One Good Punch [Hardcover]

Rich Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2007

ASK ANYBODY AROUND East Scranton High School: Michael Kerrigan is almost too good to be true. Dedicated athlete, captain of the track team, editorial assistant (obituary writer) at the Scranton Observer, he's never been in trouble, and he doesn't associate with troublemakers. This is the most important track season of his life - and he's ready.

That is, until the police find four joints in his locker. Soon Mike's seemingly perfect world is threatened, and with pressure coming from his parents, his childhood best friend, and his sort-of girlfriend, Mike is faced with a choice - a choice that will determine the kind of athlete, friend, and man he becomes.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Wallace's sobering novel is as quick and tight as a taut jab and packs about as much heft. Michael Kerrigan is about to begin his senior season on the track team, and he's never been in better shape. His unwavering dedication to writing (he types obits for the local newpaper, and hilarious reverse-obits of those living around him) and his athleticism keep him out of trouble, until a friend stashes four joints in his locker, which are promptly found during a random drug sweep. Facing expulsion, and hence no track season or college team after that, Michael confronts the common teen dilemna of deciding whether to lie, tell the truth, or tell the other truth, the one with shades of gray, that no one wants to hear—all with his future hanging in the balance. The choices he makes may seem questionable to some readers; but while Wallace refrains from overtly moralizing, he does illustrate the very serious repercussions that one major mistake can have on one's hopes, especially those with the drive to be the very best. Chipman, Ian

Review

As quick and tight as a taut jab.”—Kirkus Reviews


From the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 114 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375813527
• ISBN-13: 978-0375813528
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.6 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,593,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rich Wallace is an award-winning author of many novels for kids and teenagers. Recent work includes the Kickers series of soccer novels for kids in grades 2-4; the middle-grade historical novel War and Watermelon, set in the summer of Woodstock; and Sports Camp, about an 11-year-old boy away at camp for the first time. Novels for teenagers including Wrestling Sturbridge, Playing Without the Ball, and Perpetual Check, among others. He is also the author of The Timbertoes feature in Highlights magazine. Visit his web site at www.richwallacebooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: LibraryLoungeLizard.com, March 12, 2010

By 

Darcy Wishard "libraryloungelizard.com" (Kelso, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Good Punch (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a timely and relevant story for teens regarding school, drugs, friends and morality. Michael Kerrigan never gets into trouble. He is a star athlete on the track team and has a job at the local newspaper. When a friend hides some marijuana in his locker and Michael is busted after a random drug sweep he must decide to tell the truth about his friend or take the blame.

Taking responsibility for the drugs will cost him his track career as well as his job in addition to any legal woes. Some readers may question Michael's choices but this poignant short story surely points out how much one mistake can cost you. A brief but well written, easy read that will probably leave readers wanting to know more about what happens to Michael and the impact his decision has on his future plans.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teens at the middle school level in particular will find it engrossing., January 9, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Good Punch (Hardcover)

Michael is a dedicated athlete, captain of the track team, and has never been in trouble - until the police find four joints in his locker in Rich Wallace's ONE GOOD PUNCH. The choices he will make next will affect his career and his future in a story of would-be champion struggling to find his winning way in the world. Teens at the middle school level in particular will find it engrossing.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Truth in Shades of Grey, October 12, 2009

By 

Karen Keyte (Cumberland, ME USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Good Punch (Mass Market Paperback)

Right and wrong. Truth and lie. Guilt and Innocence. Sometimes things are just that easy... And sometimes they're not. Sometimes you get away with a mistake. Sometimes one good punch finishes you.

Mike Kerrigan is a good kid, for the most part. He's a decent student, average really. He runs both cross country and track and he's just been made captain of the track team. He works part-time for The Scranton Observer, writing obituaries. After a winter of seriously intense training, Mike is ready to have his best ever season of track. After school he's off to college and out of Scranton for good. Then everything falls apart.

A weekend sweep through the high school uncovers four marijuana joints in Mike's locker. The police and the school administrators want him to tell them where he got them. If he does, he'll get suspended for a few days, maybe a week, and then he'll be more or less back on track. If he doesn't, he'll get expelled and everything he's worked so hard to achieve will be gone, maybe for good. The school administrators think they know the truth - think they know who's really guilty. But Mike knows it's not that simple and ultimately, he has to make a choice that he can live with.