Wednesday, August 29, 2007

New Release Spotlight: The Off Season

The Off Season
By Catherine Gilbert Murdock

A sequel to Dairy Queen, The Off Season is a book that can stand on its own. Having not previously read Dairy Queen, I wondered if I would be able to follow and immerse myself in the storyline of its sequel. I was pleasantly surprised that I could become attached to the characters and their lives quickly and completely.

The continuation of the life and times of D.J. Schwenk, The Off Season delves further into D.J.’s struggles as the only girl on her high school football team. As the first girl linebacker in her school and in her state, she experiences the effects of notoriety and fame. She also experiences new love with Brian Nelson, a football player from the opposing team, which only seems to complicate her already complicated school and social life. To top it off, D.J. must deal with family troubles when she finds out that the small, family dairy farm is having financial difficulties.

Murdock’s characters have wonderful, unique voices that are both familiar and warm. D.J.’s struggles, in school, in love, and in her family are ones that teenagers can relate to, having similar problems in their own lives. All in all, this is an excellent second book for Murdock.

Review by Katrina Hill, Indigo Editing, LLC
The Off Season
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 978-0618686957
Hardcover, $10.88

No comments:

Post a Comment