Dairy QueenBy Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Houghton Mifflin, 2006. 275 pgs. Young Adult
D. J. Schwenk is 15 years old. She is pretty much running the family’s dairy farm because her father's accident left him unable to work. With the little spare time she has, her father's friend asks her to help train Brian, the rival high school football player. She gained those skills while training her brothers when they played. This is just the beginning of D.J.’s discovery of herself, her first love, and resolving the problems between her family members.
I have to say, I was reluctant to read this book though I had heard so many good things about it. The old book cover had a picture of a cow wearing a jeweled crown. I was afraid this was going to be about a girl who had to change her tomboy ways to be homecoming queen. That is not what happens and that is not what the book is about. It is about discovering oneself and being good at it. Don’t miss this well written novel.
KK
1 comment:
This is one of my favorite young adult books I've read in the past couple of years. I enjoyed the different setting of a teen on a dairy farm. So often in young adult literature the teen protagonist is living an urban life. Murdock writes with humor and compassion for her central characters. Although the parents are definitely in the background they are still supporting characters. Again, often in young adult literature the parents are simply written out of the story. D.J. is simply completely likable. Readers will relate to her struggles of trying to shoulder extra responsibilities while dealing with her high school crush.
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