One Good Punch

by Rich Wallace

ASK ANYBODY AROUND East Scranton High 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.

Genres: Young Adult, Sports, Teen, Realistic Fiction

114 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Tristin Sorgenfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because once again it takes place in high school. It is kind of different because it is kind of about drugs. I think the author does a pretty good job of putting us in Kerrigan's shoes(the boys last name). I feel pretty bad for him because he was expelled because he had joints in his locker. I think his friend should own up because he is the one who put them there. I also think that Kerrigan would have went on and won track state championships. I think his best friends dad is funny cause he is a big fat guy, doesn't have a job, but yet is a amazing cook. I feel bad for Kerrigan because now he has to wait till his class graduates to start his GED. I feel like his parents should be more worried about him but they aren't. It is also kind of weird how he writes obituary's for newspapers.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a short story than a novella, this 114 page book moves quickly along a single track: senior track captain, newspaper gofer, and all-around good-kid Michael Kerrigan has plans that are about to be derailed by a drug bust. A fair part of the first act sets up Michael and his home town of Scranton. Athletes, especially runners, may appreciate the Chris Crutcheresque attention to sport.

It earns three stars for being interesting and suggestive of big things without feeling preachy, but not quite substantial enough to be truly earth-shattering. There is a believably complicated relationship with Michael's maybe, maybe-not gay female friend. His pleasant but ineffectual parents and various mentors also seem real.

I think this book would actually be a reasonable whole-class text. Wallace raises some interesting issues (how do we handle hard situations? what keeps us from giving up? when is enough enough?) and it moves so quickly that it could be completed in short order. Took me almost no time to read.

[John Polymeros · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book and the overall moral of the story. The main character got into trouble with buying pot, through the story he lost a few friends and got into a lot of trouble, it showed that getting into illegal things like that doesn't benefit anyone and it hurts you. The main character mike was a great track runner and he could of gone division 1 to run track but his senior year he got in trouble with pot in school and then got expelled from the school and couldn't compete anymore and it practically ruined his life

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

With equal blends of sports, humor, and realism, this SHORT book would gets kids interested in knowing what the main character will do. Will he admit that the weed in his locker was for him or will he (because he's "the good kid") pass the blame to someone else?

I took that one good punch, and it finished me. That's not something I'd want to be telling people thirty years from now. I've got too much in myself to let that happen.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Good Punch is a good book about a teen who has always been a good kid he was captain of the track team then one day he gets introuble really big trouble and it might ruin his life. At the end he is left with a choice that changes his life for ever. The author uses good setting in this story but he could of used alot more detail for the cachters but it is still a good book

[Laura Swendig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich Wallace's One Good Punch tells the story of Michael (Mike) Kerrigan. Mike is an incredible athlete for track and field, with a perfect academic record, the motivation to succeed in life, and one successful track season short of a scholarship to a school of his choice. Then one day, Mike and his best friend Shelly decide to buy a couple joints for their weekend hangout. Mike's long-time friend, Joey, is Mike's hook up for the joints. In addition to acquiring the drugs for Mike and Shelly, Joey is a disgruntled kid, with a hard family life, who is teetering on the edge of whether or not he will actually graduate high school; a kid truly lost in the hardships of a life that dealt him one too many crappy hands. Mike is at work, so Joey, thinking that it would be the safest and least conspicuous spot, left the joints in Mike's locker at school over the weekend, and they wouldn't be able to have access to the locker again until Monday. Unfortunately, the school had their monthly locker search that weekend, and Mike was caught with marijuana in his locker. A spotless kid like Mike, everyone knew he wasn't distributing, but they wanted him to tell them who it was. Who gave him the drugs? Give up the drug dealer, and he could get off scott-free. Mike fights a vigorous internal battle between giving up Joey's name, the kid who isn't really going anywhere in his life anyway, or take responsibility and lose everything he had spent the last eight years of his life building up.

This book was a fast read and incredibly thought provoking. In the background, there is a messy love story unraveling between Shelly and Mike, and in the foreground, the reader is thrown into the internal struggle that Mike faces. He talks about running; running to clear his mind, think, breathe, heal, and with each beautiful running description I felt as though I was running his race, anticipating my own life-changing decision. Heart beating fast, legs pumping, arms swinging, the cold breeze freezing the hot droplets of sweat running down his face. This book will keep the reader, and Mike running until he finds an answer... his answer. So what's it going to be Mike?

[Dylan Vickers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a fairly generic story. A top student and star athlete gets caught with a little bit of pot at school and it turns his life upside down, but he learns that drugs are bad. Mike is a star track athlete, he writes and edits his school newspaper and is all around a star student. One day, while he's busy working late he tries to buy some joints from his friend Joey, who misunderstands and stashes them in Mike's locker. Mike tries to sneak back into the school but he cant on account of a drug sweep. Mike is furious and gets called into the principal's office and has to decide if he should turn in Joey and go to college or take the fall and live with the consequences. He tries to blame his girlfriend Shelly but in the end he chooses to take responsibility for his actions and tries to go on with his life without the benefit of his track scholarship. In the end the story exists to teach a lesson about how making the right choice is not always the easy choice. The story has an important message but it is generic and fairly general. The story would appeal to students who are making these bad choices and are behind in their reading level, but the main character, Mike, is a star student and a senior, which would probably not resonate for a majority of students who would be in the age range of Mike but at the reading level of the book. overall, not really a must read unless you REALLY have a lot in common with Mike.

[Landon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young adult named Mike and his friend Joey get to show their friendship while getting in trouble throughout their last years in high school. One Good Punch by Rich Wallace is a sports genre, this book was published 2007. If you like when two boys get into trouble and a kid that is a track star you will enjoy this book. Mike, one of the main characters is an alright kid who never intended on getting in this much trouble. Joey is one of Mike's best friends who has mikes back the whole time. Shelly, Mike's girlfriend, kind of gets in the way of them but also helps the boys. In the early 2000s in Scranton. Mike and Joey get caught dealing drugs, this separates their friendship. I like the author's storytelling style because he made me feel like I was the character. Another reason why is because throughout the whole entire book it's telling a story line on how drugs break friendship. My favorite part is when Mike could get off free or rat out Joey but then he remembers when he and Joey get in trouble together any Mike breaks free yet Joeys caught, yet he still doesn't rat him out. “..but he wouldn't give my name up, so I get free.” I like this part the best because of the way it shows how strong their friendship really is. I think others would like this book if they like watching from the outside of another one's life. while

[Austin Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever run track and get in trouble big time, well the main character in this book did. “I took one good punch, and it finished me.” If there ever was someone that did this, I don’t think that they did in this way. This was titled by Rich Wallace, a fictional book about a kid that does track. This boy loved track, it was the only thing he could think about, except this girl he liked. They would hang out together, that’s all he could think about, this girl and track. Until he got kicked out of school for something that you have to figure out by reading this book!


This book was amazing, I would read it over and over again. This book had sad times and happy times, it always surprised me with plot twists and crazy emotions throughout this book. The main characters were, the boy that loves track, the girl he likes, and his best friends. I must warn you, there is some profanity in this book. “The author tells a terrific story—subtle, funny, cleanly drawn.”- Los Angeles Times Book Review. The last thing that I want to add is the best age group for reading this book are the young adults.

[Jaxon]

The book One good punch by Rich Wallace is a one of my top favorite books. I liked it because it taught me about all kinds of people at a middle school. It was super interesting how someone can be in so much trouble for something that was not his fault. My favorite character in the book is the protagonist. He shows a lot of emotion during the entire book. I like how the character talks a lot in his head and has lots of great comments. The main character makes a lot of comments that inspire me so much. I didn’t like the main character when he does something super stupid. In the book he smokes weed, which made me super mad that he would do something like that. The book had a great quote from the the main characters friends dad, “Don’t get knocked out with one good punch.”

[Casle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich Wallace makes you think.
Michael wants to run, wants to write, wants to graduate.
None of these things happen because he makes a bad choice and then chooses to be honest and honorable. He takes “one good punch” like Joey’s dad. But you’re left feeling like he’ll get past it. I really liked him.
.

[Brooks Koxlien · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book

[Martha Bode · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very YA and very short. Picked up at a library book sale because i needed a quick read :) not necessarily a recommendation, but it was short and snappy. Just didn't quite get the point of the plot.

[Cody Mayhew]

One Good Punch
by: Rich Wallace
New York: Alfred A. Knopf: Distributed by Random House, ©2007

Eighteen-year-old Michael Kerrigan wrote obituaries for the Scranton Observer and was captain of his school track team. He is ready for the most important season of his life--until the police find four joints in his school locker. Then he is faced with a choice that could change everything. He is faced with a decision of whether he should take the blame of the joints being his or actually telling the truth that they had belong to Joey. With all this on mind he focuses on what the outcome of each decision is. This book would be a good book for any kid who had an interest in sports or school life.

Michael growing up spent a long time practicing over and over to reach his best time. He was so good that he earned many awards for his excellence. One of his favorite runs is the race over in East Scranton that goes over into Green Ridge toward Dunmore. He likes this race because he likes running the hills over there in Green Ridge. He also mentions that, if you aren't fit or trained before running the races especially this one, then you just won't make it. Meaning if you don't push yourself to the limits and exercise, your body won't allow you to run the race. He really sees himself as an achiever. He pushes himself to be the best of the best so he can win. He won't allow himself to give up or quit, missing the benefits of racing. Wallace wrote this book as a big motivational piece to push the readers to chase dreams and to never quit.

In One Good Punch, Rich Wallace is a creative writer. Michael dealt with a mid-crises situation that could be bad for his career. One day he attended school and talked about buying some weed. His friend Joey hooked him up and he said that he would drop it in his locker. He had forgotten about Joey putting it in his locker and school authorities found it and referred it to the police. Michael was taken to the school’s principal’s office. The principal asks him whose joints were they and he answered back with the famous I don’t know. He continues to deny whose joints they were. So the school authorities give him 24 hours to confess to the joints being his or say who planted them there. He didn’t want to rat out his friend Joey, but he knew if he didn’t tell them that they were Joey’s that he would be in trouble and his track career and his life goals would come smashing down.

This book is well written, but is sometimes hard to understand where it is leading. In the beginning Wallace wrote about all the records Michael had achieved and that he was a great track star. You would've thought that the whole book was going to be about him and his achievements. Wallace also begins to write about all the races Michael was participating in. I just didn’t know where this book was going and what the conflict was going to be. The book’s conflict could've occurred earlier. Wallace focused around his life details instead extending the conflict throughout the book. That’s how I would've wrote it. As you read it you begin to think is it just a narrative or is it going to become a mystery or what. Then finally, BOOM! You're hit with some conflict that resolves in his decision on what he should do.

Wallace ends the book with a twist that you wouldn't have expect but also could. What does Michael choose? Does he commit to owning the joints? Or does he confess that the joints were place in his locker by a friend? Go read the book for yourself and see how hard of a choice he has.

[Travis. D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Close, but NO cigar

What a disappointment. I almost liked this one. One good Punch, by Rich Wallace, had a clear clear conflict, a smart teenage boy, and something I could relate to. Then came the last 15 pages. the Main character,Michael , is a smart boy. He gets good grades, like me, is working towards his future, like me, and throwing his life away to protect his old drug dealing friend, like . . . wait a second, that’s not like me at all. Thanks a lot last 15 pages. I don’t want to give away the ending but I will tell you that if your old friend, as in more than an acquaintance but not quit a friend, is doing, and is selling, drugs don’t give up your college, family, and future just to protect him.

One good Punch is written by the same author as another book that I have read, Dishes. The protagonists are both teenage boys around 18 years of age. They both run more in one day then I probably run in a week. Very Athletic. Around the middle of the book both boys are having problems with their parents. In Dishes, Danny is sent away to his dads and has a hard time relating to him. In One Good Punch, Michael Doesn’t talk to his parents about his problem and they lose trust in him. However, their personalities can be, and are usually, pretty different. Danny is a more laid back kind of person going with the flow, while Michael does what he is supposed to and holds himself to a higher standard. But still, just two different fish both in the same pond.

I did, over all, enjoy the character of Michael. He had good morals, he knew what he wanted to do with his life, and he was involved in school activities. His one fault, if it even is one, is that he cared too much. The pressure to be a stellar student, a great athlete, and a great friend can lead to having difficulty when you can’t have something both ways. He wanted to give up Joey (That drug dealer I talked about earlier) to get his situation off of his head, but he also didn’t want his “friend” going to jail. “So I’m supposed to just take whatever they throw at me?” I ask “I get kicked out of school to save your sorry butt?”(71) There are some tough decisions being a teenager.

The main Conflict is mostly about joey and how he decided to store his marijuana in Michael’s Locker. Unfortunately, as this school has them done frequently, the school had a drug sweep done and someone who isn’t Joey got blamed when his drugs were found in Michael’s locker. This caused Michael to choose to either let his “pale” sink or swim. The dishion got harder when he was called to the principal's office and was told all of the things he would lose if he took responsibility for the crime. “That means no graduation, no track season, no college”(74). This tares him even farther between two halves of himself.

I’m giving this book a 2 star rating out of 5. I would have giving it a 3 but the ending was just utterly ridiculous and stupid. Besides that it was a pretty ok book. The plot was strong, the characters were believable, and there was a little bit of relation between me and Michael. This is actually the best YA fiction book I have ever read. (That's not saying much considering I have read less then 10). I would say that if this is a genre you like then this book would be a good read. Otherwise I would just pass on this one.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

ONE GOOD PUNCH is a sure-fire winner for any teen. Just short of 120 pages, it is a fast-paced, page-turner with suspense and humor. I predict it will end up on most Best Teen Books and Quick Reads lists soon.

Michael is a senior. An ambitious cross-country and track runner, he is hoping to use his talent as a stepping stone to a decent college. His part-time job at the Scranton Observer writing obituaries is giving him valuable experience as he dreams of someday writing novels.

Trusted by his parents, Michael leads the life of a typical 18-year-old. When not working or running, he spends most of his time with his best friend, Shelly. Mostly they hang out and talk or take in a movie at the Cultural Center downtown. Lately things have moved a bit more in the romantic direction, which Michael feels is a bit weird, but at the same time, it feels sort of right.

Life changes overnight for Michael when four joints are discovered in his locker during a routine drug sweep of the high school. Put there by his friend, Joey, they represent the possible end to Michael's future dreams. He did ask Joey to get him a couple of joints, but he never dreamed the kid would be stupid enough to put them in his locker.

Michael gets advice from just about everyone he knows that he should rat out Joey as his supplier. Even school officials suggest things would go easier for him if he tells. Torn between giving up his future plans and staying loyal to a longtime friend, Michael's world is turned upside-down.

[Charles Mournet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the novel one good punch because I think it was very interesting to read a story about problems someone was experiencing in high school. It made me understand some of the difficulties, and everyday high school kid issues that are faced by young teens. It all started with Michael Kerrigan, a rising senior, who was one of the track team stars and just a kid looking to move on in his life. All this was put to a halt when Michael was expelled from school due to his friend, Joeys. Mistake. Joey is the grades pothead, he agreed to buy some weed for Michael, but he foolishly left it in Michael’s locker over the weekend locker search.

Michael was called into the principal’s office but due to his longstanding friendship with Joey, he decided not to sell him out on the administration and take the fall for Joey’s stupidity.

We saw many themes through out the story but I think the most under rated one is loyalty. Michael had a lot to live for but all of it needed school as a pathway. He gave all of that up in return for protecting his friend Joey who had been struggling to find his way. Michael’s loyalty really impressed me because so much was on the line for him but he knew it was his fault so he took the fall for what he needed. Another theme that I saw was determination. Although Michael had it tough and he made mistakes, we all do and he was able to stay determined and continue to work hard so it seems like he still has a chance at being successful in some way. Overall I really enjoyed the book, and I really enjoyed the reality of the book.

[Cornmaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Rich Wallace's way of weaving a sport with a serious moral issue. He presents an interesting and timely moral dilemma in this book - HS track star asks the going nowhere kid who has drug connections to score him some joints so he can smoke with his girlfriend. The kid delivers them to the track star's locker without telling him, and they are discovered during a weekend drug sweep. The dilemma - the cops know the track star can lead them to the dealer, so they offer him the choice of giving him up or taking the fall, which means he will probably be expelled, lose scholarships, not go to college right away, etc. He didn't actually put the joints in his locker, so he sees in one sense that he's not guilty, but in another he placed the 'order'. And he knows the going nowhere kid will have a worse outcome, including life-threatening retribution from the drug suppliers.

All of this is done with a back story of the track star's part-time job of writing obits for the local newspaper, and Wallace does an excellent job of weaving what the kid has learned from that into what he is learning from his real life experience. It's a very short little book - I read it in about 90 minutes, but it could be used for an interesting ethics discussion in MS/HS. I wonder how most teens would vote...

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Good Punch is a book about a young high school student,Michael Kerrigan who decides to participate in something illegal. By accident, Michael involves myself with the wrong people and with the wrong thing. He is arrested and banned from his school because of his involvement with drugs. With drugs being an active problem at the school, it was especially hard for Michael to avoid his fate.
Michael comes off as a good kid, he is a track star and is active in his school. However, the one mistake Michael makes ends up making him pay. Michael thinks about his future in a pessimitic manner but he then learns that he cannot change what has happened. He uses the quote, "dont let one good punch take you down" to become a better person.
I find that this book is a bit simple but it does introduce a key idea about how one should approach life. One should keep doing the things that make them a good person and to end what makes them a bad person. In addition, to approach life with a someone carefree way when things have happened but to attack when something can be done.

[Fluxbrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

(shelved in Teen)
Michael Kerrigan is almost too good to be true. He’s a dedicated athlete, captain of the track team, editorial assistant at the local newspaper, and he’s never been in trouble. Until the day the school does a random drug search of lockers, and they find 4 joints in his locker. But the authorities aren’t interested in Michael, and they want him to give up someone else – the person who put those drugs in there, a drug dealer. And so Michael finds himself with a difficult choice to make. He can give up his troublemaker friend Joey, who put the drugs there, and go back to his great life – graduate and go to college. But it’s not as easy as that. For one thing, he feels like he owes Joey – after all, when they were kids, his friend took all the blame for something they both did. As a result, Joey was beaten by his abusive parents. Michael knows if he turns Joey in, his parents will probably beat him even worse this time, and Joey is already a kid that people think has no future. But if Michael takes the blame, he’ll be expelled and he’s 18 (which means he’d be punished as an adult). It takes just one good punch to bring a guy down. What would you do?

[Kyle Youst]

One Good Punch is an action packed drama filled story about an 18 year tack star from Scranton Pennsylvania. Michael Kerrigan, an 18 year senior at East Scranton High School is a track star prospect wanting to become a division 1 athlete. Michael is the spitting image of a good kid, he is the captain of his track team, excellent in school, and an editor at the local newspaper. All things going are going well for Michael as he enters his senior year of High School. Until there are 4 joints found inside his locker, this turns his whole world upside down. Michael is then faced with the decision to either save himself and the rest of his life, or to turn in his friend who is responsible for the drugs in his locker. Michael has to seek the advice of a former boxer, he tells him that his boxing career ended all due to "one good punch" and this would be that one good punch for Michael. What does Michael decide to do? Give up his friend and be able to chase his career of a D1 athlete, or remain loyal to his friend and take the blame for the whole thing? Read "One good Punch" to see what happens and how his decision will affect the rest of his life!

[Tristen Castellanoz]

Michael is captain of his track team and has a part time job at the local newspaper place.Michael isn't the fastest on the team but he is the most responsible,he never gets in trouble doesn't mess with drugs and is very smart.One week the boys locker room was closed down because a police dog found drugs in there. Detectives went in there and looked through it and found a bag of pot in Michael's locker.The next day he was called to the office and they told him what he found.Michael knew it wasnt his because he never messes with drugs and never will.He has to find out away to get out of trouble because he has an important race coming up.

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Kerrigan is a great guy, liked by all, who has principles and drive. During a random drug sweep in his high school, four joints are found in his locker. Mike has a decision to make and it is not any easy one. Mike works for the Scranton Observer newspaper writing obituaries and each chapter in this spare novel is a section in a newspaper, either an obituary or a news article. Written in short, rapid sentences, author Wallace dead on captures one teen's fight to be honest, still hold onto his dreams and never give up.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this book before I had a chance to put it on my to-read list. It's really short so it's a very quick read. I like the way the author wrote it too. Good book for teens, boys especially. If you have a young guy (middle school) who doesn't like to read this may be a good book to get him. It has a really surprise ending and the subject matter is something that young adults can relate. I'm not saying much about the book, except that I liked it a lot; telling much about the book will spoil it b/c it is such a short story. Enjoy!

[Cyndi Dwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. Yet he makes some choices along the way that could have it all crashing down around him. How will he get out of this sticky situation?

[Shaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book about a boy who gets caught with drugs in his locker. Other people think he is "too good to be true." He gets amazing grades, wants to be a journalist, on the track team. It's only 100 pages and not really my subject. But, the way the plot develops is really cool. In a very short time period you learn enough about the boy and what goes into his thought process.

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made my fingers burn from turning all the pages.

For me this book started when Joseph gives Kerrigan 4 joints.
Now this idiot gives it to him in school and he takes it. Anyway Kerrigan was bound to get in trouble and you can figure out the rest.

This is all the info I will give you, you have to read it on your own to know the rest. But if you read you will not regret reading it. Hope this review works for you later.

[Christian Gramuglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich Wallace wrote a great story with humor and realism. In this book the kid is faced upon telling the truth on who had the weed I his locker was it him or was it someone else. It gives a good life lesson on telling the truth because if he lies then he could be in big trouble but if he tells the truth his friends might hate him. The author uses a great setting for this book. I suggest this book to anyone.

[Chelsea Sellars · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading One Good Punch by Rich Wallace. It was a easy read it went quick. This book is about how a senior, (Mike) wants to good in his track season this year and go off to a good college. Yet there is one thing in his way. His friend Joey used his locker to put some of his joints in there. The school goes threw some peoples locker to look for drugs. Mike was one of them but yet that wasnt his, it was joeys. Will Mike take a fall for his friend Joey. Find what happens?

[Marya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, what an atmospheric book of the burnt-out dead-end industrial Great Lakes region! Thrill as our hero goes nowhere! But keeps trying! Only to find it's even harder than he ever imagined!

On the other hand, if you don't think of the Great Lakes as a burnt-out shell, this might be not only a depressing, but disappointing read.