Published in 2007. 277 pages.
First sentence: Every Labor Day, the Jorgensens - they own Jorgensens' Ice Cream - set up a little ice cream stand right in their yard, which means you can spend the entire Labor Day picnic making yourself ice cream sundaes if that's what you want to do, and for years when I wasn't playing softball or chasing the Jorgensen kids or trying to keep up with my brothers, I'd sit myself at that little booth making one sundae after another until it was time to head home for evening milking, and then a couple miles into the drive I'd bring that whole sundae experience back up, right there on the side of whatever road we happened to make it to.
Last sentence: Someone else who's strong enough to take on a whole herd of trouble when it comes their way.
Plot summary (from the Library of Congress): High school junior D.J. staggers under the weight of caring for her badly injured brother, her responsibilities on the dairy farm, a changing relationship with her friend Brian, and her own athletic aspirations.
Blurb from the book jacket: This hilarious, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant sequel to the acclaimed novel Dairy Queen takes D.J. and all the Schwenks from Labor Day to a Thanksgiving football game that you will never forget.
How I felt about this book: I loved it! I loved Dairy Queen and picked up The Off Season immediately after I finished Dairy Queen. This one deals with some more serious situations - resulting in my reading through my sobs at times - but it's still as funny and as real as Dairy Queen. I truly hope that this isn't the last we've heard from D.J. Schwenk.
Other book bloggers' reviews of The Off Season:
If you have read and reviewed this book, I would love to link your review here. Please leave me a comment or email me your link!
- tinylittlelibarian at tiny little reading room (November 7, 2007)
- Jen Robinson's Book Page (June 24, 2007)
2008.34
Thanks for linking to my Dairy Queen review, Alisonwonderland. I also reviewed this one, here. I have heard that there's going to be a third book about DJ (and I certainly hope that this is true!). What a great series.
ReplyDeleteSorry to keep deleting, I can't get the link right! Sorry if it still doesn't work this time.
ReplyDeleteJust to plug myself, I reviewed this one on my blog, check the Titles M-O in the sidebar
http://tinyreadingroom.blogspot.com
I don't seem to have done Dairy Queen, must've been before I started the blog.
I sure hope we see more DJ, too!
Sounds really good, I am going to have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of it. Not read it as yet. I will check this out!
ReplyDeleteSounds a fun read.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a long first sentence! I'm adding this (and Dairy Queen)to my TBR list!
ReplyDelete