ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS

REVIEWS

Booklist
"Using soccer as the omnipresent backdrop for the story, Martino forces both his characters and readers to address difficult questions about the meaning of true friendship, the pervasive influence of sports in high-school culture, and the subservient, worshipful role of teenage girls within that culture. While the novel may not have as much soccer action as sports enthusiasts crave, the drama, authentic setting, compelling characters, and gripping issues will make this a popular choice for teens who appreciate books by Chris Crutcher and Carl Deuker."

VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates)
"Rating: 4Q • 4P • S Martino, author of the acclaimed novel Pinned (Harcourt, 2005/VOYA April 2005), begins the story with a tremendous first chapter. The descriptions of grueling practices and soccer action are raw and genuine, but these descriptions never overpower the narrative. Teens, especially those who are involved in sports or feel invisible at school, will feel a kinship with Jonny. Some high school athletes may even feel empathy toward Kyle and the scrutiny he endures. The author's portrayal of a graphic sex scene and use of explicit language add to the novel's tension. Martino sets out to touch upon issues such as "the meaning of friendship, the power of the celebrated athlete, and the interactions between teen guys and girls." He succeeds in dealing with these issues in a compelling manner."

Catherine Zaharris, Media Specialist, Lemoore (CA) High School
"Well I just finished your new book. It was a busy summer and I had not had time to pick it up. I just bought three copies for our library. I LOVED IT!!! I think that it appeals to both girls and boys. I have given a copy to a couple of our soccer players to read. I think that you wrote a great cautionary tale. The ending was surprising, and rather tragic, but I like books that end that way. I am not a fan of a neat happy ending, sometimes life isn't like that."

Lexi Marie, "Another Page Is Used" (anotherpageisused.blogspot.com)
"Rating: 5 Stars (out of five)! Review: I really loved Over the End Line. I'm not even really sure what to say about it or the author, Alfred C. Martino. I think that you really have to read the book to understand everything that happens and really get the effect of events and different situations on all of the characters, not just the main ones. My favorite part of this book had to be the ending. I didn't see it coming AT ALL. I thought, oh it's gonna have a sort of happy ending. Boy was I wrong! When I got to the point where I only had 20 pages or so left, I skipped the end and read the last line. Which didn't help. I still had no idea what was going to happen. I really loved this book. It was pretty much amazing. I'm so happy I got to read this. I will definitely end up reading Over the End Line again. With everything that happens, how can you not?"

School Library Journal
"The author is obviously knowledgeable about soccer, and his descriptions of the passion that young men bring to the game are genuinely engaging."

The Hudson Reporter
"The writing is well crafted and true to life."

Kirkus Reviews
"Jonny Fehey begins his senior year concerned that Kyle Saint-Claire has changed and their friendship is dissolving. Kyle, loaded with charisma, is one of New Jersey ’s top soccer talents, while Jonny’s role is as a hardworking backup. Martino opens with a great hook: Jonny is hungover and disoriented, covered with vomit and unable to shake his conviction that something horrible happened at a party. Flashing back to the previous August, readers learn of Jonny’s frustration at seeing his friend become a larger-than-life hero, his anger at bad-boy teammate Erik Maako and his interest in new girl Annalisa. Jonny triumphs in a championship match, but the subsequent nighttime drunken free-for-all results in stunning violence. The author includes a wealth of soccer action but stops the details short of overwhelming the story. Jonny’s convincing narration reveals a sympathetic character with authentic teen issues he cannot control."

The Reading Tub
"The author creates incredibly clear images of everything. You don't have to be a soccer player to understand the story... it was as if you were viewing the games on television! The complicated relationship between Kyle and Johnny is very realistic. It is a perfect example of a story in which the characters are not divided easily in to the popular kids vs. the poor mistreated ones. The ending is terrific, original, and unexpected. The language and the some of the contents are not suitable for young children, so this book would be best for those over 13. If you're a fan of soccer or drama, buy this book."