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kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! I actually wish I'd had the guts Dash had because I really wanted to play baseball, but was always forced to play softball because of my gender. This graphic novel shows that we shouldn't let anything get in the way of our civil rights. I also loved the loyalty throughout the book between friends, teammates and family.
This book would be a great addition to any classroom library and would be an asset to a discussion about civil liberties.
This book would be a great addition to any classroom library and would be an asset to a discussion about civil liberties.
kaqueershi's review against another edition
4.0
not perfect but pretty damn good. plus the main character has the same first name that I do and she hates it just as much
jennybeastie's review against another edition
4.0
huh, I don't even have a sports shelf -- oh well, no matter, I enjoyed this baseball story -- I liked the stubborn and talented Brody, and her various teammates. I liked the small dramas and their resolutions. I think it's a solid book all the way around. It totally checked all my things can require you to work hard, but should be fair in the end boxes.
booksavvy's review against another edition
2.0
Not really my cup of tea. Younger teens might enjoy it but I found it a bit too predictable.
geekydrea's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, 2nd book this year that had to do w/girls trying to make it onto a baseball team. Full review to come.
rosepetals1984's review against another edition
4.0
I found "Play Ball" - a coming-of-age, wonderfully drawn graphic novel aimed towards middle grade readers - an entertaining and well-done read. The story revolves around Dashiell Brody, a young woman who moves with her mother and sister Arica to a new home, new school, and a new life. Tensions run high within the family because of her mother's new job, and the distance Dashiell's father takes from the family as a whole.
Yet, Dashiell isn't one to mope around counting her losses. Having attended a girls-only private school, she sees the new school as the chance to play her favorite sport, baseball. Not softball, mind you - baseball, which means playing with the guys. Yet there are objections to Dashiell even measuring up to play among the team's members, being the only girl in a team of boys in what's considered to be a "man's sport". Even her sister, Arica, has objections because Dashiell doesn't want to fit into the niche of popular girls at the school. But Dashiell is determined to prove everyone around her wrong, and show the people around her - students, teachers, and officials alike - that she has what it takes to play among them and exceed their expectations.
I really enjoyed watching Dashiell fight for what she believed in and playing to her passion. Truth is, you don't see many female protagonists that are as likable and realistic as Dashiell. She's fiesty, funny, and quite confident. Matter in point, I wish that there were more like her in not only this genre, but beyond it. Dashiell faces quite many real issues in this novel, from finding a way to fit in as the new girl, working through rising tensions within her family, and being able to show other people that she has what it takes to play baseball, even to take them to becoming champions. I thoroughly enjoyed the alternating tensions, resolutions, and morals this graphic novel offered, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as a novel that will stay with readers who love sports, love high school stories, and love heroines who are winners outside of the game.
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Oni Press.
Yet, Dashiell isn't one to mope around counting her losses. Having attended a girls-only private school, she sees the new school as the chance to play her favorite sport, baseball. Not softball, mind you - baseball, which means playing with the guys. Yet there are objections to Dashiell even measuring up to play among the team's members, being the only girl in a team of boys in what's considered to be a "man's sport". Even her sister, Arica, has objections because Dashiell doesn't want to fit into the niche of popular girls at the school. But Dashiell is determined to prove everyone around her wrong, and show the people around her - students, teachers, and officials alike - that she has what it takes to play among them and exceed their expectations.
I really enjoyed watching Dashiell fight for what she believed in and playing to her passion. Truth is, you don't see many female protagonists that are as likable and realistic as Dashiell. She's fiesty, funny, and quite confident. Matter in point, I wish that there were more like her in not only this genre, but beyond it. Dashiell faces quite many real issues in this novel, from finding a way to fit in as the new girl, working through rising tensions within her family, and being able to show other people that she has what it takes to play baseball, even to take them to becoming champions. I thoroughly enjoyed the alternating tensions, resolutions, and morals this graphic novel offered, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as a novel that will stay with readers who love sports, love high school stories, and love heroines who are winners outside of the game.
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Oni Press.
melodyriggs's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. Super empowering. Could've done without the sister's love story subplot.
hmartin22's review against another edition
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
very little substantive plot. main characters are not likeable. while attempting to show that girls can play baseball, the book oddly puts down softball in a very anti-feminist way.
allonsyalexa's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted here!
Play Ball is a coming-of-age sports story about a girl who wants to play in a sport dominated by males. Dash sure knows the difference between softball and baseball, and she refuses to play the “watered-down version” of baseball, so she decides to try out in her high school baseball team. This decision caused a ruckus within the school administrative system – baseball has always been a men’s sport. It wasn’t specified in the rules because it was inherently known and accepted by everyone. Because of Dash’s stubborn determination, though, she manages to get into the team.
What I really liked about Play Ball was how it wasn’t all centered on Brody. The characterization was well thought out. Everybody has a different personality to them, and their reactions to things are fairly natural and realistic. Dashiell, for her part, has to contend with several factors before she could participate into the team: her jealous sister, the sardonic softball team, a disgruntled teammate, and the classic status quo. Each of the characters was able to grow, and I appreciated this very much.
Though some parts were cliched and predictable, the plot was not an issue for me at all because I enjoyed the story. I am so curious to what happens after the book ends! Maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for books that have really cool heroines, and Play Ball just fits into that category, but I liked this book. Girls who excel in sports rock! I really find it cool how Dash is really against playing softball for the reason that it is not baseball. The girl really knows what she wants. Not many people can tell the difference (to be honest, I couldn’t remember much difference myself except that the balls used are different, but hey, it’s a start).
Play Ball will be released on April 25, 2012! It is written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, the team who wrote The Avalon Chronicles and Amazing Agent Luna, and drawn by newcomer Jackie Lewis. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this either. I recommend you read it! It’s definitely something you’d enjoy.
Play Ball is a coming-of-age sports story about a girl who wants to play in a sport dominated by males. Dash sure knows the difference between softball and baseball, and she refuses to play the “watered-down version” of baseball, so she decides to try out in her high school baseball team. This decision caused a ruckus within the school administrative system – baseball has always been a men’s sport. It wasn’t specified in the rules because it was inherently known and accepted by everyone. Because of Dash’s stubborn determination, though, she manages to get into the team.
What I really liked about Play Ball was how it wasn’t all centered on Brody. The characterization was well thought out. Everybody has a different personality to them, and their reactions to things are fairly natural and realistic. Dashiell, for her part, has to contend with several factors before she could participate into the team: her jealous sister, the sardonic softball team, a disgruntled teammate, and the classic status quo. Each of the characters was able to grow, and I appreciated this very much.
Though some parts were cliched and predictable, the plot was not an issue for me at all because I enjoyed the story. I am so curious to what happens after the book ends! Maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for books that have really cool heroines, and Play Ball just fits into that category, but I liked this book. Girls who excel in sports rock! I really find it cool how Dash is really against playing softball for the reason that it is not baseball. The girl really knows what she wants. Not many people can tell the difference (to be honest, I couldn’t remember much difference myself except that the balls used are different, but hey, it’s a start).
Play Ball will be released on April 25, 2012! It is written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, the team who wrote The Avalon Chronicles and Amazing Agent Luna, and drawn by newcomer Jackie Lewis. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this either. I recommend you read it! It’s definitely something you’d enjoy.