG-BN                             Nonfiction           

Professional wrestling, unlike Greco-Roman wrestling, is not a sport, but “sports entertainment”.  Jones provides a thorough history of the carefully choreographed, over-the-top, and completely staged programs that provide entertainment and excitement for thousands of fans.  The fans understand, although the reader may be surprised to learn, that there is an art to making the blows and throws appear real, even if the outcome is predetermined. 

Despite the fixed outcomes and staged fighting, sometimes damage can occur(for example, when Yukon Eric’s ear was torn off in a bout with Killer Kowalski), or when both sides are unaware of or haven’t been properly informed of the predetermined outcome.  Still, in nearly a century of the sport, this type of thuggish behavior is not the norm.  Participants are firmly categorized as “babyfaces” (i.e., good guys) or “heels” (villains).

Jones, clearly a fan, shares the stories of famous ring personalities and their most well-known bouts and signature moves.  These include Gorgeous George, Andre the Giant, the Rock, and Hulk Hogan.  Combined with colorful and dynamic photographs, this book encourages readers to sit back and enjoy the show!

Professional wrestling-History                                                                                                                    --Hilary Welliver

 

Brew, Jim. The Miz.

Brew, Jim.  The Miz.    Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p   20.65 978-0-531-20788-8 elem  Series: Pro Wrestling Champion (Scholastic/Childrens)Good Biography           

Learn how The Miz went from reality TV star to professional wrestler in this brief biography.   Fans of “The Miz,” a professional wrestler, will enjoy the dynamic layout of colorful photographs that are liberally incorporated throughout this slender volume.  Intended for high-low and reluctant readers, the brief text offers a very basic overview of Michael Mizanin’s (aka “The Miz”) career in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) rings. Brew traces Mizanin’s career from reality television star to professional wrestler.

Topical and appealing, but with limited substance, “The Miz” is sure to generate interest that ensures that the volume circulates briskly.

                                                            --Hilary Welliver

Lynch, Janet Nichols Addicted to Her

Lynch, Janet Nichols Addicted to Her
Holiday House 2010 220p 17.95
978-0-8234-2186-2 jr/sr Multicultural E-BN
Monique is just beautiful and in Rafa’s eyes she can do no wrong. She is an angel...but she has a side that even if he does not want to recognize it, he finds it disconcerting. Then as much in love as he is, he begins to see things he does not like but still believes he can overcome them or can he? Rafa is good at wrestling if not one of the best on his team. His best friends believe he can achieve a scholarship if he continues his winning style. Then Monique, only the most beautiful girl in the world, looks at him and notices him. For Rafa this is a dream come true. Although Monique has a boyfriend, their relationship is kind of violent and Rafa happens to be there the day they have a very ugly fight. He offer his shoulder for her to cry on and she willing takes his comfort.
Rafa is in seventh heaven with his new girlfriend but this new relationship is taking up all his time. Now he barely makes it to wrestling practice and one day he decides to just skip out completely. Then he forget to pick up his little sister after school. Next he resorts to lying to his mom about his grades, his wrestling practice and his reasons for coming home late. Monique fills every minute of his life. If only her ex-boyfriend would leave her alone.
Life begins to crumble for Rafa, his sister is angry at him, his friends will not give him the time of day and his beloved girlfriend is beginning to demand too much of his time and his little brother is on the road to trouble.
Then Rafa’s family is hit with a tragic event that changes everything for everyone, placing Rafa at the head of his family with responsibilities he has never had to shoulder before. In his mind he has to rethink his priorities in his life and choosing the right path is not the same as choosing his immediate happiness. He realizes that to sacrifice some things, he might be able to rethink his choices and hurt less people even if it means losing the one thing he has wanted for a long time. Diaz, Magna