Alfred C. Martino: Singer/Songwriter/Novelist
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  • Songs
    • Original Songs >
      • You're Like A Permanent Flu
      • We'll Fly Together
      • My Die-For Girl
      • Partial To Roses
      • Kiss Like A Whisper
      • Hitman
      • Darla Jean Fontaine
      • Wake No More
      • Dashboard Blue
      • You Used To Be Mine
      • Forgotten Man's Manifesto
      • Camille
      • Jesus In the Sun
      • Curse At The Sky
      • Hollywood Girl
      • What’s It Like (To Be In Love)?
      • A Rainbow Ain't Nothin' But Colored Light
      • Keep Breathing
    • Instrumental Versions >
      • A Rainbow Ain't Nothin' But Colored Light (Instrumental Version)
      • Camille (Instrumental Version)
      • Celestial Crossing (Instrumental)
      • Darla Jean Fontaine (Instrumental Version)
      • Dashboard Blue (Instrumental Version)
      • Hitman (Instrumental Version)
      • Hollywood Girl (Instrumental Version)
      • Jesus In the Sun (Instrumental Version))
      • Keep Breathing (Instrumental Version)
      • Kiss Like A Whisper (Instrumental Version)
      • My Die-For Girl (Instrumental Version)
      • Partial To Roses (Instrumental Version)
      • Wake No More (Instrumental Version)
      • We'll Fly Together (Instrumental Version)
      • What’s It Like To Be In Love? (Instrumental Version)
      • You're Like A Permanent Flu
      • You Used To be Mine (Instrumental Version)
    • Lyrics >
      • Die With My Boots On
      • The Day Ends Darkly
      • Manor Of My Mind
      • 'Til I Crumble Into Dust
      • Dolores Sang Farewell
      • I'm Your Babe, Not Your Baby
      • Calling My Name
      • Girl Warrior
  • Live Performances
  • Novels
    • Pinned
    • Over the End Line
    • Perfected by Girls
  • Short Stories
    • A Cowboy's Journey
    • A Day At The Beach
    • Breathing In Rio
    • Grad School Daydreams
    • I Have Never Been Murdered
    • Mother, Interrupter
    • Quiet Desperation
    • Requiem For An Athlete
    • The Athlete
    • The Day Ends Darkly, A Musical Tale From the American West
    • The Boy And Girl: A Parable
    • The Date
    • Waiting For A Friend
    • Where Am I?
  • Plays, Etc.
    • Plays >
      • Waiting For A Friend
    • Articles >
      • AVP Beach Volleyball Tournaments
      • CIF Girls Soccer State Final
      • El Segundo's Local Economy
      • El Segundo: Sportstown, USA
      • Jill Barad: CEO, Mattel
      • Mira Costa Football
      • Olympic Trials Runner
      • Pro Beach Volleyball Player Laurie Ruser
    • Essays & Letters >
      • Duke Magazine
      • Hoboken Progress
      • Library Journal
    • Poetry
  • Author Visits
  • Blog
  • PRACTICE
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PURCHASE
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.

Selected Reviews

  • “Perfected by Girls will do its part to bring more young people--male and female--to the benefits of wrestling, and a greater appreciation of those of both sexes who compete in it."--InterMatWrestle.com

  • “There’s always a need for more sports stories for girls, and this is a solid addition to the genre."--Kirkus Reviews

  • “ Mel is a great role model for girls who take sports just as seriously as their male counterparts."--Teen Lit Rocks

  • "The protagonist has an authentic voice, and readers will empathize with her isolation throughout the school day. Some may gloss over the detailed wrestling descriptions, but the romance and other aspects of Melinda’s life will strike a chord with girls, even those who don’t participate in athletics."—School Library Journal

  • "I encourage all wrestling families and coaches to buy the book, you’ll be glad you did."--WIN Magazine
 
  • “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."--Surrounded By Books Reviews, Cherie Reich
Perfected By Girls is discussed and quoted in the Summer 2020 issue of Aethlon: The Journal Of Sport Literature, pages 33-50.
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