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

​Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane couldn't be more different. They come from different backgrounds, with different lifestyles, and have different ways of looking at the world.

Ivan is the pride of Lennings, a town tucked away in the farmlands of western New Jersey. For Ivan, a state championship fulfills a promise he made to his mother before she passed away nine months earlier. But mostly, Ivan hopes the championship will secure a college scholarship--and a chance to escape his dreary hometown.

In a wealthy town on the other side of the state, Bobby Zane protects his younger brother Christopher from the fallout of their parents impending divorce. Seeking comfort from his girlfriend, Carmelina, Bobby sees the coveted state title as his only hope for salvation from his family's problems.

Both boys have the drive, determination, and willingness to sacrifice anything necessary to become a state champion. In the end, however, only one will raise his arm in victory and have the championship gold medal placed around his neck.

Selected Reviews

  • "Pinned is a great story. I recommend it for teenage wrestlers and anyone who enjoys an interesting storyline about life’s challenges."—Ken Chertow, 1988 US Olympic Wrestling Team Member

  • “Pinned relates to the roller coaster ride of life's highs and lows. It captures the essence of setting goals and the obstacles some encounter in sport and in life."—Gene Mills, 1980 US Olympic Wrestling Team Member

  • "Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane, seniors and wrestlers at two very different New Jersey high schools, are vying for the state championship in the same weight class. Bobby is a rich suburban boy with battling parents and a possibly pregnant girlfriend, while Ivan who lives in a small farming town, is grieving for his recently deceased mother and struggling with college choices. Alternating chapters reflect the boys’ viewpoints, including their athletic drives and skills."—Booklist
        Pinned - Teacher's Guide (click)
AWARDS & HONORS
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  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • YALSA's 'Best Books For Young Adults' Nominee
  • YALSA's 'Popular Paperbacks For Young Adults' Nominee
  • Texas Library Association's Tayshas Reading List
  • The Quills Awards Nominee - Teen/YA Category
  • A Kirkus Reviews 'Book of Special Note'
  • Brodart Co.'s 'Top Young Adult Titles' List
  • 'Richie's Picks' Selection
  • AudioFile Magazine's 'Earphones' Award (CD Version)
  • ForeWord Magazine's 'Audiobook of the Year' Award - Silver Medalist (CD Version)
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